Cubs

We already knew Wade Miley (left elbow inflammation) and Andrelton Simmons (right shoulder inflammation) would be in that group, but Alec Mills (low back strain) ...

And it’s going to be needed. Narrator: They won’t. Alfonso Rivas has made the roster as well and will provide a lefty bat at first. That opens the door for Keegan Thompson to take a spot in the rotation for at least the first turn.

1. Rafael Ortega, DH · 2. Nick Madrigal, 2B · 3. Willson Contreras, C · 4. Ian Happ, LF · 5. Frank Schwindel, 1B · 6. Seiya Suzuki, RF · 7. Jason Heyward, CF · 8.

Suzuki is a strong bet to move up in the lineup as the season moves on, but starting him off lower in the order is a wise move (and today’s assignment against Burnes is going to be a particular challenge). With so many new faces around the diamond – and a new position, entirely (DH) – I really had no clue how this lineup was going to shake out. Let’s take a look at how David Ross is lining up his group for the first game of the season.

Cubs pitchers posted a 4.65 ERA, which doesn't sound great — but it was second among all Cactus League teams (Rangers, 4.64). Cubs pitchers ranked fourth among ...

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. The Red Sox/Yankees opener today has been postponed, so MLB Network is carrying the Cubs/Brewers game outside the Cubs and Brewers markets. Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. Here’s a list of providers currently carrying Marquee. Also, those of you outside the Cubs and Brewers market territory who don’t subscribe to MLB.TV or MLB Extra Innings have lucked out. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post. - THE SENIOR CUBS: Today’s starting pitcher, Kyle Hendricks, is the longest-serving Cub. He debuted with the team (and in MLB) in July 2014. Corbin Burnes won the NL Cy Young Award and threw a no-hitter last year. - THE SPRING NUMBERS: Knowing these don’t necessarily mean much, the Cubs led all teams in walks this spring with 77. - THE NEW GUYS: The Cubs have 14 new players on the 40-man roster since the conclusion of the 2021 season. You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section. One Cub did manage to homer off him in 2021: Ian Happ. Granted, 2020, pandemic season, in July, but that was still Opening Day. Mychal Givens, Chris Martin, Daniel Norris, David Robertson, Drew Smyly, Marcus Stroman, Wade Miley, Yan Gomes, Andrelton Simmons, Jonathan Villar, Clint Frazier and Seiya Suzuki were signed as free agents.

It's hardly a surprise, but the Cubs Opening Day weather forecast is about what you'd expect: chilly, breezy and overcast at Wrigley Field.

Throw in a few pregame beverages or maybe a breakfast hot dog or two at a local establishment and you’ll have what you need to get the day started. So don’t hit the ATM before the game and make sure you have your cards in your wallet. Anyone with any Cubs Opening Day experience knows not to expect lovely summer vibes at the Friendly Confines this time of year.

The Cubs have their home opener on MLB Opening Day. Here's what time it starts, and how to watch.

To accommodate fans returning home, the Yellow Line will run for an hour later from Howard – until midnight – for all night games at Wrigley Field. Public Transportation for Wrigley Field: The CTA runs extra trains and buses before and after Cubs games. If you're headed down to the Friendly Confines for the game, make sure to pack a warm raincoat. - Yellow Line: Take the Yellow Line southbound and transfer at Howard to the Red Line; continue to Addison station. - Purple Line: During weeknight games, southbound Purple Line Express trains will stop at Sheridan, where riders can either walk three blocks south on Sheridan/Sheffield to the ballpark or transfer to a southbound Red Line train and exit at the Addison station. Their first game of the season is a day game, beginning at 1:20 p.m. at Wrigley Field.

Cubs outfielder Rafael Ortega made his major-league debut a decade ago. He's played for five different big-league clubs in the time since.

Mills is expected to spend a minimum stint on the IL, so he could return as early as mid-week next week.. As the Cubs announced their roster, they also placed three players on the 10-day injured list. He’s played for five different big-league clubs in the time since.

