3 Up, 3 Down – Opening Day, America Edition

Don’t worry, I am still alive. Life is funny sometimes. When we make plans, the great power of the universe chuckles like a hyena. I was laid off from my job in a 30% reduction of workforce at my company a few weeks back. Naturally, I needed some space to tackle some adulting.

But much like John Wick, I’m thinking I’m back. And so is Opening Day. Sort of.

After a thorough beating by the Dodgers in a way-too-early and way-too familiar two-game series, the Cubs are back in the US to start games with the rest of baseball this coming Thursday.

Series Ahead

@ Arizona Diamondbacks

3/27 – Justin Steele vs. Zac Gallen, 9:10pm CT

3/28 – Jameson Taillon vs Merrill Kelly, 8:40pm CT

3/29 – Shota Imanaga vs Brandon Pfaadt, 7:10pm CT

3/30 – TBD vs Eduardo Rodriguez, 3:10pm CT

Storylines/Players to Watch

I am sure if you are reading a Cubs blog, you will remember fondly Tom Ricketts and Jed Hoyer name-dropping the 2023 Diamondbacks as a good model for success. However, the Snakes have spent on front-end pitching since then. The Cubs catch a break by not having to face free agent prize Corbin Burnes, who has a career 3.36 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 17 appearances against them. They will still see perennial Cy Young candidate Zac Gallen.

Cubs pitching will have its hands full, as this Arizona club had the 4th-lowest team strikeout rate in 2024. These teams split six games last year.

3 Up, 3 Down

I have been done with spring training since the Cubs went to Tokyo and just want players to be healthy, which includes…

1.) Nico Hoerner

It was guaranteed Hoerner would not make the trip to Tokyo as he continued to rehab from his offseason surgery. While stateside, he participated in minor league games to ramp up. He is now ready for full action and won’t have to sit at home playing…

2.) MLB The Show 25

I am a huge baseball video game nerd. Each year when MLB the Show announces the release date, I mark my calendar and count down. If you haven’t picked one up in a while, this year’s version is particularly good and has some impressive additions to the defensive logic. You truly feel like Pete Crow-Armstrong out in the outfield. MLBPA rules require a player to log an out in a game before being added to a roster, which means I will have to wait for the first roster update to use…

3.) Matt Shaw

Against a pressed timeline, Shaw made his MLB debut. He was 1-for-9 during the trip to Japan, but saw a 20.8% squared-up rate. The K-rate will need to be monitored, but I warn of an extremely small sample size.

3 Down

1.) Cam Smith

Look, he was the blue-chip prospect headlining the Kyle Tucker trade and is having a monster spring. Multiple reports indicate he may start in right field on Opening Day for the Astros. I am putting this in the “down” category to respect the many keyboard warriors blowing up my timeline declaring Hoyer the loser of this trade. The only thing lower right now is…

2.) Fan Morale

The vibes are not immaculate. The Cubs looked outmatched against the best team on paper in baseball (by a wide margin). It wasn’t just that. It was the 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position. It was Shaw’s error at third. It’s the feeling that AI is writing a sequel to 2023 and ’24. The agony of waiting over a week for redemption is almost as worrisome as…

3.) Justin Steele

Let me be very clear: It was one start in mid-March. Steele got hurt early on Opening Day last year and was out for over a month, so I will take the health. That said, it wasn’t great to see the Cubs’ 1A starter get barreled up. I expect he will bounce back in Arizona this week.

Opening Day is upon us again and I am ready for the marathon, which also means bringing you a view of the sprint each Monday. Make sure to check out brand new episodes of Bricks Behind the Ivy on YouTube and Podcast platforms in the meantime.