Cubs manager Joe Maddon said that Lackey could be an option out of the bullpen in the playoffs, ESPN Chicago's Jesse Rogers reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lackey tossed one inning in relief Sunday afternoon, giving up one run on two hits and taking the loss. There are signs suggesting that Lackey will retire upon the conclusion of the Cubs' season in the coming weeks, as he'll turn 39 later this month and is coming off a season in which he posted his highest ERA (4.59) since 2011 (6.41).

Lackey, 38, seems likely to retire after this season, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Lackey has not confirmed this, but Jon Lester, who is Lackey's closest friend in baseball, said as much during the Cubs' celebration Wednesday after clinching the NL Central. "Tonight was probably (Lackey's) last regular-season start. Here's to one hell of a career," Lester said to teammates after Wednesday's game. The veteran righty certainly could find work if he wanted to after this season, but he doesn't really have anything left to prove, so it would make sense if he retired. Lackey has a career 188-146 record, 3.91 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 19.1 percent strikeout rate. It is unclear if he will be a part of the postseason rotation.

Lackey (12-11) picked up the win over the Cardinals on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over six innings while striking out three.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran righty's first win in nearly a month was a big one, as the Cubs clinched the NL Central title with the victory. The team has yet to set their postseason rotation, but Lackey could slot in as their No. 4 starter given his 3.68 ERA in the second half.

Lackey allowed three runs on six hits and two walks over four innings in a no-decision Friday against Milwaukee.

EDGE Analysis

Lackey failed to complete the fifth inning for the second consecutive start. He was undone by back-to-back home runs off the bats of Stephen Vogt and Brett Phillips in the second inning and needed 77 pitches to get just 12 outs. Lackey's ERA sits at 4.67 and we should expect the Cubs to keep a short leash on him whenever he appears from here on out.

Lackey was ejected in the top of the fifth inning Friday against the Cardinals after giving up two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four in 4.2 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Home plate umpire Jordan Baker failed to make a blatant strike three call and then Carlos Martinez laced the next pitch for an RBI single. Lackey then stormed to home plate, livid, and was tossed, along with catcher Willson Contreras. While Contreras likely faces a suspension after he bounced his face mask and it hit Baker in the leg, Lackey may not suffer any further punishment, despite the demonstrative nature of his tirade.

Lackey (11-11) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks and struck out nine over seven innings but still took the loss Friday to the Brewers.

EDGE Analysis

Lackey managed to complete consecutive quality starts for the first time since June 18 and June 23 against the Marlins and Pirates respectively. It wasn't enough to earn the win, though, as Jimmy Nelson and the Brewers bullpen combined for a shutout. Still, this return to form has to be encouraging for the Cubs, who watched Lackey allow 10 earned runs over 10 innings in his last two starts of August.

Lackey (11-10) picked up the win against the Braves on Friday, allowing three hits over seven scoreless innings while striking out five.

EDGE Analysis

It was the veteran's longest outing since June 2, and the first time he hasn't walked a batter since July 5. Lackey's 4.74 ERA is still a huge step back from last year's performance, but he'll continue filling out the back of the Cubs rotation down the stretch, with his next start coming Thursday in Pittsburgh.

Lackey (10-10) allowed four runs on six hits and one walk across five innings while taking the loss Sunday against the Phillies. He struck out eight.

EDGE Analysis

Lackey faded as his pitch count climbed in this one, allowing all four runs on his ledger in the fifth inning on three hits, an error, a walk and a pair of wild pitches. Though in line for the win much of the game, Lackey received no run support after the first inning and was resigned to his 10th loss of the season. He delivered a solid, if unspectacular, string of starts into mid-August, but the veteran has now allowed 10 earned runs over 10 innings in his last two starts to raise his ERA back to a disappointing 4.98. Lackey will look to get back on track Friday against the Braves.

Lackey pitched five innings against the Reds on Tuesday, giving up six runs on nine hits -- including two homers -- while striking out three and walking one. He didn't factor into the decision in an eventual 13-9 win.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran righty was long gone by the time the Cubs rallied to score a combined nine runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Lackey's age-38 campaign has been a tough one, as his 4.90 ERA and 1.35 WHIP are not good fantasy stats, and he's now allowed a career-high 31 home runs over the course of 24 starts. Even when he's been performing relatively well -- as he did in a six-start stretch preceding Tuesday's outing -- Lackey has still been putting too many men on base and allowing too many homers. That's not a good combination, and with Lackey's contract up at the end of this season, we could be looking at the final few starts of his long and largely respectable MLB career.

Lackey allowed a single run on four hits and three walks while striking out six batters over six innings during Wednesday's win over Cincinnati. He didn't factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Lackey had won each of his past five outings with a 3.42 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 7.9 K/9 during that stretch, so this was another strong outing for the veteran. After all, he worked out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the first inning with just the lone run surrendered. Lackey's underwhelming 5.49 FIP shouldn't be ignored, and it's not out of the question to considering fading him in daunting matchups. However, his current form is encouraging, and with the Cubs in contention, it appears the veteran is in line to finish the season strong. Lackey projects to make his next start against the Reds at Great American Ball Park.