Lester went through some tough stretches this season and finished with a 5.16 ERA in 12 starts. But he was trending upward (1.06 ERA in three starts from Sept. 11-22) before his final outing, when he allowed seven earned runs against the White Sox, partially due to defensive miscues.
Still, is anyone going to bet against a guy who elevates his game in October? Lester’s career ERA in the postseason (2.51) is more than a run better than in regular season (3.60).
“I think it actually raises his game,” Ross said of Lester and the postseason. “As many times as I’ve seen him on that stage, I think it makes him better, where I don’t know that I could say that about a lot of people that I’ve played with in those environments.”
With no in-series off days before the World Series, Lester’s number will be called. In fact, he’ll start Game 3 of the Cubs’ first-round series against Miami, if the game proves necessary.
If not, and the Cubs advance, we’ll see him in the NLDS, and it would be foolish to doubt the veteran lefty.