Cubs lefty Jon Lester named National League Pitcher of the Month
Major League Baseball announced Monday its players, pitchers and rookies of the final month of the season. And for the second time in 2016, Jon Lester was named National League Pitcher of the Month.
Lester had a sensational September before a rough outing in his final start of the regular season. Lester was a perfect 5-0 in five starts with a 0.48 ERA and 0.49 WHIP. Lester allowed two runs on 22 hits with four walks and 31 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings. Lester gave up five runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts to the Reds in five innings in his last start of the season.
Over the month of the season, Lester was 5-1 in six starts with a 1.48 ERA and 0.82 WHIP. Lester allowed seven runs on 28 hits with seven walks and 37 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings.
Jon Lester was 10-1 in 14 starts in the second half with a 1.76 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. The Cubs were 12-2 over that span. Lester allowed 18 runs on 62 hits with 24 walks and 89 strikeouts in 92 innings.
For the season, Lester was 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. In 32 starts, Lester allowed 57 runs, 55 earned, on 154 hits with 52 walks and 197 strikeouts in 202 2/3 innings.
Jon Lester is a strong candidate for the NL Cy Young Award.
The best starting staff in the majors had the top starting pitcher in their rotation in four of the six months of the regular season.
Jake Arrieta (April), Jon Lester (June, September/October) and Kyle Hendricks (August) won Pitcher of the Month Awards this season.