The Chicago Cubs suffered from the dreaded World Series hangover last season, but they still managed to win 92 games and get back to the National League Championship Series. Their quest for a second world championship in three years begins Thursday with the opener of a four-game road series against the Miami Marlins.
The Cubs have some new faces on the roster, including closer Brandon Morrow and right-hander Yu Darvish, who is slated to start the third game of the series on Saturday. They also figure to have a new leadoff hitter in Ian Happ, who hit seven home runs this spring after belting 24 in 115 games as a rookie last season. The Marlins stayed in the playoff race longer than expected last year but finished with a 77-85 record for their eighth straight losing season. They’ve since parted ways with several star players – including Giancarlo Stanton, Dee Gordon, Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich, leaving third-year manager Don Mattingly with a young, inexperienced club.
TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jon Lester (2017: 13-8, 4.33 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Jose Urena (14-7, 3.82)
Lester’s ERA last season was his highest since 2012, but he had a solid spring, posting a 2.81 ERA over four starts. The 34-year-old is making his seventh career Opening Day start and his third straight with the Cubs. Lester is 1-2 with a 4.66 ERA in five turns against the Marlins and has allowed five runs over 14 innings in the last two meetings.
Urena had a breakout season in 2017, his first full campaign as a starter in the major leagues. The 26-year-old Dominican went 5-5 with a 3.21 ERA at home last year. Urena is 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA in three career starts against Chicago and won both meetings last season, allowing a total of three runs over 11 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Happ went 10-for-21 with two doubles and a home run against Miami last season, including 3-for-5 with a double and a blast versus Urena.
2. Marlins C J.T. Realmuto is expected to open the season on the disabled list with a bruised lower back, which he suffered on March 11.
3. Miami 3B Martin Prado also will start the campaign on the DL, meaning Brian Anderson is slated to begin the year as the starter at third base.