Tough decisions for Maddon. If Lester does not pitch well in his next start, I don't start him against Washington. He has had an era of 5.11 in the 2nd half. In a short series I can't trust Lester to "flip the switch" or magically find what he hasn't been able to do since June.

Hendricks
Arrieta
Quintana
Lackey/Lester

What do you have?

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Lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be.

Same but maybe flip Jake and Kyle around just out of respect for Jake. Lester would scare the shit out of me in a playoff game.

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Do you trust Arrieta after being off so long? If you plan on starting him in Game 1 he will only have 1 more regular season start. I'm not sure if that's enough. I would probably leave him off or give him Game 3.

Hendricks
Quintana
Lester
Arrieta

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

This is an absolute no-brainer for Maddon. Hendricks will start Game 3 at home.

Arrieta
Lester
Hendricks
Quintana

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

agreed. lester just has to get his shit together. otherwise, dropping game 2 isn't the end of the world.

Your Game 1 and Game 2 starters can't be question marks.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

All four are question marks.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

Hendricks has been solid all year and has good playoff experience. I would prefer he pitched twice instead of Lester or Arrieta.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Hendricks has been hurt a lot of the year and it's a reoccurring injury. All 4 starters are question marks.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Arrieta starts game 1 without a doubt.

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Based on the last month you could argue Quintana should start against all those lefties.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

of the four question marks, he's the least questionable.

I'd rather have Lackey than Quintana. Even after yesterday. But that's because I don't trust his mental makeup.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I just wouldn't gamble with Lester ans Arrieta in back to back games. Pick 1.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

I would release Lackey now. Quintana pitched a shutout in the most important game of his career.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Leave him off? He pitches Game 1 or 2 unless he re-injures himself.

Him being fresh off an injury scares me.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Hendricks has been better on the road this year (tiny sample size)


Lester will pitch Game 4,imo

He looked pretty good in the first start back, including a super athletic play at 1B. I think he's physically fine. And he's their best big game pitcher.

He has been one of the best pitchers in baseball in the second half, and he looked fine in his return. Bad thoughts on Arrieta here.

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It was 1 start. You would like to see more. What happens if he gives up 7 in his next start?

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

What gives you more confidence in anyone else? There is no Clayton Kershaw here. All things considered, he's by far their best pitcher right now. You listed him 4th.

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Only because I don't want Lester and Arrieta being top 3 starters.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Nas is making all time dumb comments right now. Arrieta was one of the top pitchers in all of baseball in the 2nd half, and his injury was as minor as it gets.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

We have a real good starter with good playoff experience who is assured of leaving via free agency.

It's really a perfect situation.

Give him the Chapman treatment! Pitch him until his arm falls off.

Arrieta gets the ball to start the series and I expect him to pitch his fucking balls off and go get paid by someone else. Sad to see him go but they just cant and probably shouldnt pay him what he wants for as long as he will want it.

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It was also not an arm or shoulder injury. If he is able to run and warm up in the pen with no issues, than he should be good to go in games.

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Yep. It really will be sad to see him go. In a short period of time, he had some great moments as a Cub. Hopefully he has a few more left.

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Agreed. If anything, this saved bullets.

Nas might be jealous of the beard. He prefers baby faced Hendricks and Quintana.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

That isn't a minor injury and you don't want a Game 1 starter fresh off the DL with no rehab starts.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Walking off the field to a huge roar after 8 scoreless in Game 4 of the World Series to hand off the ball to Wade Davis to protect the 8-0 lead over Boston would be nice.