And with Wade Miley and Adbert Alzolay on the shelf to start the year, that means Justin Steele is getting a MASSIVE opportunity to start Game 2 of the regular ...

• DH – Rafael Ortega • CF – Jason Heyward • 2B – Nick Madrigal Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Brewers (0-0) enter the season as the division favorites, behind the strength of their formidable run prevention unit. So here’s to (1) A big Opening Day performance from Kyle Hendricks and (2) Spoiling the Brewers’ season. As a reminder, the universal Designated Hitter has hit MLB this season, meaning that the Cubs have an entirely new position to fill.

The Brewers enter the season with plenty of questions. Can the pitching staff repeat their dominance from 2021? Will Christian Yelich and Keston Hiura bounce ...

This series is important for the Crew as they try to set the tone for 2022 in the NL Central. Saturday: Marcus Stroman, RHP (10-13, 3.02 ERA, 1.145 WHIP, 3.49 FIP) vs. While the Cubs have certainly improved from September, the Brewers have also added more weapons on offense, including Hunter Renfroe and Andrew McCutchen. The Brewers enter the season with plenty of questions. But this isn’t 2021 anymore; the Cubs have improved from last year. The Brewers have mostly stood still.

The Milwaukee Brewers open the season Thursday afternoon vs. the Chicago Cubs. Follow live updates from our reporters at Wrigley Field.

the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field Follow live updates from our reporters at Wrigley Field.

The Chicago Cubs have announced thier entire roster for the 2022 MLB season. It is a team with mixed expectations right away.

This is the roster that will try to get it done: The National League is loaded this year so it will be fun to see if the Cubs can compete with there being an extra playoff spot this year. There are veterans that are going to play for the Cubs this year mixed in with some very young players.

Ross said he planned to call a meeting to congratulate the first-time guys. That group features Justin Steele, Keegan Thompson, Scott Effross, Ethan Roberts, ...

Ross recalled a bus ride to Dodger Stadium before the 2002 season, which turned out to be his rookie campaign. Just walking through this locker room, seeing guys, it’s awesome. “It's just one of those things you don't take for granted. “We pull into the players lot and there's a big David Ross poster on the side of Dodger Stadium.” “It’s awesome for sure,” Rivas said. Then-teammate Shawn Green told Ross he would know if he made the team if there was a picture of him on the side of Dodger Stadium.

Opening Day is finally here and the Red Sox/Yankees game being postponed means Cubs are playing the first game of the MLB season.

This one threatens to be ugly, either due to the weather or the performance, but maybe that means the Cubs can drag the Crew down into the mud and wrestle with them a little. After the last several years, that could be a good thing to an extent. With a value of 24.2 runs saved, that Burnes offering was more valuable than the next 10 highest cutters combined. He’s had difficulty finding his groove early in games, which is where the weather and the Brewers lineup might help. Before dismissing those eight dingers over the last three of his four spring starts, remember that Hendricks allowed a career-high 31 bombs last season. That one also came after a shortened ramp-up that followed labor disagreements, though the timing and underlying issues were slightly different.

The Rundown: Today Is Baseball Day, Keith Law Likes Cubs' Chances, Braves Selling $151 Burger, Lots of MLB Predictions · 87. Special Guest Taylor McGregor, Cubs ...

- “I don’t know if there’s a better place I’ve ever been, and Opening Day is special. Drunk in the Day by Wally Dogger – You knew it was coming since it is now a five-year tradition. Start of a new journey. The cost is a gut-busting $151. All-Star third baseman José Ramírez and the Guardians are in agreement on a five-year, $124 million contract extension. It’s Opening Day for the love of Mike, so have a little fun. It is unfair to compare the two teams other than to say nothing is impossible, but baseball is more about probability and hard data points than possibility and random chance. If anything, the above projections validate statements made earlier by Jed Hoyer that he expects the Cubs to compete this year while building for an even brighter future. If you add a power bat from the left side and another proven starter before the deadline, this could be a bottom-seed playoff team. According to the site, Kilian will slot in the rotation (by rank, not order) right after Marcus Stroman, Kyle Hendricks, and Wade Miley, and is expected to be worth 1.8 WAR by the end of the season. That rotation relegates Jason Heyward to OF4, which, and I hate to say it because I respect the heck out of J-Hey, is addition by subtraction. I’ve been hard on the Cubs this offseason, but as I was preparing for my fantasy baseball auction last night I changed my views in a radical way.

