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The Chicago Cubs finally broke the curse, knocking off the Indians in a thrilling seven-game series to win their first World Series in more than 100 years in 2016. Now, what will they do for an encore? Chicago’s reign could be just beginning as it has talented pieces everywhere and will aim to get off to a quick start in a three-game series against the rival St. Louis Cardinals to open the season.
The Cardinals get these games at home and would love to take two of three as they aim to push the Cubs all season in the National League Central. However, Chicago has a fantastic starting rotation and a talented lineup which should give it a fair chance to win a couple games here despite the hostile confines.
All eyes will be on the Cubs this season and this will be a fantastic series to begin the year.
This series will be contested from Sunday, April 2, 2017 through Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Sunday’s clash is being shown live on ESPN, while Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s will be played on MLB Network.
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Pitching Matchups
The season opener should be a doozy, with the Cubs sending left-hander Jon Lester to the mound against the Cardinals’ Carlos Martinez. Lester was fantastic last season, finishing with a 19-5 record and a 2.44 ERA. He has well-chronicled struggles throwing to first base, but it has not adversely affected him on the mound.
Martinez went 16-9 with a 3.04 ERA a season ago, zooming to the top of the rotation as he showed the propensity for dominating hitters. Martinez will have to deal with a tough Cubs lineup but he has the stuff to throw a gem if he is locating well.
The second game will feature Jake Arrieta for the Cubs against Adam Wainwright for the Cardinals. They are a pair of veterans who could easily be Opening Day starters and it’s another matchup which could result in a pitching duel. John Lackey will pitch the third game for Chicago while the Cardinals have yet to settle on a starter for that game.
Run Prevention
The Cubs’ lineup was expected to be good last season, but the starting pitching staff was a pleasant surprise. Lester, Arrieta, Lackey and Kyle Hendricks all proved to be fantastic starting pitchers, and all are back this season. The team should continue to benefit from their excellent ability to throw strikes and keep batters off the bases.
They are buoyed by a fantastic defense behind them. If the Cardinals hit the ball in play, Chicago has shown the ability to be positioned well and make a ton of good plays. The starting infield of third baseman Kris Bryant, shortstop Addison Russell, second baseman Javy Baez and first baseman Anthony Rizzo is above average and really helps out the pitchers on grounders.
If the Cubs’ defense is exemplary again in 2017, there should be nothing holding back this team from becoming a juggernaut.
Youth Movement
The Cardinals were perennially the team to beat in the N.L. Central but the Cubs have overtaken that role, and some projection systems have St. Louis finishing below .500 on the season. Much depends on the play of some of the team’s young position players.
Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty played well a season ago while Aledmys Diaz is another critical piece. The Cubs are still young but now all of their players have great experience after winning last year’s World Series.
They are back and ready to overwhelm the competition in 2017. Chicago is the road team in the first three games but it won’t be a surprise if it comes away with a pair of victories in this series.
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