Joe Maddon Names Jon Lester As Cubs’ Opening-Day Starter

The Chicago Cubs will start their World Series title defense on April 2 in St. Louis against the Cardinals, and now we know who will take the mound first that day.

Jon Lester Named Cubs’ Opening-Day Starting Pitcher

Cubs manager Joe Maddon announced Thursday that Jon Lester will be the team’s starter on opening day. This will be the 33-year-old left-hander’s second Opening-Day start in the last three seasons.

Lester, who won 19 games last season and was a National League Cy Young Award finalist, beat out teammates Kyle Hendricks and Jake Arrieta for the season start. Hendricks led the NL in ERA and was also a Cy Young finalist (who finished third in voting) one year ago.

Lester recorded a 2.44 ERA and 197 strikeouts last season.

“I had the conversation this morning,” Maddon said Thursday, via ESPN. “I called Jon Lester and asked Jonny if he’d mind being the Opening Day starter. He’s earned it and deserved it. I also talked to Jake about being the No. 2 guy. Jake understood why we went with Jon first.”

Lester started two games in the 2016 World Series and won the Babe Ruth Award for postseason MVP after going 3-1 in October with a 1.93 ERA and 30 strikeouts to six walks in 35 2/3 innings.

The lefty was one of four Cubs players to miss the team’s White House visit in honor of their World Series win over the Cleveland Indians— the Cubs’ first national title in 108 years— on Jan. 16. Lester clarified on Twitter the following day that he was absent due to a death in the family and not for political reasons.

The other three Cubs who missed the visit (all pitchers), were Arrieta, Hector Rondon and John Lackey. Arrieta also cited family reasons.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 20: Jon Lester #34 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)