NEWSLETTER
With the final week of Spring Training just about at a close, we know the starting pitching lineup the Cubs are expecting to put out there for the first five games of the regular season.
As of today, the Cubs are scheduled to have Justin Steele take the opener in Texas, followed by Kyle Hendricks and then Jordan Wicks, Shota Imanaga open the next series against the Rockies, and Javier Assad rounds out the initial five (Montemurro). From there, the Cubs could just continue that cycle, or they might consider sliding in a fill-in starter to give everyone extra rest – it’s something they’ve been planning to do, but is a little trickier until Jameson Taillon is back.
That means Shota Imanaga, as confirmed by Craig Counsell, will be getting the home opener at Wrigley Field for his first ever MLB start. Pretty cool, and something that has never happened before in the long history of the organization:
The 30-year-old lefty coming over from Japan is excited to get to Chicago for the home opener, and start the season off on a good foot. via Marquee:
“I’m very honored to do that,” Imanaga said Sunday through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “I haven’t gotten advice, but I’ve heard it’s really cold and very windy. So, once I get to Chicago I want to figure out the environment and go from there ….
“As a player on the Cubs, I have a lot of responsibility, especially being a first-year player,” Imanaga said. “I want to have good results and carry the team into the postseason ….
“Just watching the games at Sloan Park and seeing the amount of fans — as well as when Bellinger signed, the first game he was there, the amount of fans are cheering him on — that was awesome. The fans are really respectful, and I haven’t thrown in an official game yet. So, I want to gain the respect of the fans and make them proud.”