The Chicago Cubs placed right-hander Alec Mills, left-hander Wade Miley and shortstop Andrelton Simmons on the 10-day injured list on Thursday.

The Cubs are hoping Miley can help shore up their rotation after a tough 2021 season. Rucker, who turns 28 on April 27, had no record and a 6.99 ERA in 20 appearances for Chicago last summer in his first big league action. Mills has a low back strain, and Miley is dealing with left elbow inflammation.

The Chicago Cubs did enough against reigning Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes and the Milwaukee Brewers' bullpen to pull out a 5-4 opening-day win.

His two-run shot put the Cubs ahead and marked his first long ball since Sept. 21, 2019, a span of 324 plate appearances. Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes kept the Cubs offense in check through the first four innings, giving up just one hit. Suzuki hustled from first-to-third on the play and scored the Cubs’ first run on Patrick Wisdom’s sacrifice fly.

Nico Hoerner hit the majors' first homer of 2022 and Kyle Hendricks pitched neatly into the sixth, leading Chicago to the victory on a chilly, overcast ...

But the Cubs responded with three in the fifth. But there is a wintry mix of precipitation in the forecast. Caratini was acquired in a trade with San Diego on Wednesday. Suzuki singled in the fifth for his first big league hit and walked twice. McCutchen served as the designated hitter in his first game with his new team after agreeing to a one-year deal last month. Clint Frazier and Willson Contreras scored on Happ's second double of the day. Steele made his big league debut in 2021, going 4-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 20 appearances, including nine starts. The 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner allowed three runs and four hits in five innings. Woodruff went 9-10 with a career-best 2.56 ERA in 30 starts last year. “Never really actually found the command of the cutter,” Burnes said. The Brewers erased a 3-1 deficit with two runs in the seventh, but the Cubs went ahead to stay in the bottom half. Happ had three hits, including a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh inning, and the Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 on Thursday.

The Chicago Cubs' roster has a new look, but fans are happy to return to their traditions on Opening Day.

“The pictures were priceless.” “Every season, every mask is different,” Gonzalez said. But I do the masks,” Gonzalez said. “And I got banned for life.” “We’ve got the whole season ahead of us and it’s a fresh start. “We’ve had opening days, but this is the first one in a few years we’re at full capacity,” McNeill said. Opening Day is like a homecoming for the regulars. Gracia grew up in Bridgeport, right behind “US never sellout Field,” he said. “I’m excited to be back,” Swartz said. And the weather wasn’t a deterrent. As Odon predicted Nisei’s prospects, he poured a shot of the local liquor for a patron. “I’ve suffered a lot of years,” Chekos joked.

The Chicago Cubs aren't expected to contend this season, based on projections. Manager David Ross doesn't like that narrative.

The Cubs must have a lot of things break their way to finish above .500 and truly threaten atop the division. For the Cubs to threaten at the top of the division, it will require standout performances in key areas. Left-hander Justin Steele being the real deal in the rotation, with his stuff, would provide a big boost for the short- and long-term outlook. Baseball Prospectus’ updated PECOTA standings put the Cubs fourth in the division at 73-89 with a 4% probability of reaching the playoffs. And with so many unknowns on its roster, the lack of proven players is reflected in projections of how they will fare. The upbeat vibe that typically accompanies the beginning of a baseball season counters the projections for each team’s path.

CHICAGO -- The Cubs fan in the left-field bleachers who caught Nico Hoerner's Opening Day home run was stunned. He held the ball skyward, ...

