March 31--MESA, Ariz. -- In his final tune-up before opening night, Chicago Cubs left-handed ace Jon Lester threw 84 pitches Tuesday under warm conditions at the Cubs' spring training complex.
Lester, who is trying to overcome a "dead arm" period, was challenged by temperatures in the high 80s and a group of pesky Cubs minor league hitters.
Lester, who is scheduled to face the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday night at Wrigley Field, threw 62 of 84 pitches for strikes while facing 20 batters. Lester's velocity topped out at 93 mph.
Lester appeared to fatigue in the latter stages of his start, which was observed by President Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and pitching coach Chris Bosio.
Lester allowed a two-run, opposite field double to Victor Caratini in his fourth inning.
In the fifth inning, Lester threw 24 pitches. Bijan Rademacher battled Lester from an 0-2 count to a 12-pitch at-bat that concluded with him fouling out to left field.
Rademacher fouled off the final four pitches of that at-bat after falling behind 0-2.
Lester's curve appeared sharper than his last minor league game on Thursday. Lester struck out four, but he allowed hits to Kevin Brown, Dustin Geiger and Jeffrey Baez before Albert Almora lined out to third to complete Lester's work.
Lester broke the bats of Almora and Caratini during a 13-pitch first inning in which he threw 11 pitches for strikes.
Davis Ross caught Lester, and it wouldn't be surprising if Ross, scheduled to spell Miguel Montero, gets the opneing night start because of his work with Lester in Boston the past two seasons.
The Cubs are expected to announce the alignment of their rotation no later than Wednesday.
