RHP John Lackey (right shoulder strain) was adequate but not as sharp after returning from a nearly three-week stay on the disabled list late in the season. That led to speculation that there were lingering effects of the injury through the balance of the year and postseason. If that was the case, a lengthy offseason rest may help him return to top form.

RHP John Lackey allowed three runs on four hits while striking out five and walking one in a losing effort. "The last two innings (Lackey) ended up pitching his best ball," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He was putting the ball on the ground, there was better sink on it. He found his groove." Lackey had a no-decision in his previous outing, a 10-2 victory over the Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. He was lifted after walking the first two batters in the fifth inning and the Cubs ahead 4-0. Lackey was 11-8 with a 3.35 ERA during the regular season.

RHP John Lackey, Saturday's starter for the Cubs, has made 23 postseason starts, the most among active big league pitchers.

RHP John Lackey (0-0, 5.63 ERA) will make his 23rd career postseason start on Saturday, the most among active big league pitchers. He's 8-5 with a 3.26 ERA in 26 postseason appearances. He was 11-8 with a 3.35 ERA in 29 regular-season starts in 2016. Lackey has never faced the Indians in the postseason but is 8-9 in 20 career regula- season starts against Cleveland.

RHP John Lackey went four-plus innings, allowing two runs on three hits with three strikeouts and three walks Wednesday in the Cubs' 3-0 win over the Dodgers. Lackey, who did not factor into the decision, also hit a batter. "It was a big one for our offense. Everything is about team goals right now," said Lackey, who threw 72 pitches (41 strikes).

RHP John Lackey made his 21st postseason start in Tuesday's win over the San Francisco Giants, tying him with RHP Mike Mussina for the seventh-most in major league history. LHP Andy Pettitte holds the record with 44. Lackey is the only active pitcher to start a game that eliminated the Giants from postseason play. He has now done it twice, having previously accomplished the feat in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series for the Anaheim Angels.

RHP John Lackey made his 21st postseason start, which tied him with RHP Mike Mussina for seventh-most in Major League Baseball history. LHP Andy Pettitte holds the record with 44.

RHP John Lackey will attempt to do something twice that no other active pitcher has done once when he faces the San Francisco Giants in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday night. Lackey is the only active pitcher to have eliminated the Giants from a postseason series, having pitched the Anaheim Angels to a win in decisive Game 7 of the 2002 World Series. Lackey will be making his 21st postseason start, which also leads all active major-leaguers. He has faced the Giants more times in the postseason (four, including three starts) than during the regular season (three, all starts), going a combined 2-1 with a 3.62 ERA.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Evan Gattis stayed red-hot and the Houston Astros kept pushing hard for a wild-card playoff berth in the American League on Wednesday at the Oakland Coliseum.Gattis hit his 29th and 30th home runs of the season, powering the Astros to a 6-5 victory over the Oakland A's. Gattis set career highs with each home run and now has 100 in his career. He has hit eight home runs against the A's this season and six home runs overall in Houston's past 10 games.The Astros, who are trailing Baltimore by one game for the American League's second wild-card spot, beat the A's for the seventh straight time and completed their second straight three-game series sweep of Oakland. They went 5-1 on their six-game road trip.McHugh (12-10) allowed two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking two. He won his 11th straight September game in 13 starts since 2014 with the Astros and improved to 6-1 in his career against Oakland.Dodgers 9, Giants 3LOS ANGELES -- Yasiel Puig... [More]

RHP John Lackey (10-8) picked up his first victory since Aug. 9 and joined four fellow starters with double-digit wins as the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-2 on Wednesday night. Lackey, who missed 19 games with a right shoulder strain in August, had four strikeouts and walked just one while throwing 87 pitches. "I've only had a couple of games since coming off the DL, so I'm still building up a little bit," said Lackey, who allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings. "I felt like I got better tonight as far as arm strength. I should be right on time for when this gets real."

RHP John Lackey (9-8, 3.42 ERA) is the last Cubs starter without a double-digit win total, but he hopes to rectify that in his 28th start of the season Wednesday against the Reds. Lackey had a no-decision in his last start -- a 5-4, come-from-behind Cubs win over the Brewers in 10 innings on Friday. He is 2-1 with a 2.36 ERA in his past seven starts, but he is 1-2 with a 6.38 ERA in three starts against Cincinnati this season. In his career against the Reds, Lackey is 4-4 with a 3.65 ERA in 12 st

RHP John Lackey earned a no-decision in his third start since returning from the disabled list earlier this month. He struck out eight, the most since Aug. 3 against Miami and his seven-inning outing was also the longest since coming back. It was the first time he allowed three or more runs since July 17 versus Texas.

RHP John Lackey (9-8, 3.35 ERA) makes his 27th start of the season and 15th at home in Friday's afternoon game. In his last game on Sept. 10 at Houston, he allowed just two runs in six innings but took the loss in a 2-1 Cubs setback. He's gone 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA in his last six starts. Lackey missed 19 games after being played on the disabled list on Aug. 19 (retroactive to Aug. 15) with a right shoulder strain.

RHP John Lackey tossed his fourth consecutive quality start and his 19th on the season, which ranks tied for fifth in the National League and second on the staff behind LHP Jon Lester (23). Lackey, who allowed two runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts over six innings, is 2-2 with a 2.22 ERA over his last seven starts.

RHP John Lackey got a no-decision after a solid five-inning outing against San Francisco in his first Cubs start since Aug. 14. He allowed just one hit and two runs Sunday for his fourth career start of at least five innings with one or fewer hit allowed. Lackey was placed on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain on Aug. 19 (retroactive to Aug. 15), and he was activated Sunday. He did not require a rehab outing as part of his return. With 156 strikeouts, Lackey has struck out nearly one batter per inning while issuing only 43 walks.

RHP John Lackey (right shoulder strain) threw a bullpen session. Manager Joe Maddon believes Lackey, who hasn't pitched in the past two weeks, is targeting a September return

RHP John Lackey (right shoulder strain) was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Monday. The 37-year-old Lackey is 9-7 with a 3.41 ERA in 24 starts this season. An MRI revealed no structural issues. The move was more precautionary, and when manager Joe Maddon was asked if Lackey was in agreement with the decision, Maddon said. "John was very good. He gets it also, knowing that it's nothing really serious and we can calm it down right now, that's going to set him up for the rest of the year. I think he knew it was the right thing to do."

RHP John Lackey likely will miss his scheduled start on Saturday in Colorado but will stay off the disabled list for now. Cubs manager Joe Maddon said it is more a precaution after Lackey was afflicted by shoulder stiffness in his last start, a no-decision Sunday in a 6-4 loss to the Cardinals. LHP Mike Montgomery will make the start in his place.

RHP John Lackey exited the Sunday night game in the seventh inning due to a tight right shoulder, but he said after the game that he was fine. He allowed an unearned run and four hits, struck out five and walked one in 6 2/3 innings against St. Louis. Lackey is 1-1 with a 2.03 ERA in four starts against the Cardinals.

RHP John Lackey (9-7) gave up just one run on three hits while striking out six and walking just one on Tuesday. "He had an exceptional slider tonight and a really good changeup. Those were the two pitches that were really as good as I've seen for a while," said Cubs manager Joe Maddon. "That's why he was able to pitch so deeply into the game and so well." Lackey retired 12 straight batters after giving up a first inning solo home run. Right-handed batters were 0-for-18 against Lackey on Tuesday and are now batting just .195 this season.