“Man, to be honest, I really believe in the group that we have right now,” Cubs catcher Willson Contreras said. “Nice to get that first one in the books,” Cubs manager David Ross said. “We wanted to build a team that could compete. As part of that 2016 title club, Contreras, like Hendricks, is one of the core stars still in the fold. We also wanted to really keep an eye on the future. This place is so special to me that I will always keep it in my heart.” And Hoerner, who is out to prove he can emerge from Javier Báez's shadow as Chicago’s everyday shortstop for the next several years, electrified the crowd with that stunning homer. That included a go-ahead two-run double off the yet-to-bloom ivy in center field in the seventh. Kyle Hendricks, one of the few remaining pieces from the 2016 World Series club, wanted to set an aggressive tone for the pitching staff. Surprising. Reaching the playoffs is a goal, but it will be up to an overhauled cast of characters to see if reality will match aspirations. CHICAGO -- The Cubs fan in the left-field bleachers who caught Nico Hoerner's Opening Day home run was stunned. "I feel really good about the health of the organization from a financial standpoint.

GM Jed Hoyer says he likes the product on the field but is trying to build for the future. Sound familiar?

The highlight of the Cubs’ offseason was the signing of Japanese star Seiya Suzuki to a five-year deal. “One of the things that’s really hard when you’re in kind of a winning mode, it’s hard to give guys opportunities. Pay attention to the draft and the prospects.’’ He said the 2022 Cubs would be a “scrappy group,’’ which is a baseball euphemism for “uh-oh.’’ He talked about the Cubs’ offseason signing of pitcher Marcus Stroman as proof it wasn’t all doom and gloom after the team’s trade of household names Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javy Baez last season. A team says it has to part with stars it can’t pay anymore, then won’t use all the money it saved by trading those stars to sign more good players. If you thought you had given all the blood you could afford to give without dying during the rebuilding years of 2011-14, well, let’s take a look at the veins in your other arm. “We’re not asking them to be patient. My goal would be to compete on the field but really try to build a farm system that can create something special like we did last time.’’ Whatever Hoyer wants to call it, he’s right about one thing: Teams are selling the idea that periodic, almost regularly scheduled ups and downs are part of doing business these days. It might turn out to be something like 2013 or 2014, he said, when the Cubs stunk but Kris Bryant kept Cubs fans’ hearts warm by tearing up minor-league pitching. “Rebuild” is not a word Hoyer recognizes because he knows a complete overhaul brings very little short- to midterm joy for fans and because he and ownership know that selling hope is smart business. The franchise’s payroll has gone from $221.6 million in 2019 to $141.8 million this year.

As the stands at Wrigley Field slowly filled with fans bundled in Cubbie blue, outfielder Seiya Suzuki for the first time watched the ballpark come alive.

He, in turn, will react to the new way pitchers approach him. But I came to this stage to challenge myself and to be able to face pitchers of that caliber. Shortstop Nico Hoerner then gave the Cubs the lead by belting a two-run home run — his first homer since September 2019 — in the same inning. ‘‘It’s not just the baseball, it’s everything else, right?’’ Masamoto said in a conversation with the Sun-Times. ‘‘Your lifestyle’s changing 180 degrees. You face [Cubs right-hander Marcus] Stroman, and he gives you 17 different [looks]. I think that [Suzuki’s] creativeness and being able to adapt to the pitcher at that time is something that I’ve probably been the most impressed with.’’ The first stages of Suzuki’s on-field adjustment played out in spring training.

Seiya Suzuki made his MLB debut and went 1-for-2 with a walk in the Cubs' 5-4 win over the Brewers.

“It feels like he's getting comfortable with every at-bat, right?” David Ross said. It’s nice to see him get his first knock, making guys throw in the zone. “I came to this stage to challenge myself and to be able to face pitchers at that caliber," Suzuki said. “It was actually really fun,” Suzuki said through Toy Matsushita, his interpreter. "It's going to bring my game to another level. He batted sixth and played right field.

Jed Hoyer discussed expectations around the 2022 Cubs ahead of their 5-4 Opening Day win over the Brewers.

“Now we have to go out and play. "I really believe in the group that we have right now," catcher Willson Contreras said. “I feel really good about it from a prospecting young player standpoint. “We also wanted to really keep an eye on the future. I think we got a lot of talent." I think there’s a good vibe about this team.”

