Postseason rotation is anything but a lock

In looking ahead to a likely Chicago CubsWashington Nationals matchup in the five-game NL Division Series, beginning Oct. 6 at Nationals Park, the Cubs still are seeking answers for one of the elemental questions regarding their postseason composition: the makeup of their playoff rotation.

By comparison, the Nationals have a rotation that is well-established with Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark locked in place, and most likely in that order.

Each day brings a new data point for the Cubs to consider. On Sunday, it was lefty Jose Quintana throwing a three-hit shutout to beat the wild-cardcontending Milwaukee Brewers. While Quintana, now 7-3 with a 3.50 ERA since being acquired from the White Sox at the trade deadline, always figured to be a part of the Cubs’ October rotation, he is now making a bid to get a start in one of the first two games. On Monday, veteran lefty Jon Lester pitched well in a 10-2 victory in St. Louis after his status had been called into question by virtue of a 5.91 ERA, an opponents’ OPS of .948 and 12 walks in 211⁄3 innings in four September previous starts since coming back from shoulder fatigue.

Once considered a lock to start one of the first two playoff games — he was their Game 1 starter in all three series last fall — Lester, 33, might have been pitching just to hold onto one of four rotation spots.

The Cubs also count among their starters RHPs Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks and John Lackey.