Justin Steele will get the ball for the Cubs on Thursday when Chicago visits the defending World Series champion Rangers in Arlington, Texas. We can also likely pencil in Kyle Hendricks for the second start of the season against the Rangers next Saturday.

According to Meghan Montemurro (Tribune), Jordan Wicks will start the series finale in Texas on Sunday, setting up a historic Major League Baseball debut for Shōta Imanaga, who will take the ball on April 1 against the Colorado Rockies in the Cubs home opener.

That means that Javier Assad—who’s filling in for Jameson Taillon while he deals with a back injury— will start game two against the Rockies on April 2, and Steele will pitch in the series finale against the Rockies on April 3. So, we know what the Cubs rotation will look like for at least the first six games of the season, and the idea of Shōta starting the home opener is very exciting.

Imanaga becomes the first player to make his MLB debut as a starting pitcher for the Cubs in the home opener in Wrigley Field history and the first Cubs pitcher to do so since John Lester did so in 2015 (h/t Chris Antonacci via X).

The Cubs and Mariners finished in a tie on Sunday, and Chicago has a two-game set with the St. Louis Cardinals at Sloan Park today and tomorrow before they pack up and head to Arlington for Thursday’s opener. Meaningful baseball is on the horizon, friends.

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• Speaking of Shōta, he faced some minor leaguers on Thursday, and it did not go well for them. Imanaga threw 5.1 innings and allowed one run on five hits while striking out 13 and walking two on the back fields in Arizona last week.

• According to USA Today, MLB wants next year’s season-opener series in Tokyo to feature Japanese stars. That means the Dodgers—with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto—will be back at it, and this time, they’ll be facing the Cubs: “The Chicago Cubs and Dodgers have been privately informed they have been selected to open the 2025 season in Tokyo.” The Cubs have Seiya Sukuzki and Shōta Imanaga on the roster next season.

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Chicago Bears

• Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson sounds ready to be a leader for quarterback Caleb Williams.

Chicago Blackhawks

• Six Blackhawks prospects will play in the Frozen Four field, and Tab has you covered on who and when to watch.

Chicago Bulls

• Dalen Terry dunked all over the Boston Celtics on Saturday, and you have to see it!

What’s on deck?

• Cubs vs. Cardinals: 3:05 PM CT | Marquee

• Bulls vs. Wizards: 7:00 PM CT | NBC Sports Chicago