The Chicago Cubs placed right-hander Alec Mills, left-hander Wade Miley and shortstop Andrelton Simmons on the 10-day injured list on Thursday.

The Cubs are hoping Miley can help shore up their rotation after a tough 2021 season. Rucker, who turns 28 on April 27, had no record and a 6.99 ERA in 20 appearances for Chicago last summer in his first big league action. Mills has a low back strain, and Miley is dealing with left elbow inflammation.

Mills has a low back strain, and Miley is dealing with left elbow inflammation. Simmons is working through right shoulder inflammation. Mills' IL stint helped ...

The Cubs are hoping Miley can help shore up their rotation after a tough 2021 season. Rucker, who turns 28 on April 27, had no record and a 6.99 ERA in 20 appearances for Chicago last summer in his first big league action. Miley was claimed off waivers on Nov. 5 after he went 12-7 with a 3.37 ERA in 28 starts for the Cincinnati Reds, throwing his first career no-hitter in May.

Chicago wins the first game of the MLB season, sparked by Ian Happ and Kyle Hendricks, who pitches into the sixth inning to get the win. Associated Press.

In the postseason, Pressly had a 0.93 ERA with 14 strikeouts in six games. McCutchen served as the designated hitter in his first game with his new team after agreeing to a one-year deal last month. Mills has a low back strain, and Miley is dealing with left elbow inflammation. It remained tied until the eighth, when the Royals’ Michael Taylor worked a walk off Triston McKenzie (0-1) and then took second on Nicky Lopez’s sacrifice bunt. Clint Frazier and Willson Contreras scored on Happ’s second double of the day. Chicago also designated outfielder Micker Adolfo for assignment and outrighted catcher Seby Zavala to Charlotte. Suzuki singled in the fifth for his first big league hit and walked twice. Andrew Benintendi drove in Witt after his clutch hit, giving Royals reliever Scott Barlow (1-0) a cushion. The 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner allowed three runs and four hits in five innings. Simmons is working through right shoulder inflammation. And after a perfect eighth, Barlow struck out Myles Straw with runners on the corners in the ninth to end it. With runners on the corners and two outs, Happ hit a drive off Jake Cousins that caromed off the wall in center.

The plate discipline new outfielder Seiya Suzuki showed during camp was evident in his major-league debut for the Chicago Cubs.

He surrendered a run on a one-out sacrifice fly to trim the lead to 5-4, prompting Ross to replace Wick with Givens, who got the final out of the eighth on a full-count strikeout to strand the tying run on second. The Cubs debuted an entirely new infield against the Milwaukee Brewers, a blend of last season’s unexpected standouts and, the organization hopes, their double-play tandem for years to come. For the first time since 2002, the four Cubs infielders — Frank Schwindel, Nick Madrigal, Nico Hoerner and Patrick Wisdom — made their first opening-day starts for the team. The Cubs had not mentioned any ailment Mills was dealing with during camp, but a low back strain means he is not eligible to join the team until April 14 at the earliest. With Monday’s off day, the Cubs won’t need a fifth starter until April 16 at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies. Mills could be an option for that game, but in the meantime the Cubs lose a proven multi-inning, versatile arm in the bullpen. “Those kinds of conversations, at some point you’re going to have one and then you just pray that it’s going to be a good one,” Rucker said of the waiting game to make the roster. “I‘ve been able to grasp the feeling of the game with all these at-bats coming from spring training and opening day,” Suzuki said. Ross wouldn’t commit to a singular closer when the topic was broached during spring training. He followed that with a single to left field on an 0-1 slider from Burnes in his second PA. The left-handed-hitting Rivas’ positional flexibility — able to man first base and the corner outfield spots — as well as his knack for pinch hitting (4-for-6 with an RBI and two runs last season), is valuable. Rucker got a taste of the majors last season, appearing in 20 games. But expanded rosters, no minor-league options and slugging off right-handers last season helped Ortega make the opening-day roster — and with it a career first.

