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 Jon Lester did not allow an earned run in his first two spring
training appearances.
However, that was no surprise coming from a left-hander expected to
be the Chicago Cubs' ace this season.
Lester worked three shutout innings on March 11 in Mesa, Ariz.,
allowing three hits while striking out two and walking none in the
Cubs' 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The win was the Cubs' first in eight spring-training games.
Lester pitched five shutout innings overall and led Cactus League
pitchers with a 0.00 ERA through March 12. Lester and right-hander
Neil Ramirez topped the Cubs with five strikeouts apiece.
Teammate Travis Wood, a returning left-hander, is sixth with a 3.60
ERA.
Contenders for the Cubs third base job were putting up impressive
numbers early this spring.
Mike Olt had reached safely in five games through March 11 and was
batting .400 with two home runs, three RBIs and three walks. Rookie
Kris Bryant had home runs in two of his past three games and also
was hitting .400.
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MLB Team Report - Chicago Cubs - NOTES, QUOTES
--RHP Jason Hammel gave up three earned runs on five hits over three
innings in his start on May 12 against the Los Angeles Angels.
Hammel struck out two and walked a pair. He returned to the Cubs
after a mid-season trade to Oakland on July 5 last season. Hammel
went 8-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 17 starts with the Cubs in 2014.
--C Kyle Schwarber's five RBIs were tied for fourth most in the
Cactus League through March 11. Schwarber, who spent last season in
the lower minor leagues, was batting .200 (2-for-10).
--INF Javier Baez was again struggling with strikeouts, fanning four
times in 11 at-bats through March 11. Baez, who made his major
league debut last Aug. 5, struck out 95 times in 52 games and batted
.169.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I would just prefer our guys act like they've done
it before and that they're going to do it again." -- Cubs manager
Joe Maddon, talking about players who stand and watch, or "pimp"
their home run shots.
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MLB Team Report - Chicago Cubs - ROSTER REPORT
PROJECTED ROTATION:
LHP Jon Lester
RHP Jake Arrieta
RHP Jason Hammel
RHP Kyle Hendricks
LHP Travis Wood
Lester, a 31-year-old left-hander, signed a six-year deal and
instantly stepped into the ace role on a quality Cubs staff. He went
16-11 with a 2.46 ERA and 149 strikeouts in a 2014 season split
between the Red Sox and A's. Lester has won 15 per more games every
season since 2008 except one.
Arrieta had a superb 2014, going a team-best 10-5 and accounting for
11 percent of the Cubs victories.
Hammel returns to Chicago after a short stint with Oakland as the
A's pushed for the postseason. He struggled to 2-6 in Oakland after
an 8-5 mark with the Cubs.
Hendricks had an impressive rookie season with 13 starts, a 7-2
record and 2.46 ERA.
Wood has been a reliable starter since joining the Cubs in 2012,
averaging 176 innings, 136 strikeouts and nearly eight wins a
season.
PROJECTED BULLPEN:
RHP Hector Rondon (closer)
RHP Justin Grimm
RHP Pedro Strop
RHP Neil Ramirez
RHP Jason Motte
LHP Tsuyoshi Wada
LHP Felix Doubront
Rondon was the surprise of the bullpen as he moved into a closer
role in this second major league season and collected 29 saves --
including 15 straight to close the year.
Grimm made 73 appearances and collected 19 saves and 11 holds
through 73 appearances and 69 innings pitched. After suffering the
loss in a 5-2 decision on May 13, 2014 he never lost again the rest
of the way.
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Strop went 2-4 with two saves and 21 holds while mainly in a middle
relief role. He closed with a 2.20 ERA.
Ramirez went 3-3 in his first major league season with a 1.44 ERA in
43 2/3 innings pitched and 50 appearances.
Motte, 32, had 42 saves for the Cardinals in 2012, then spent most
of the next two season sidelined recovering from right elbow
surgery.
Wada and Doubront plus possible starter Travis Wood are among other
bullpen possibilities.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
1. OF Dexter Fowler
2. SS Starlin Castro
3. 1B Anthony Rizzo
4. OF Jorge Soler
5. 2B Javier Baez
6. C Miguel Montero
7. 3B Kris Bryant
8. LF Chris Coughlan
It is an intriguing potential lineup starting with a legitimate
leadoff batter sprinkled with promising rookies and a veteran power
hitter. Fowler, 28, brings a .366 career on-base percentage and
batted .276 last year with the Astros.
Castro, 24, had a bounce-back year, hitting .292 with 14 homers and
65 RBIs and earned an All-Star nod before his season ended in early
September with an ankle injury.
Rizzo, 25, emerged as a clubhouse leader and was fourth in the
National League with 32 home runs. He also batted a career-best .286
with 78 RBIs in 140 while earning his first All-Star nod.
Soler reached safely in 20 of his first 23 games as a rookie,
hitting safely in 19 of those. He averaged one RBI every 4.3 at-bats
and had a .344 on-base percentage.
Baez, 22, hit 23 home runs last year at Triple-A Iowa and earned a
promotion to the Cubs. In 52 games he had nine homers and 20 RBIs
but also struck out 95 times, something the Cubs want reduced.
Montero appears likely to replace veteran Welington Castillo, a
mainstay the last two seasons. Montero, who played the last nine
seasons in Arizona, is a .264 lifetime hitter with a .991 fielding
average.
Bryant appears destined to start, but might miss the beginning of
the season due to a contract technicality that would keep him at
Triple-A Iowa until late April. Mike Olt might play in the meantime.
Coughlan joined the Cubs last year after five seasons in Florida and
hit .283 in 125 games with nine homers and 41 RBIs.
Don't forget the versatile Arismendy Alcantara, listed as an
infielder but also plays outfield; 2B Tommy La Stella, who hit .251
as a Braves rookie last year, could work his way into the lineup if
Baez struggles at the plate; and OF Ryan Sweeney, who battled
hamstring problems last year but still hit .251 in 77 games.
The Cubs boast 11 first-round draft picks in camp this spring,
including top selections in 2011 (Baez), 2012 (OF Albert Almora),
2013 (Bryant) and 2014 (C Kyle Schwarber).
MEDICAL WATCH:
--RHP Jacob Turner (mild right flexor strain and a bone bruise on
right elbow) was hurt in early March. He is expected to start the
season on the disabled list. Turner is expected to seek a second
opinion before deciding on a course of treatment.
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