Now that the Cubs have officially clinched the division, fans can now turn their attention to the postseason and the countless potential heart attacks that lie ahead. Unlike last year, Cubs manager Joe Maddon has a handful of interesting options to start Game 1 of the 2017 NLDS versus the Washington Nationals. He went on 670 the Score a few days ago and gave everyone a pretty clear hint as to where his head was at regarding his Game 1 starter.
Joe Maddon regarding potential playoff rotation: "Jon Lester is a proven commodity, man. I'm not worried about him." #Cubs
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) September 26, 2017
Jon Lester was a CLEAR number one option at the end of the 2016 season so to start him at that point was pretty much idiot-proof. This year, however, Lester hasn’t been as sharp as he was last season and has been knocked around pretty good his last couple starts. If you take his last start out of the mix, he has given up 7, 4, 1, 2, 7 runs in his last five starts which is something Cubs fans are not used to seeing.
With Lester showing signs of being a normal pitcher, rumblings have begun that Joe Maddon should re-think starting Lester and give another Cubs pitcher the nod in Game 1.
For what it’s worth, my vote was, is, and will always be Jon Lester in the postseason because he’s a damn bulldog in October. BUT…for those of you who think his recent struggles warrant a demotion in Game 1…here are the other options.
Jake Arrieta
If you’re looking for the pitcher with the most dominant stuff on the staff, Jake Arrieta has to be the pick. He has recently shown flashes of 2015 Jake when his shit was so nasty that literally nobody could hit him in the second half of that 2015 season. Arrieta had a masterful August which is reflected beautifully by his numbers — 4-1, 1.21 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and only one home run allowed.
However, Arrieta strained his in early September and although he’s made a start since then, it appears the hammy will be an issue moving forward. I don’t think the NLDS is the time to “make adjustments” in his delivery.
Arrieta said he's had to make adjustments in delivery due to hamstring not 100 percent.
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) September 27, 2017
In addition to the hamstring, I also can’t see Jake going in Game 1 due to the fact he’s gotten absolutely destroyed by the Nationals offense this season (0-1, 11.25 ERA, 6 walks).
Jose Quintana
Probably the most surprising option of the group would be the newest Cubs pitcher, Jose Quintana. With one regular season start left, Q saved his best for last after absolutely crushing the Milwaukee Brewers spirit in his last start (CG, 3 H, 1 walk).
Quintana will get overlooked during the Game 1 starter argument because his overall numbers are not overly impressive (11-11, 4.06 ERA) but Quintana is the only Cubs pitcher that has the following going for him — he’s never faced Washington. Ryan Raburn is the only player on the Nationals that has more than 20 ABs vs. Q and he’s struggled mightily (.174/.240/.217). Now, does that mean the likes of Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy will struggle because they’ve never seen Quintana?
No.
However, when you pair the element of newness with the fact that Q has owned left-handed hitters, it’s a pretty intriguing match-up. Since his arrival to the Cubs, he’s absolutely dominated left-handed hitters (147 ABs, .211 average, 1 home run allowed) and since Harper and Murphy are the two biggest threats in the Nationals lineup, why not throw Q?
John Lackey
I don’t care how “good” Lackey has been as of late…
No.
Kyle Hendricks
If you’re looking for the safest, most consistent pick of the group, Kyle Hendricks is your guy. We know Joe Maddon has no problem throwing Hendricks in big postseason games (2016 NLCS Game 6, 2016 World Series Game 7) so you’d have to think throwing him in Game 1 of the 2017 NLDS would not be a major issue.
Hendricks been very good since his return from the DL in late July and boasts a 1.70 ERA in his last 10 starts. He’s also seen a good amount of success against Washington who have 92 ABs against Hendricks and are only hitting .217.
It’ll always be amazing to me how a guy who tops out at 88 mph can continue to make Major League hitters look completely clueless and yet Hendricks continues to do just that.
Regardless of Maddon’s Game 1 decision, this NLDS is already shaping up to be one helluva series.
