Last year, Jon Lester finished with a 19-4 record, a 2.44 ERA, and was second in NL Cy Young voting. He was the undoubted linchpin of a loaded Cubs rotation that boasted the 2015 Cy Young winner (Jake Arrieta), and the 2016 ERA King (Kyle Hendricks) alongside a multiple-time champion in John Lackey.
Some speculate that Lester could be out-of-sorts this season because of Ross’ retirement, but according to Carrie Muskat, skipper Joe Maddon disagrees.
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“I think he’s even more comfortable now and in a good way,” Maddon said Wednesday.