34 Jon Lester SP

Lester (3-4) earned the win Monday against the Marlins after tossing seven shutout frames. He allowed six hits and no walks while striking out seven.

It was the longest outing of the year for Lester, who completed seven innings for the first time while blanking his opponent for the second time. The southpaw exhibited strong command, collecting a season-high seven punchouts. To top it off, Lester swatted his fourth career home run with a 419-shot in the fifth inning, making the 37-year-old the oldest pitcher to homer in a game since Bartolo Colon in 2016 at the age of 42. It was a tough first half for Lester, who has compiled a 4.99 ERA and 1.65 WHIP overall. He's projected to make his next start on the road Sunday at Baltimore.

Lester (2-4) gave up eight runs (three earned) on nine hits and two walks over 2.2 innings in Saturday's loss to San Francisco. He had one strikeout.

The Giants jumped on Lester for three runs in the first inning and tacked on five more in the third before he gave way to the bullpen. Lester's defense didn't do him any favors -- five of the eight runs were unearned due to a pair of errors behind him -- but he still allowed 11 baserunners besides the errors, and he needed 80 pitches to get just eight outs. It's been an ugly first half for the 37-year-old, who will go into the All-Star break having allowed 27 runs (17 earned) in 13.1 innings over his last four starts. Lester owns a 5.54 ERA and 1.74 ERA in 14 starts overall this season, and opponents are hitting .313 against him.

Lester allowed five runs (two earned) on six hits and four walks while striking out two over 3.1 innings Monday against the Padres. He did not factor into the decision.

Lester was not very good Monday despite three of his runs being unearned. A Starlin Castro error extended the third inning, allowing the Padres to score three runs all with two outs. The Friars got to him for two more in the fourth inning, and Lester's day was done earlier than he had hoped after throwing only 48 of his 81 pitches for strikes. HIs four walks tied his season high, and he's struck out three or fewer batters in six of his last seven starts. The 37-year-old owns a 5.34 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 41:26 K:BB over 60.2 innings, and he's lined up for one more start over the weekend in San Francisco before the All-Star break.

Lester (2-3) picked up the win Wednesday against the Rays, fanning three while allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks across five innings.

Homers by Yandy Diaz and Mike Zunino helped the Rays get off to a 4-3 lead on the veteran southpaw after three innings. Lester allowed another run in the top of the fourth inning, but the Nationals were able to rally for three runs in the bottom half before the 37-year-old settled down to toss a perfect fifth. While the outing wound up being on the uglier side for Lester, he did enough to pick up his second win. Lester will look to have a stronger month of July after finishing June having allowed 18 earned runs on 34 hits and 12 free passes across 28 innings. He lines up to take the ball Monday in San Diego.

Lester (1-3) was tagged with the loss Friday against the Marlins after allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks across 2.1 innings. He struck out one.

Lester had a woeful performance Friday, as he tossed 64 pitches and missed the strike zone with 29 of those deliveries. The veteran left-hander also snapped a streak of five straight appearances allowing two or fewer runs. His next start is scheduled for next week at home against the Rays.

Lester (1-2) picked up the win in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Mets, allowing two runs on seven hits over six-plus innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The veteran southpaw blanked the Mets for six innings before Jose Peraza took him deep with nobody out in the seventh on his 100th pitch of the game. The quality start was Lester's second in 10 trips to the mound, while the six strikeouts were a season high. He'll carry a 3.96 ERA and 35:17 K:BB through 50 innings into his next outing.

Lester surrendered two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out two over 5.1 innings Monday against the Pirates. He didn't factor into the decision.

Lester gave up a solo homer in the top of the second, and he managed to hold Pittsburgh in check until the top of the sixth, when he surrendered another run on a sacrifice fly. The veteran southpaw has allowed just five runs over his last four outings, but he's been unable to work deep into his starts, eating up just 18.2 frames over that stretch. He's pitched six innings just once all season, dating back to his second start May 6 against Atlanta.

Lester allowed one earned run on four hits and four walks while striking out two across 3.2 innings Tuesday against the Rays. He did not factor into the decision.

Lester did well to survive having surrendered only one earned run, as he managed to strand four runners and exited the game with the bases loaded. However, that was the only positive from the start, as he allowed eight baserunners and threw 91 pitches to record only 11 outs. Lester has limited runs against him to a fair degree, maintaining a 4.19 ERA across eight starts this season. On the other hand, he has a 1.50 WHIP and only 27 strikeouts across 38.2 innings.

