Chicago Cubs

Jon Lester Toasts John Lackey After Cubs Clinch Division

Chicago Cubs pitcher John Lackey gave up just one run in six innings of work on Wednesday night, as he potentially made his final regular season start in a big league uniform.

Lackey, who signed with the Cubs prior to the 2016 season, has won three World Series rings in his big league career, and after his strong performance on Wednesday, his teammates toasted him as they celebrated their National League Central title.

“He’s one of the best teammates and people I ever got to play with,” Jon Lester said as the team celebrated in the visiting clubhouse at Busch Stadium. “Tonight was probably his last regular season start. Here’s to one hell of a (bleeping) career.”

Lackey has done it all in his baseball career, winning Game 7 of the World Series for the Angels in 2002 and then playing a pivotal role in the Boston Red Sox 2013 title. Now with the Cubs, it’s unclear whether Lackey will be a part of the postseason rotation, but there is one lesson that he’s looking to impart on his young teammates.

“I tell these kids, don’t take any one of these for granted,” he said. “You never know when it’s your last one. When you start thinking this is something easy, it’s time to go home.”

In two seasons with the Cubs, Lackey has a 23-19 record with a 3.92 ERA in 59 starts. He was one of the team’s starting pitchers during their 2016 title run, giving up seven earned runs in 13 innings of work during the playoffs. 

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