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Baseball is finally here! The first game is tonight, April 5, with the Chicago Cubs hosting the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Here are a few notes about the 2015 season opener. I'll be providing more information about the other 28 MLB teams in action on Monday morning.
MLB Opening Day News & Notes
- This is the first game of the 2015 Major League Baseball season. While the Cardinals play the Cubs on Sunday night, the two clubs have Monday off.
- The two teams square off 19 times during the 2015 season – 10 times in St. Louis, and nine times in Chicago. After their three-game series to open their season, the next series between the two teams is a four-game series, May 4-7, in St. Louis.
- St. Louis was 13-11 in Spring Training (.542 winning percentage in Grapefruit League). Chicago was 15-17 (.469 in Cactus League).
- The St. Louis Cardinals were 10-9 against the Chicago Cubs in 2014. The Cardinals were 90-72 last year, winners of the National League Central, while the Cubs were 73-89, fifth in the NL Central.
- The Chicago Cubs are 77-60-2 all-time in season openers. They have lost their last four season openers (last victory in 2010 against Milwaukee Brewers, 9-5) and are 3-7 in their last 10 season openers.
- The St. Louis Cardinals are 71-61-1 in season openers, dating back to 1882. They won their last season opener (5-3 against the Cincinnati Reds) and are 4-6 in their last 10 season openers.
- Jon Lester will be the opening day starter for the Chicago Cubs. Lester was 16-11 last season (10-7 with the Boston Red Sox and 6-4 with the Oakland Athletics). This will be his first career start with the Chicago Cubs and in the National League (played for the Red Sox between 2006 and 2014, until joining the Athletics).
- Adam Wainwright will be the opening day starter for the St. Louis Cardinals. Wainwright was 20-9 last season with the Cardinals, the only team he has ever played for (made inaugural start September 11, 2005, against New York Mets). Wainwright has started 27 games against the Cubs (played in 36), and has a record of 11-7 against the Cubs. He has struck out 164 while walking 46 and has an ERA of 4.09.
