LIVE: Opening Day: Cubs vs. D-backs

PHOENIX – For the Diamondbacks, Thursday’s Opening Day against the Cubs at Chase Field is a chance to put the disappointing end to 2024, when they missed the postseason due to a three-team tiebreaker, behind them and start fresh.

The fresh start the Cubs will be seeking is a lot more recent, after they went 0-2 against the Dodgers in the Tokyo Series.

Both teams come into the season with postseason expectations and a pair of star players they hope will lead them there. All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker, who was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Astros, will be a force in the North Siders’ lineup, while the D-backs made a splash this winter signing right-hander Corbin Burnes to a six-year, $210 million contract.

When is the game and how can I watch it?
Thursday at 7:10 p.m. MST/9:10 p.m. CT

Cubs: The game will be available on Marquee Sports Network, and will be aired on 670 AM The Score and WRTO 1200.

Diamondbacks: The game is available on DBACKS.TV and fans can check out dbacks.com/channelfinder for available providers and channel providers. The game will be available on the radio at Arizona Sports 98.7 FM and in Spanish on Latino Mix 100.3.

What are the starting lineups?

Cubs (projected)

1. Ian Happ, LF
2. Kyle Tucker, RF
3. Seiya Suzuki, DH
4. Michael Busch, 1B
5. Dansby Swanson, SS
6. Nico Hoerner, 2B
7. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
8. Matt Shaw, 3B
9. Miguel Amaya, C

Cubs manager Craig Counsell has flip-flopped Tucker and Suzuki between the Nos. 2-3 spots and will likely continue to do so at the start of the year. Shaw has hit fifth so far, but the return of Hoerner could shake things up after the front four. Counsell will also be splitting playing time behind the plate between Amaya and Carson Kelly.

Diamondbacks

1. Ketel Marte, 2B
2. Corbin Carroll, RF
3. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., LF
4. Josh Naylor, 1B
5. Gabriel Moreno, C
6. Eugenio Suárez, 3B
7. Randal Grichuk, DH
8. Jake McCarthy, CF
9. Geraldo Perdomo, SS

With the left-handed Justin Steele on the mound, Marte leads off, with Carroll second. Against righties, those two will likely switch. Grichuk gets the start against the lefty, while Pavin Smith will DH against righties.

Who are the starting pitchers?
Cubs: LHP Justin Steele
Steele, who followed Opening Day starter Shota Imanaga with a Game 2 nod in Tokyo on Wednesday, will make his second straight start in the Cubs’ domestic opener. The lefty got the Opening Day nod last season, but it wound up being his last start until May after a fifth-inning hamstring injury sent him to the injured list.

This will be a chance for Steele to bounce back after taking the loss at the Tokyo Dome. He gave up five runs on five hits, including two homers, while striking out five in four innings. Home runs were a problem in Cactus League play as well, but Counsell said he’s not at all concerned.

• Cubs-Diamondbacks Opening Day starting pitchers: Steele vs. Gallen

Diamondbacks: RHP Zac Gallen
After wrestling with the decision of whether to start Gallen or Burnes, Lovullo decided to go with Gallen, who will be making his third straight Opening Day start for the Diamondbacks. One of the deciding factors was Lovullo’s history with Gallen. Since coming over at the Trade Deadline in 2019, Gallen and Lovullo have been together for the lows -- a 110-loss season in 2021 -- and the highs – a trip to the World Series in 2023.

Lovullo said he began contemplating which pitcher to start as soon as he was told the team had signed Burnes and asked 32 people in the organization for their pick between the two; the vote was split 16-16.

How might the bullpens line up after the starter?
Cubs: The Cubs’ main offseason addition for the bullpen was landing veteran closer Ryan Pressly, who should get the bulk of save chances at least to start the season. Righty Porter Hodge emerged as an option for the ninth last year and is poised to be one of Chicago’s primary late-inning arms, with Nate Pearson and Julian Merryweather also chipping in in the final frames.

Beyond that group, the Cubs added veterans Caleb Thielbar and Ryan Brasier over the winter, and have righties Colin Rea and Brad Keller as multi-inning options. Brasier begins the season on the IL, with another offseason addition, right-hander Eli Morgan making the stateside Opening Day roster.

Diamondbacks: After saying at the outset of the spring that he wanted to name a closer by Opening Day, Lovullo recently reversed course and elected not to choose one. Instead, look for lefty A.J. Puk and right-hander Justin Martinez to each get opportunities in the ninth depending on which has the more favorable matchups.

The Diamondbacks have some length in the bullpen after deciding to keep starter Ryne Nelson and shift him to relief after he lost out to Brandon Pfaadt for the fifth spot in the rotation.

Any injuries of note?
Cubs: Righty Javier Assad (left oblique) is on the 15-day injured list, removing a layer of depth for the rotation. He has built back up to facing hitters in his throwing progression. Right-hander reliever Tyson Miller (left hip impingement) is also sidelined for the Cubs. Brasier begins the season on the 15-day IL with a left groin strain, while utility man Vidal Bruján hit the 10-day IL (retroactive to March 23) with a right elbow strain.

Diamondbacks: It was a relatively healthy spring for the D-backs right until the end, when they lost left-hander Jordan Montgomery to a season-ending elbow injury.

Who’s hot and who’s not?
Cubs: Crow-Armstrong swung a hot bat this spring with a 1.391 OPS, and Busch did likewise with a 1.131 OPS.

Meanwhile, Tucker did not swing the bat well with a .408 OPS.

Diamondbacks: The Arizona offense has been clicking on all cylinders this spring with Carroll, Suarez, Marte, Naylor, Grichuk and Smith posting big numbers.

On the pitching side, Gallen has thrown the ball very well this spring as has Puk and Martinez.

Anything else fans might want to know?
Cubs
? Hoerner spent the bulk of Spring Training building up in a throwing program, following his October surgery to address a flexor tendon issue in his right forearm. He skipped the trip to Japan, but was deemed ready for the Cubs’ domestic opener.

? Imanaga technically could have been lined up to start the opener against the D-backs, but the exhausting nature of the Tokyo Series led to him being pushed back a couple days. Imanaga is also now potentially on target to start the home opener against the Padres on April 4 at Wrigley Field.

Diamondbacks
? Arizona State University head football coach Kenny Dillingham will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and be joined by quarterback Sam Leavitt, wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, defensive back Xavion Alford and defensive lineman C.J. Fite.

? Rally towels will be handed out to the first 20,000 fans through the gates, courtesy of AZ Complete Health.