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Chicago Cubs: Previewing the 2016 season

By Carlos Nazario

Mar 29, 2016; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo against the Oakland Athletics during a spring training game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2016; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo against the Oakland Athletics during a spring training game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Will the addition of Lackey help the rotation?

Even though the Chicago Cubs won 97 games last season, the rotation was shaky. After Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester, things were up in the air.

Arrieta could not have much of a better season in 2015 than he had. He had the best second half of any pitcher in MLB history on his way to winning the NL Cy Young.

To expect him to repeat what he did would be silly.

Arrieta looks like he discovered something while with the Chicago Cubs, and has pitched well since coming to the team. I believe he will continue to pitch well. He may just not be an otherworldly kind of player. He can still dominate and even win twenty games. He just needs to avoid getting into long slumps, and keep the Cubs from getting into them as well.

Jon Lester is already ahead of what he was doing a year ago at this time. Yes, he started Opening Night, but he did not have any Spring Training due to an injury.

As a result, the first month of the season served as his training. He was 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. As the season went on, however, he got better. He ended the final month of the season with a 2.36 ERA and a .079 WHIP.

While Lester was considered the franchise savior when he signed last year, this year he can just be a part of the rotation. Arrieta took some pressure off him.

The acquisition of John Lackey has as well.

Lackey was one of the Chicago Cubs’ offseason acquisitions. He was a part of the St. Louis Cardinals’ 100-win team last season. He was also a teammate of Lester when both played with the Boston Red Sox when they won the World Series in 2013.

While Lackey had the stuff of a number one pitcher last season, much like Lester, he does not have to be the top guy for the Cubs. He may very well become one of the best number three pitchers in the league.

Adding Lackey gives the Chicago Cubs depth in their rotation. They have a very solid three pitchers in the front-end, and if Hendricks and Jason Hammel can be solid on the back-end, this could be one of the top rotations in baseball.

Next: How good is this bullpen?

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