The 2022 Major League Baseball season has arrived, and there was drama right from the first day. The Chicago Cubs got the first win of the season with an ...

- Oakland Athletics (0-0) at Philadelphia Phillies (0-0), 3:05 p.m. ET - Los Angeles Dodgers (0-0) at Colorado Rockies (0-0), 4:10 p.m. ET - Seattle Mariners (0-0) at Minnesota Twins (0-0), 4:10 p.m. ET - ASTROS 3, ANGELS 1: Framber Valdez outdueld Shohei Ohtani in Houston's 3-1 over Los Angeles, the Astros' 10th straight win on Opening Day, tying a major-league record. - Chicago White Sox (0-0) at Detroit Tigers (0-0), 1:10 p.m. ET Valdez was fabulous, allowing just two hits in 6 2/3 innings. - REDS 6, BRAVES 3: The Atlanta Braves hoisted their 2021 World Series banner on Thursday night, but Cincinnati stole its thunder in a 6-3 win. Reds third baseman Brandon Drury, hitting out of the nine hole, hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning to blow the game open. Pittsburgh had just six hits in the shutout. Willie Adames, Andrew McCutcheon and Rowdy Tellez all had two hits for Milwaukee. “My changeup played off of a lot of good curveballs at the right times, so overall, I was pretty good at being aggressive and setting the tone,” Hendricks said. Check it out every day and bookmark our site.

The Cubs kicked off the 2022 season at Wrigley Field Thursday against the NL Central Division champion Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago was able to score three ...

Chicago battled right back in the bottom of the frame with Ian Happ splitting the gap with a two-run double to put his team ahead 5-3. The Cubs got a lot of promising performances from key players in this game. Seiya Suzuki sparked a Cubs rally in the bottom of the 5th with his first career hit. It’s always fun to start the year with a victory, but it’s even better when it’s over your division rival. After a run scored, Mychal Givens replaced Rowan Wick and struck out Mike Brosseau to preserve the 5-4 lead. Kyle Hendricks was very good on Thursday, keeping batters off balance with his changeup.

Baseball is back! Here is your one-stop shop to keep up with the action as your team takes the field.

Shohei Ohtani will be on the mound and he will be in the lineup, beginning what promises to be another enthralling season as a two-way player. All of which is to say his pitching line will be 6 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 1 walk and 9 strikeouts -- and he'll be in Cy Young contention throughout the season. And as a bonus Opening Day treat, the Shohei Ohtani Rule -- which allows him to remain in the game as a hitter after he's yanked as a pitcher -- gets its first whirl. Olney: He's not pitching on Opening Day, but I'll call that this will be the last year that future Hall of Famer Jacob deGrom is with the Mets. Steve Cohen has demonstrated he's ready and willing to invest in any way he feels can help the Mets, but there are just too many variables involved for deGrom to return -- the questions about his health now, his health moving forward, and most importantly, what he wants. The Cubs' first game of the season is against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. Rodriguez is slated to start in center field and will make his debut on Friday against the Minnesota Twins. Zack Greinke has been one of the best pitchers in the majors for almost two decades, and he cut his teeth as a young member of the Kansas City Royals from 2004 to 2010. Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain hit a groundout to first, but Andrew McCutchen was able to make it home to give visiting Milwaukee a 1-0 lead over the Cubs in the top of the fourth. He gave the Diamondbacks a victory in which Yu Darvish had pitched six no-hit innings for the Padres. And get this: He's the first rookie to hit a walk-off home run on Opening Day in a game his team was trailing. For the start of April, it was certainly a commendable performance -- and one the Reds hope he can build upon. The biggest pitch of his night came in the third inning when the score was still 0-0 and the Nationals had runners at the corners with one out and the dangerous Juan Soto at the plate. It turns out the 2022 season has begun similarly to the way the 2021 season unfolded for the Angels, who couldn't get anything going against Framber Valdez on Opening Day. But there's a clear bright side -- and that, of course, is Ohtani himself, who displayed impressive fastball command, threw a crisp slider and generally looked really good in his debut.

