Chicago Cubs Opening Night 2017: When And How To Watch The First Pitch

ST. LOUIS, MO — For the first time in more than a century, Chicago Cubs fans can finally head into a new season and use the term "defending World Series champions" without it referring to the North Siders' opponents.

But Cubs backers have had an entire offseason to enjoy the swagger that comes with rooting for a title-winning team. With the beginning of the 2017 season, the big question Chicago fans — and baseball lovers, in general — are asking: Can the Cubs end this year calling themselves "two-time defending World Series champions?"

Chicago begins that quest on the road against hated rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals. Patch lays out everything you need to know before tuning in for the first pitch of what could be another historic season.

And in case you're wondering: Fans will need to wait a little more than a week before Chicago plays in front of a home crowd this season. The Cubs' home opener at Wrigley Field is at 7:05 p.m. Monday, April 10, against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Chicago Cubs Opening Night 2017

Opponent: St. Louis Cardinals

First Pitch: 7:35 p.m. Sunday, April 2

Where: Busch Stadium, St. Louis

TV | Radio | Streaming: ESPN | 670 the Score (WSCR-AM), ESPN 1000 (WMVP-AM) | MLB.tv, WatchESPN

Pitching Matchup: Jon Lester (2016: 19-5, 2.44 ERA) vs. Carlos Martinez (2016: 16-9, 3.04 ERA)

Cubs Expected Starting Lineup

1. Kyle Schwarber, left field
2. Kris Bryant, third base
3. Anthony Rizzo, first base
4. Ben Zobrist, second base
5. Addison Russell, shortstop
6. Jason Heyward, right field
7. Willson Contreras, catcher
8. Jon Lester, pitcher
9. Albert Almora Jr., center field

Is a Cubs Repeat on the Right Side of History?

The first pitch of the 2017 season has yet to be thrown, and Las Vegas oddsmakers already are picking the Cubs to win the World Series again. Chicago is a 7-2 favorite, behind its 2016 World Series opponent, the Cleveland Indians, at 5-1 odds.

But just because the bookmakers like the Cubs to repeat, that doesn't mean history feels the same way.

It's been nearly 20 years since a team has won consecutive World Series titles. The New York Yankees were the most recent team to do it, threepeating from 1998 to 2000. The last National League team to win back-to-back championships was the Cincinnati Reds in 1975 and '76.

Given that this current Cubs roster has been compared to that Yankees dynasty of the late '90s and early '00s, maybe it's a good sign that this team has a World Series streak of its own in the making.

No Fairweather Friend to Fowler

There's no love lost between the Cubs and Cardinals, but Chicago fans and players might have a soft spot for at least one St. Louis team member on the roster this year.

Center fielder Dexter Fowler spent two quality seasons on the North Side and hit a leadoff home run in Game 7 of the World Series. But he signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Cardinals in the offseason, and the Cubs' bitter division rivals hope he brings the same production to St. Louis that he brought to Chicago.

That doesn't mean there's any bad blood with his former team, though.

"It'll be really cool to see him again," Kyle Schwarber, Fowler's replacement as the Cubs' leadoff hitter, told MLB.com. "He's still part of the family, and we miss him and we're happy for him. Obviously, we have to play against him, and we like him until it's time to go out on the field to compete."

World Series Champs, WrestleMania or 'Walking Dead'?

This Cubs team has proven it can beat a World Series curse, but how will it fare against two more formidable opponents: wrestlers and the walking dead?

Chicago's first game of 2017 airs against two televised events Sunday night — WWE WrestleMania 33 and the season finale of "The Walking Dead" — that are known to attract their share of eyeballs.

These shows even have their own roundabout Cubs and baseball connections, too: Kyle Schwarber and Anthony Rizzo are big-time WWE fans, and Negan, the big bad in this season of "The Walking Dead," is known for swinging a mean bat, emphasis on "mean."

Upcoming Games

• Tuesday, April 4: at St. Louis Cardinals, 7:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 5: at St. Louis Cardinals, 12:45 p.m.

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• Is Cubs' Theo Epstein World's Greatest Leader? Fortune Magazine Thinks So
  
• Cubs' Anthony Rizzo Donates To Cancer Patient's Fund To Freeze Her Eggs
  
• WATCH: Chicago Cubs Visit President Barack Obama at the White House
  
• LeBron James Wears Cubs Uni to Honor World Series Bet With Dwyane Wade
  
• Watch Cubs and Bill Murray Sing 'Go Cubs Go' on 'Saturday Night Live'
• Cubs Parade and Rally: About 5M People Pack Chicago to Cheer on World Champs
• Game 7 the Hard Way: Cubs Win World Series Title After Epic Comeback
• World Series-Level Party: Watch Cubs Fans Sing 'We Are the Champions' and Mean It
• Cubs Fans Take Over Wrigleyville With Epic Celebration

The Chicago Cubs celebrate their win against the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. (photo by Arturo Pardavila III | Wikimedia Commons)

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