Matt Szczur Got Start Tuesday Because Villanova Won National Title

It’s only Wednesday, but it’s safe to say Chicago Cubs outfielder Matt Szczur is having a good week.

On Monday night, the third-year Cubs player experienced a national basketball championship won by Villanova University, his alma mater, and the next day had the highlight of his own professional sports career to this point.

Cubs Manager Joe Maddon started Szczur in the outfield for the team’s second game of the season Tuesday night in Los Angeles against the Angels because of Villanova’s classic championship win over North Carolina the night before, the Ardmore-Merion Wynnewood Patch outside of Philadelphia reports.

"Villanova wins the national championship, so I thought it was a good bet for tonight," Maddon told MLB.com.

In a 6-1 win that gave the Cubs their first 2-0 start to a season since Mark Grace and Sammy Sosa held the fort in 1995, Szczur went 3-for-3 with a home run.

Cubs fans everywhere are hoping the lucky Szczur can provide the club a boost in a season already determined by experts as possibly the year the Cubs win it all.

Prior to Monday night, Villanova hadn’t won a national championship since 1985.

The Cubs drought, as well all know, has been going on for just a big longer.