Cubs @ Cardinals: Lester vs. Lackey (Game 164; NLDS Game 1)
Now it gets really good.
CHC: LHP Jon Lester (11-12, 3.34)
STL: RHP John Lackey (13-10, 2.77)
First pitch: 5:45pmCT
Lester finished strong, going 3-2 with a 2.36 ERA in September. He has not pitched since September 30, when he gave up 1 ER over 8 innings for the win in Cincinnati. He has a losing record against the Cardinals this year (1-3) but has pitched to a 2.59 ERA, and they are batting .216 in those games. He’s 1-0 with a 1.59 in the two starts at Busch Stadium. Overall, the Cards are 50-186 (.269) against him: Holliday is 5-9 (.556), Heyward is 10-24 (.417) with a HR, Carpenter is 4-14 (.286), and Peralta is 10-40 (.250) with 3 HR.
Lester is 6-4 with a 2.57 in the postseason. He was dominant with the Red Sox in their 2013 championship campaign, going 4-1 with a 1.56 in five games. In the AL Wild Card game last year with Oakland, he gave up 6 ER in 7.1 innings to the pennant-winning Royals.
Lackey lost in Atlanta on Sunday (4 IP, 3 ER) but had a great September (2-1, 1.78), going at least 7 innings in each of his five starts. At Busch this year, he’s 9-4 with a 1.93 ERA. He’s 2-0 with a 1.75 in three games against the Cubs this year, and they are hitting .244 in those games. Overall, the Cubs are 34-121 (.281) against him: Fowler (2-7, .286), Schwarber (no ABs), Rizzo (1-12, .083), Bryant (2-9, .222), Castro (3-12, .250), Coghlan (8-17, .471), Russell (2-7, .286), and Ross (1-3, .333).
In 18 postseason games, including two championship teams (LAA in 2002 and BOS in 2013), Lackey is 7-5 with a 3.08 ERA.
Game Two is tomorrow at 4:30pmCT: Hendricks vs. Garcia.
Go Cubs!
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