It begins.
Whom:
Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Where:
Wrigley Field
When:
1:20 PM Chicago Time
Weather:
It’s supposed to be sunny but in the mid-30’s during the game with 15-20 mph winds blowing in from left.
The Starting Pitchers:
Kyle Hendricks vs. Chad Kuhl
The Opponent:
The Pirates are the only pushover in the NL Central, at least as far as we know. Ke’Bryan Hayes, a top-ten prospect handling the hot corner, is expected to be their best player. Josh Bell is gone to Washington.
Of course, it’s Major League Baseball, so a pushover isn’t a pushover the same way one is in the NBA, the NFL, or in college sports. But this is about as easy of a draw as the Cubs could have asked for on Opening Day.
The Numbers:
Vegas has the Cubs as a -210 favorite, implying around a 65% likelihood of a win. The total is set at 7, but the odds on it are -115, implying a slight lean towards the under.
Cubs News:
The Cubs did not break camp with P.J. Higgins as the backup catcher, instead signing Tony Wolters. The 40-man roster currently stands at 41, so expect either a DFA or a move to the 60-day IL before gametime, but whatever the move is, it isn’t expected to dramatically affect the team.
Cubs Thoughts:
A reasonable goal is to win this series. It’ll be a lot easier to do that if the Cubs win today. Hendricks might be the only above-average starter in the North Side rotation, which raises both the outlook and the pressure. You want to win with your ace. Especially against the Pirates. Just one game of 162, but they all do count.