Lester didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 5-3 win over Atlanta, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out three.

The only blemish on the veteran southpaw's ledger was a second-inning solo shot by Dansby Swanson, but Lester got pulled just short of his second quality start of the season after tossing 87 pitches (53 strikes), as he was working on only three days rest. He'll take a 4.37 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 25:12 K:BB through 35 innings into his next outing.

Manager Davey Martinez said Tuesday that Lester will start Wednesday's game against Atlanta on three days' rest, Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports Washington reports.

There was some hope that Erick Fedde (illness) would be able to be activated to start Wednesday, but the Nats did not feel that he will be stretched out enough to do so. Instead, the veteran left-hander will take the ball just three days after allowing one run across four innings (74 pitches) against the Brewers on Saturday.

Lester won't pitch Friday against the Brewers as scheduled, as the game has been postponed due to poor weather, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader Saturday. Lester will likely start one of those games, though the Nationals have yet to announce which.

Lester (0-2) took the loss Monday, coughing up five runs on eight hits -- including three home runs -- over 5.1 innings as the Nationals were thumped 7-3 by the Cubs. He struck out four without walking a batter.

The veteran lefty's return to Wrigley Field didn't go well, as Lester was tagged for runs in four of the six frames in which he worked while serving up his first homers of the year. The outing inflated his ERA to 3.80, and he'll take a 14:7 K:BB through 21.1 innings into his next start.

Lester didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 5-2 extra-inning loss to the Phillies, allowing one run on six hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out four.

The veteran southpaw had a little trouble finding the plate, throwing 58 of 97 pitches for strikes, but Lester limited the damage in his first quality start of the year and exited the game in line for his first win. He'll carry a 2.25 ERA and 10:7 K:BB through 16 innings into his next outing.

Lester (0-1) gave up three runs on four hits and two walks while fanning five across five innings Thursday against Atlanta. He was tagged with the loss.

Lester couldn't repeat what he accomplished in his season debut when he tossed five scoreless innings, but he delivered a solid outing once again despite the fact he took the loss. The veteran lefty is doing enough to remain in the rotation as a back-end starter and is expected to take the ball next week at home against the Phillies.

Lester pitched five scoreless innings, allowing five hits with two walks and one strikeout in a no-decision versus Miami on Friday.

Lester's first start of the year went fairly well. He only threw 70 pitches (46 strikes) after reaching 90 pitches in a simulated game Sunday. The 37-year-old southpaw struggled in 2020 with a 5.16 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 42:17 K:BB across 61 innings with the Cubs. He should slot into the Nationals' rotation now, and he projects to face Atlanta next week.

Lester was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday ahead of his season debut against the Marlins.

Lester missed almost the entirety of the first month of the season but is finally ready to make his first appearance for his new team. He reached 90 pitches in his most recent simulated game, so he shouldn't be on a pitch count Friday. Exactly what the 37-year-old southpaw has left in the tank remains to be seen, as he stumbled to a 5.16 ERA in 12 starts for the Cubs last year.

Lester (COVID-19 injured list) is expected to be activated to start Friday against the Marlins, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

The 37-year-old has lined up to start Friday since completing a 90-pitch simulated game Sunday and following with a bullpen session Tuesday, and it appears the Nationals are finalizing the moves required to officially activate him from the IL. Lester has spent the first month of the season on the COVID-19 IL, but he shouldn't face significant limitations in his debut since he's been building up his arm over the past three weeks after clearing league protocols.

Lester (COVID-19 injured list) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Lester threw 90 pitches in a simulated game Sunday. That leaves him on schedule to start Friday against the Marlins, though the Nationals have yet to commit to him returning on that date, as he may still pitch in another simulated game.

Lester (COVID-19 injured list) will throw a five-inning, 90-pitch simulated game Sunday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Lester threw 80 pitches in a sim game Tuesday, but manager Dave Martinez revealed that the left-hander will throw at least one more simulated game prior to making his first regular-season start. Lester should be in line to handle near a full workload following Sunday's throwing session. The southpaw could line up to make his 2021 debut at home against the Marlins on April 30.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Lester (COVID-19 injured list) is scheduled to throw a five-inning, 80-pitch simulated game Tuesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Rather than inserting Lester into the rotation early during the upcoming week, the Nationals will have him get a little more stretched out before he makes his 2021 and team debut. Assuming he feels fine physically following his simulated game, Lester could make his first start for Washington as soon as April 25 against the Mets.