Chicago Cubs: Predicting the Opening Day Lineup

9. SP Jon Lester

The Chicago Cubs have three pitchers who could legitimately be considered aces on most pitching staffs across baseball. Jon Lester just finished another great season in his Hall of Fame career, Kyle Hendricks was a legitimate Cy Young candidate and Jake Arrieta has dominant stuff and won the Cy Young in 2015.

Deciding who should take the ball in the first game of the season is not an easy decision, but Lester is the choice. The 32-year-old Lester went 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA last season. He is not a big-time strikeout pitcher who over-powers you, but Lester simply knows how to pitch and get batters out.

It will be interesting to see how Lester fares in 2017 without his running mate David Ross behind the plate. Ross has been Lester’s personal catcher for both of his years with the Cubs, but a combination of Willson Contreras and Miguel Montero will take the role this season.

I expect Contreras to be Lester’s catcher a majority of the time, as he has an incredibly strong throwing arm while Montero’s leaves plenty to be desired. Lester struggles against opposing base runners, and Contreras’ arm would help counter that weakness.

On the mound, Lester is tough as nails. He is a strong veteran pitcher who never lets the moment get the best of him.

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Lester was the ace of the Cubs’ staff in the post-season last year, consistently coming through with a big game when his team needed it the most. He pitched three brilliant innings in relief in Game 7 of the World Series, just three days after his six-inning, two-run performance in a win in Game 5.

Jon Lester is arguably the most consistent and reliable pitcher in baseball who undoubtedly deserves the opening day start for the 2017 Chicago Cubs.