Lackey’s slider a postseason tool for Cubs

CHICAGO — As hard as this might be to believe, the Cubs have a secret weapon on their side as they head toward the postseason. 

It’s John Lackey. Specifically, Lackey’s slider.

We know a lot about Lackey’s competitiveness, but not so much about the pitches in his toolkit. He’s known more for challenging hitters than his finesse, but you don’t pitch almost 2,700 innings without having a few tricks up your sleeve.

Lackey arrived in Chicago speaking about the chance to add to the World Series rings he earned on the 2002 Angels and the 2013 Red Sox, and he famously said after a start on Aug. 4 that he didn’t come to town “for a haircut.” He opened the season as the Cubs’ No. 3 starter behind Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester and has pitched almost exactly as Theo Epstein had envisioned he would.

Lackey will take a 9-8 record and 3.42 ERA into a start against the Reds on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field. He spent time on the disabled list in late August with what was called a strained shoulder, but he has dispelled concern about his health, ramping up to seven innings the last time out.

With Kyle Hendricks leading the National League in ERA and Lester joining him on the Cy Young Award short list, it’s easy to take Lackey for granted. But as he stokes his emotions for the “big-boy games” the Cubs will play in October, he’s very quietly gone 2-1 with a 2.36 ERA in his past seven starts.

During this stretch, Lackey has held opponents to a .198 batting average. The key has been a slider he generally throws 83-84 mph at the bottom of the strike zone or below.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon says the slider is …

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