34 Jon Lester SP

Lester threw five innings Sunday, yielding five runs on eight hits and two walks in the 10-6 loss to San Diego. He struck out just one batter and allowed two home runs in the no-decision.

Lester's summer struggles continue as his season ERA has jumped from 2.18 to 3.44 since the end of June. During that same span, the 34-year-old lefty has also posted an abysmal 26:19 K:BB ratio in 35.2 innings. Lester allowed a pair of solo homers Sunday, coming from Freddy Galvis and Franmil Reyes, as well as a two-run triple from Eric Hosmer. Things won't get easier in his next start as Lester will take on the Nationals in Chicago on Saturday.

Lester (12-4) allowed four earned runs on seven hits and three walks over five innings to take the loss Tuesday against the Pirates. He struck out three.

After shutting down the Diamondbacks in his last start, Lester was much more hittable in this one. The veteran lefty ran into trouble in the third inning, when he allowed a run-scoring double followed by a two-run home run by Francisco Cervelli. Lester gave up another run in the fifth before departing having thrown 101 pitches. The 34-year-old still carries a solid 3.22 ERA and will look for better results in his next outing, which is scheduled for Sunday against the light-hitting Padres.

Lester tossed six strong innings against Arizona on Wednesday, giving up just four hits and no walks while striking out seven. He allowed just a single run on a solo homer but did not factor into the decision.

It was the veteran lefty's strongest performance in a while, though it didn't earn him a win, as the Cubs couldn't grab the lead until the eighth inning. Lester has an excellent 3.06 ERA and a 12-3 record on the season, though the underlying numbers are not so optimistic. He's benefitted from an unsustainably high 81.5 percent strand rate and an unsustainably low .257 BABIP. Advanced ERA estimators such as FIP and SIERRA suggest that his ERA should be north of 4.50. More performances like the one he had Wednesday will bring those numbers down, however. He'll look to keep the momentum going Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

Lester (12-3) allowed eight earned runs on seven hits and five walks over three innings Friday against the Cardinals to take the loss.

This was easily Lester's worst start of the season, as he hadn't allowed more than four earned runs in any of his previous appearances. The rough outing bumped the veteran lefty's ERA from 2.58 to 3.14. Lester has been mostly excellent all year, so this is likely just a blip on the radar. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, which is scheduled for Wednesday against Arizona.

Lester (12-2) allowed three earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out seven across 5.1 innings to earn the win Sunday against the Padres.

Lester was wild, allowing three walks while also hitting Freddy Galvis with a pitch in a bases-loaded situation, forcing in his second earned run. That caused his short outing -- he needed 101 pitches to record 16 outs -- though he still managed to strike out seven batters, his highest total since June 3. While it wasn't the strongest performance to enter the All-Star break on, Lester currently ranks first in the National League in wins (12) and fifth in ERA (2.58).