National League Division Series Game 1: Cubs (97-65, 1-0) vs. Cardinals (100-62, 0-0)
- Game Time – 5:45pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: TBS – Radio: WBBM 780, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 183 (Cubs), 844 (Cubs), 89 (Cardinals)
- Location – Busch Stadium
Jon Lester (11-12, 3.34/1.12/2.92) vs. John Lackey (13-10, 2.77/1.21/3.57)
The National League Division Series – Game 1
Cubs Baseball is On the Air! It’s the first game of the National League Division Series between the Cubs and Cardinals from Busch Stadium.
The Cubs and Cardinals square off for the first time in post-season play since 1900. And the rivalry that has been renewed from the Cardinals’ side this year will go to a whole new level during the National League Division Series.
These two teams know each other and while they may respect one another, based on the last series at Wrigley they don’t like one another.
The Cubs lost the season series to the Cardinals (8-11) and allowed the Redbirds to own them early in the year. The Cubs were 2-8 in the first 10 games. The Cubs learned how to beat the Cardinals and were 6-3 in the last nine games of the regular season.
Unless the series dictates the teams having to alter the starting pitching plans, Joe Maddon and Mike Matheny have the following starters scheduled for the series: 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
Dana DeMuth (LF) is the crew chief for this series and Phil Cuzzi (HP), Bill Welke (1B), Mike Winters (2B), Mark Carlson (3B) and Brian Knight (RF) make-up the umpiring crew for the NLDS.
Ernie Johnson, Ron Darling, Cal Ripken Jr. and Sam Ryan are on the TBS telecast tonight. And on the radio side, Len Kasper will join Pat Hughes, Ron Coomer and Mark Grote on WBBM.
Tonight all starts with Jon Lester …
Jon Lester’s final start of the regular season was a good one. Lester completed eight innings against the Reds and allowed one run on three hits with no walks and nine strikeouts. Lester finished his first regular season with the Cubs with a 3-2 record in six starts and a 2.36 ERA and 0.79 WHIP.
After settling in, Lester was 7-4 over his final 14 starts of the regular season with a 3.04 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. Teams hit just .220 against him.
Jon Lester made only 12 road starts this season. Lester was 4-3 with a 2.93 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. In 80 innings, Lester allowed 29 runs, 26 earned, on 63 hits with 15 walks and 82 strikeouts.
In five starts versus the Cardinals this season, Lester was 1-3 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. At Busch Stadium, Lester was 1-0 in two starts with a 1.29 ERA and 0.86 WHIP.
Cardinals Numbers against Jon Lester in 2015
- Matt Carpenter: 4-for-14 with one double, one triple and two walks
- Jason Heyward: 6-for-15 with two doubles
- Jhonny Peralta: 3-for-15 with one home run
- Yadier Molina: 3-for-10 with one double and two walks
- Mark Reynolds: 0-for-8 with one walk
- Kolten Wong: 1-for-7 with one walk
- Matt Holliday: 3-for-6 with one double and one walk
- Tommy Pham: 1-for-6 with one home run and one walk
- Randal Grichuk: 0-for-6
- Stephen Piscotty: 1-for-4 with one home run and two walks
- Brandon Moss: 0-for-4
- Jon Jay: 1-for-2
- John Lackey: 0-for-2
The Cubs will get another shot at John Lackey tonight. The veteran right hander has had his way with the Cubs since he was traded to St. Louis in July 2014. Lackey wrapped up his regular season with a loss in Atlanta when the Cardinals were more focused on resting their players than winning games. Lackey allowed three runs on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts in four innings.
In the five starts prior to the throwaway game in Atlanta, Lackey was 2-1 with a 1.78 ERA and 1.25 WHIP.
John Lackey was the glue that held the Cardinals rotation together during the regular season. Lackey was lights out at Busch Stadium (9-4 in 17 starts with a 1.93 ERA and 1.17 WHIP) and in the second half, Lackey posted a 6-5 record in 15 starts with a 2.50 ERA and 1.20 WHIP.
Lackey makes his fourth start of the year against the Cubs tonight. Lackey was 2-0 in three regular season starts with a 1.25 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. Lackey allowed three runs on 19 hits with five walks and 19 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings.
John Lackey last faced the Cubs on July 6. The Cubs are not the same team they were three months ago.
Cubs Career Numbers against John Lackey
- Chris Coghlan: 8-for-17 with one double and one walk
- Austin Jackson: 5-for-16 with two doubles and one walk
- Miguel Montero: 4-for-15 with two doubles and one walk
- Anthony Rizzo: 1-for-12 with one walk
- Starlin Castro: 3-for-12
- Kris Bryant: 2-for-9 with one walk
- Jorge Soler: 4-for-8 with three doubles and one walk
- Javier Baez: 0-for-8
- Dexter Fowler: 2-for-7 with one walk
- Addison Russell: 2-for-7 with one walk
- Chris Denorfia: 0-for-3 with one walk
- Tommy La Stella: 2-for-3
- David Ross: 1-for-3
- Jon Lester: 1-for-2
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …