There wasn't really much doubt, but Joe Maddon has confirmed the 2017 Opening Day starter for the Chicago Cubs.
On Wednesday, Maddon announced that lefty Jon Lester will be the Opening Day starter for the Cubs, who begin the 2017 season against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Lester had an outstanding second season with the Cubs in 2016, posting a 2.44 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 202.2 innings. He was the clear-cut ace, even with Kyle Hendricks' ERA title year, and started Game 1 of the NLDS, NLCS and World Series for the Cubs. As for Hendricks, he won't be starting the second game of the season, despite his brilliant 2016 campaign.
Jake Arrieta will be a free agent after the season ends and this may very well be his final year with the Cubs. Arrieta and the Cubs avoided arbitration this year, settling on a one-year deal worth about $15.6 million. Although there have been no reports of any contract extension talks between the two sides, Arrieta said at the start of spring training that he'd like to continue his tenure in Chicago.
We'll see, as the soon to be 31-year-old has the best agent in the game Scott Boras, who has gotten his pitching clients $200 million contracts in the past. As for the rest of the rotation after Lester, Arrieta and Hendricks, John Lackey will the No. 4, while Mike Montgomery and Brett Anderson will seemingly each get starts as the fifth starter. Last quick note, on Opening Day, Lester's first opposing batter will be Dexter Fowler.
The Cubs and Cardinals start the season on Sunday April 2, on ESPN in St. Louis.
