Pregame: Cubs Invade St. Louis, Lackey Leads the Charge

The moment many Cubs’ fans have been waiting for is here – Cubs verses Cardinals, Chapter one: 2016 season. No need to overplay this because we all know how big this rivalry is. What I’m looking for tonight is how much the rivalry has intensified due to 1) the 2015 post-season win by the Cubs over the Cardinals, 2) the Cardinals losing two big-time players, Jason Heyward and John Lackey, to the Cubs, and 3) all the talk and hype this year around the Chicago Cubs.

John Lackey, former bad-guy/Cardinal turned good-guy/Cub, takes the ball tonight and whoa, what a way to open up this series. As if there weren’t enough story lines going into tonight’s game, the baseball gods have given us a doozie. Please be sure to thank said baseball gods, make your sacrifices, wear your lucky shirt, and be sure you’re in front of your TV at 7:09 (7:09…really?) because this one is going to be good.

Here’s the lineup:

John Lackey (R) vs. Cardinals – Mike Leake (R)
1. Dexter Fowler (S) CF
2. Jason Heyward (L) RF
3. Ben Zobrist (S) 2B
4. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
5. Kris Bryant (R) 3B
6. Miguel Montero (R) C
7. Jorge Soler (R) LF
8. Addison Russell (R) SS
9. John Lackey (R) P