Despite frigid temperatures and blustery winds, the Cubs opened their season at Wrigley Field yesterday with a 5-4 win over the Brewers in a game that was about ...

- “I was working for that for years and years to have the opportunity to make the opening-day roster. - “I‘ve been able to grasp the feeling of the game with all these at-bats coming from spring training and opening day. The Cubs have a history of getting the most out of their relievers and Ross is a lot more comfortable once he has established predetermined bullpen roles, almost to a fault. Also nice to see…Hoerner hitting that laser beam that cleared the left-field wall. He got his first career MLB hit off of Burnes in the 5th inning. Chicago is unlikely to get a complete game from Justin Steele today, so expect some of the younger relievers to get their opportunities to shine. The Cubs and Brewers combined to go 3-for-8 amongst Rafael Ortega, Clint Frazier, and Andrew McCutchen. I’ll take that any time over watching Hendricks and Burnes wasting plate appearances. Certainly, a bullpen that is an intriguing mix of proven veterans and promising youth is going to remain a work in progress. Kyle Hendricks outpitched Corbin Burnes, Ian Happ is off to a torrid start, Seiya Suzuki got his first big league hit, and Nico Hoerner hit Chicago’s first home run of the season. Lost in all the festivities is something that would normally go unnoticed, but I thought David Ross handled his pitching staff better than I’ve seen in his previous two years managing the team. The Brewers were 15-4 against Chicago’s North Side baseballers last season, but the Cubs have the upper hand for now. Baseball’s back, baby, and the Cubs beat a division rival behind a pitcher who made the Brewers look like everyone has expected their hitters to look for years now.

Kyle Hendricks dazzled as Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner and Seiya Suzuki led the charge offensively with the Cubs coming away with a win on Opening Day.

After years of inconsistency that featured stretches of scorching hot play and ice-cold streaks alike, is this the year the outfielder puts it all together? His 20.5 percent swinging strike rate was, by leaps and bounds, higher than in any of his starts last year – in which he topped out on Aug. 23 against Colorado at 13.5 percent. He saw 19 pitches total – and also showcased some heads-up baserunning after notching a single to left, not to mention head-turning speed.

I will forever be grateful to you, one and all. Having a platform to explore my Cub fandom in this way is a special thing I don't take for granted. So thank you ...

A run scored and the Brewers cut their deficit in the game to one. This was a fun start to the season. WPA Play of the Game: Ian Happ batted with runners at the corners and two outs in the seventh against Jake Cousins. The score was tied at three at the time. That score is based on a +3 for Superhero and on down to a -3 for the Billy Goat. The award is, of course, named for ex-Cub Anthony Rizzo who flat dominated this measure for the first half dozen years the series ran. This will be noted and commented on many times, but I want to make clear: There is nothing subjective in the statistical portion of this piece. Happ doubled and two runs scored, the second of which ended up being the decisive run in the game. A quality win against the team that most have picked to win the division. This is where I’m going to talk about what’s on my mind in regards to the Cubs. Al does a full recap on the main page and so I’m not going to try to duplicate his efforts. I’m usually going to try to get you to tap the brakes when everything is going well. But I’m also going to try to keep you out of the doldrums when things aren’t going well. Hopefully, this team will take a step forward this year and be more consistently competitive en route to trying to put together the next contender. The focus will be on WPA. The top three players are the Superhero, Hero and Sidekick. Those will be the three highest (though not necessarily positive) scores for the game by WPA. The bottom three will be Billy Goat, Goat and Kid. Again, determined by WPA. I’ll also tell you what the top play by WPA was for each team.

Friday afternoon's game at Wrigley Field was postponed, one day after the Brewers suffered an opening-day loss to the Cubs.

It will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on May 30. The first game will be at 12:05 p.m. with the second to follow at 6:40. The team's Friday afternoon game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field was postponed, the Cubs announced 90 minutes prior to first pitch.

