Cubs Announce Starter, Wainwright Coming Back From Injury

Cubs Announce Jon Lester As Starter In Opener

MESA, Ariz. -- New Chicago Cubs ace Jon Lester will throw the first pitch of the new baseball season April 5 against the St. Louis Cardinals, manager Joe Maddon announced Monday. Maddon also said Lester will make his Cubs debut this spring Friday against the Cincinnati Reds in a home contest at Sloan Park.

The lefty signed a six-year, $155 million contract in December, becoming the immediate face of the pitching staff and one of the leaders of the team after winning two World Series championships with the Boston Red Sox in 2007 and 2013. The Cubs play two games on Thursday when their Cactus League schedule begins. Travis Wood will pitch the home opener against the Oakland Athletics while Jacob Turner will throw in Scottsdale against the San Francisco Giants. Both pitchers are vying for the No. 5 starter's role, which Maddon said is up for grabs.

Wainwright Coming Back From Injury

JUPITER, Fla. -- Adam Wainwright bumped fists and smiled following a short bullpen session on Monday, the first since straining his abdominal muscle a week ago. Wainwright didn't use maximum effort for most of the 30-plus pitch session, but did turn it up for the final five pitches -- one of which had bullpen catcher Jamie Pogue hooting and hollering behind the plate.

"That was perfect," Wainwright said. "That's what I wanted."

The Cardinals ace had thrown off flat ground, but Monday was the first time he threw off the mound since injuring himself while placing a 45-pound weight back on the weight rack. Wainwright met with trainers on Monday, who asked him to try a lunge -- one of the activities that aggravated the injury -- but other than that and pitching the trainers want Wainwright taking it easy.