Jon Lester is back.
The Cubs ace has been activated off the 10-day injured list and will take the mound Thursday against the Dodgers, the team announced.
The #Cubs today activated LHP Jon Lester off of the 10-day IL. LHP Tim Collins was optioned to @IowaCubs following last night’s game. pic.twitter.com/j5i3Vn95KF
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 25, 2019
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To make room on their roster, the Cubs sent pitcher Tim Collins to Triple-A Iowa.
Lester, 35, was placed on IL on April 10 (retroactived to April 9) after he sustained a left hamstring injury April 8 against the Pirates.
Lester was 1-0 record after his Opening Day start and has a 2.57 ERA in three starts this season.
He will try to help the Cubs sweep the Dodgers at home in the third game of their series. According to the Chicago Tribune, Lester — who didn't go on a minor-league rehab — is expected to throw up to 80 pitches and Tyler Chatwood is available in long relief.
He won't take the mound in the team's next series, against the Diamondbacks, as the Cubs' projected rotation will send Kyle Hendricks, Yu Darvish, and José Quintana to the mound, in that order, in a three-game series in Phoenix, followed by an off-day on Monday.