Lester seeks LA edge tonight on FS1

LOS ANGELES — As Jon Lester absorbed the sales pitch, impressive as it was, he nevertheless understood that a leap of faith would have to accompany a decision to spurn competing offers from perennial contenders San Francisco and Boston to instead accept the imagine-what-could-be opportunity presented by Chicago.

But Theo Epstein, Cubs president of baseball operations, was impassioned and honest as his recruitment of Lester intensified after the 2014 season. Chicago showered Lester with gifts, offered a fine financial package of $155 million, impressed upon him the up-and-coming talent in the farm system and left him with a DVD that depicted him securing the franchise’s first World Series championship since 1908.

• NLCS Game 5: Today at 8 p.m. ET/7 CT on FS1

And that December, Lester bought in, committing the next six years of his career to an organization that had just averaged 94 losses over a four-year span.

Recalling that decision on Wednesday, Lester remarked, “You’re betting on words.”

Game Date Time Matchup TV/Highlights Gm 1 Oct. 15   CHC 8, LAD 4 Gm 2 Oct. 16   LAD 1, CHC 0 Gm 3 Oct. 18   LAD 6, CHC 0 Gm 4 Oct. 19   CHC 10, LAD 2 Gm 5 Oct. 20 8 p.m. CHC @ LAD FS1 Gm 6 Oct. 22 8 p.m.  LAD @ CHC FS1 *Gm 7 Oct. 23 8 p.m. LAD @ CHC FS1 * If necessary | All times listed ET  • NLCS coverageShop for postseason gear: Cubs | Dodgers

But the vision the Cubs presented then is inching nearer to a reality now. And although Lester isn’t yet in position to clinch a World Series win, he can pitch Chicago to the precipice …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com