Joe Maddon met with the media in St. Louis on Thursday afternoon and announced his starting rotation for the National League Division Series.
Jon Lester is starting the opener followed by Kyle Hendricks in game two. Jake Arrieta will start game three on Monday at Wrigley Field.
Jason Hammel could be an option to start game four. Hammel will be available out of the bullpen for the first three games. Maddon said if Hammel is not used out of the pen there is a possibility he will start the fourth game. If the best of five series goes a full five games, Jon Lester will be on the hill for the Cubs in St. Louis.
The Cubs will announce the NLDS roster on Friday.
Pitching Matchups for NLDS:
- Game 1: Jon Lester vs. John Lackey
- Game 2: Kyle Hendricks vs. Jaime Garcia
- Game 3: Jake Arrieta vs. Michael Wacha
- Game 4: Jason Hammel/TBD vs. Lance Lynn
- Game 5: Jon Lester vs. John Lackey
Jon Lester was 1-3 in five starts against the Cardinals this season with a 2.59 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. Lester allowed 14 runs, nine earned, on 25 hits with 10 walks and 34 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings.
Kyle Hendricks faced the Cardinals one time in the regular season. Hendricks gave up four runs on six hits with two walks and a strikeout in five innings at Busch Stadium. Hendricks is 0-1 in four career starts against the Cardinals with a 3.97 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. Hendricks has two no decisions in two career starts at Busch Stadium with a 4.91 ERA and 1.27 WHIP.
Jake Arrieta posted a 2-1 record in four starts against the Cardinals this season with a 2.42 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Arrieta allowed eight runs, seven earned, on 22 hits with eight walks and 25 strikeouts in 26 innings.
Jason Hammel made three starts against the Cardinals this year. Hammel was 1-1 with a 5.73 ERA and 1.36 WHIP.
Two of the three starts Hammel made versus St. Louis were cut short. Hammel left the game on July 8 after one inning with the hamstring injury that affected his second half. And the game on June 28 at Busch Stadium was changed by a long rain delay. Hammel was not the same when play resumed and completed only four innings.