1. Clint Frazier, DH · 2. Nick Madrigal, 2B · 3. Willson Contreras, C · 4. Ian Happ, LF · 5. Seiya Suzuki, RF · 6. Jonathan Villar, SS · 7. Jason Heyward, CF · 8.

That’s part of the reason the Cubs brought Villar in over the offseason in the first place. In other words, David Ross might just be selling out for the long ball, especially if he feels confident about the contact ability already present in Villar and Madrigal. And in any case, I’m just happy to see as much Frazier as possible, because I do believe he has a shot to break back out with the bat in a meaningful way for the Cubs. For one, we’ve got a new leadoff hitter today, Clint Frazier, one of the Cubs hottest bats this spring, subbing out Rafael Ortega at DH. Personally, I’d prefer to keep Ortega’s bat in there at center field over Jason Heyward, but that’s clearly just not going to happen so I’ll eventually stop mentioning it as a complaint. I don’t think this will be anything close to a strict platoon (Schwindel is the starter, in my mind), but against especially tough righties who throw hard and at the top of the zone? After that, we’ve got the lefty, Alfonso Rivas, coming in for Frank Schwindel at first base.

The Cubs put the best record in baseball against the Brewers, who are winless on the season after watching their Cy Young-winning ace fall Thursday.

Rather than sitting back and hoping he’ll walk them, the Cubs can take control by matching his aggressiveness and looking to do damage on good pitches. His curve is his best secondary by far, though his changeup is a solid pitch that can get whiffs and grounders. He’s got the ability to dominate, it’s just a matter of pitching efficiently and not being forced to throw strikes after falling behind. Steele can hold his own, though, and he’s got the ability to shut down any lineup with his mid-90s velocity and nasty breaking stuff. Clint Frazier will be a big part of that at he looks to bounce back from a down year with the Yankees that saw him struggle through concussion issues. The Cubs certainly had fun on Opening Day, jumping on Corbin Burnes with a combination of good luck and unexpected power indicative of this roster’s best-possible-scenario results.

CHICAGO – Chilly weather in an opening series is usually something that Cubs fans have gotten used to over the years at Wrigley Field, and 2022 has been no ...

The Cubs Double-A affiliate takes the field tonight in their home opener. Here is what you need to know about the team.

He stole 44 bases last year, 42 in South Bend and two with the Smokies. He also a guy who plays with such joy that it’s obvious even over an internet video feed. Right-handed starter Javier Assad had a rough season with the Smokies last year after a solid season with the Pelicans in 2019. Lawson is another one of those pitchers who looked good in South Bend but not so good in Tennessee. Kobos jumped around the system last year, filling in where he could. Right-hander Cam Sanders struck out a lot of hitters as a starter for the Smokies last year. This is his third season as a pitching coach in the Cubs’ system, starting as South Bend’s pitching coach in 2019. The Cubs took Brandon Hughes in the 16th-round of the 2017 draft as an outfielder. He played 149 games in the majors as an outfielder for the Twins and Angels from 2002 to 2010. Before joining the Cubs organization in 2019, he spent six years as a hitting coach in the Twins organization. He hit .220 in 101 games with the Smokies in 2021. Even if he just retains the gains he made last year, a future as a fourth outfielder is certainly possible. The Cubs got him from the Padres in the Jake Marisnick trade. And every one of them will take special joy in sticking it to everyone who didn’t list them as a top prospect if and when they make the majors.

Chicago Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner wasn't in the lineup Friday before the game was postponed — all part of manager David Ross' plan.

After making 33 career starts at shortstop the previous three seasons in a backup role, Hoerner’s defensive work at short stood out during camp, at times impossible to ignore. “It’s the same concept, so just communicating those guys, let them know,” Ross said. Ross’ 15 years in the majors predominately as a backup catcher allow him to relate to how players feel not being in the lineup every game. “It’s just about communicating to those guys and making sure I’m getting ahead of that,” Ross said. That served as the motivation for Ross to meet with Hoerner after Thursday’s game. Instead, Ross opted to start Jonathan Villar at shortstop, giving Hoerner the day off.