Did Joe Maddon Leak Who the Game One Starter Will Be?

While the official announcement will come at any time today, Joe Maddon might have already leaked who the Game One starter is.

So the Game One starter will be the game five starter, and the game two starter will be in the pen in an all hands on deck like moment. Since Joe and the Cubs like Kyle Hendricks in elimination games, he will be the game one starter. Jon Lester also has experience pitching from the bullpen, see game seven in the 2016 World Series. This would line up perfectly in fact with Joe’s plan from game seven, and makes the most sense.

Also, Jon Heyman has also come out with a story citing Max Scherzer aiming for a game three start, and additionally said his sources have told him Jake Arrieta is also aiming for that same game three start.

So the Cubs top three pitchers are determined; Hendricks, Lester, Arrieta. Then we will see Jose Quintana fourth and John Lackey will be an emergency starter/long reliever.