Spring Training Game One: Cubs (ss) (0-0) vs. Athletics (2-0)
- Game Time – 2:05pm CST
- Coverage – TV: None – Radio: Cubs.com
- Location – Sloan Park, Mesa
Travis Wood (0-0, -.–, -.–) vs. Barry Zito (0-0, -.–, -.–)
Spring Training Game Two: Cubs (ss) (0-0) vs. Giants (0-2)
- Game Time – 2:05pm CST
- Coverage – TV: None – Radio: MLB.com
- Location – Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale
Jacob Turner (0-0, -.–, -.–) vs. Ryan Vogelsong (0-0, -.–, -.–)
Chicago Cubs Baseball is on the Air! It’s the 2015 Cactus League Openers … the Chicago Cubs play two games today, one at Sloan Park in Mesa against the Oakland Athletics and the other in Scottsdale against the San Francisco Giants.
The long winter without baseball is over, the 2015 exhibition season begins today.
Joe Maddon makes his debut as Cubs’ skipper this afternoon and should receive a thunderous ovation from the Sloan Park crowd when he’s introduced. Maddon doesn’t like losing, not even in the spring. Maddon wants to win every game.
The Cubs first of many tributes honoring Ernie Banks will take place in Mesa this afternoon. And the players are expected to wear caps with the No. 14 in place of the Cubs’ logo in both of today’s games.
The spring slate all starts with Travis Wood and Jacob Turner … Let’s Play Two!
Spring Training Game One: Cubs (ss) (0-0) vs. Athletics (2-0)
Joe Maddon calls the shots for the first game of the spring at Sloan Park and will get a firsthand look at Travis Wood. Wood is the early favorite for the fifth spot in the rotation after struggling last season with his command and mechanics.
Wood posted an 8-13 record in 31 starts that included a 5.03 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 4.38 FIP. Wood gave up 190 hits in 173 2/3 innings with 146 strikeouts and 76 walks. Wood must hit his spots and reduce his walks in order to stay in the Cubs rotation … that is if he’s not traded.
Travis Wood is scheduled to throw two innings today. Anthony Carter, Neil Ramirez, Drake Britton, Francisley Bueno, Donn Roach and Gonzalez Germen are on the pitching schedule at Sloan Park.
The Cubs will face lefty Barry Zito, who signed a minor league contract with the A’s and is trying to earn a big league job with the organization that drafted him with the ninth pick in 1999. Zito was out of baseball last year and is trying to make a comeback.
Cubs Starting Lineup against the Athletics
- Dexter Fowler – CF
- Anthony Rizzo – 1B
- Starlin Castro – SS
- Miguel Montero – C
- Javier Baez – 2B
- Chris Coghlan – LF
- Mike Olt – 3B
- Ryan Sweeney – DH
- Junior Lake – RF
All eyes will be on Javier Baez when he steps in the box this afternoon to see if the changes he’s made with his swing will translate to game action. Maddon’s first lineup could feature the Cubs’ Opening Night infield of Rizzo, Baez, Castro and Olt. Depending on what Maddon decides with David Ross, seven of today’s starters could be announced on April 5 at Wrigley in the starting lineup.
Spring Training Game Two: Cubs (ss) (0-0) vs. Giants (0-2)
Dave Martinez will be at the helm in Scottsdale this afternoon with help from Rick Sutcliffe when a Cubs’ lineup chocked full of prospects faces Ryan Vogelsong and the World Series Champs, the San Francisco Giants.
Jacob Turner takes the hill, for what should be at least two innings, in Scottsdale. This is a very important Spring Training for the 23-year old Turner. He has the ability to be a very successful big league pitcher but he’s yet to put it together.
Turner showed signs late last year of having the stuff that Chris Bosio could work with in his eight outings with the Cubs. Turner was 2-4 in eight games, six starts, with a 6.49 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 4.52 FIP. In 34 2/3 innings, he gave up 42 hits with 17 strikeouts and 10 walks. For the season, Turner was 6-11 in 28 games, 11 starts, for the Marlins and Cubs with a 6.13 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 4.16 FIP.
Corey Black, Pierce Johnson, Blake Parker, Joseph Ortiz, Hunter Cervenka and Jorge De Leon are scheduled to face the Giants on Thursday in Scottsdale after Turner’s two innings.
The Cubs will face veteran right hander Ryan Vogelsong. Vogelsong was 8-13 in 32 starts for the Giants last year with a 4.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 3.85 FIP.
Cubs Starting Lineup against the Giants
- Tommy La Stella – 2B
- Chris Denorfia – LF
- Arismendy Alcantara – CF
- Jorge Soler – RF
- Welington Castillo – C
- Kris Bryant – 3B
- Kyle Schwarber – DH
- Chris Valaika – 1B
- Addison Russell – SS
Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber and Addison Russell all in the same lineup along with Arismendy Alcantara and Jorge Soler … the kids should be fun to watch in Scottsdale, especially with Bryant and Russell on the same side of the infield.
The Cubs have 61 players on its first Spring Training roster, including INF/OF Logan Watkins. Here’s a full list of players that will be in camp along with their numbers.
40-Man Roster
Pitchers
- Jake Arrieta, RHP (49)
- Dallas Beeler, RHP (32)
- Drake Britton, LHP (66)
- Felix Doubront, LHP (22)
- C.J. Edwards, RHP (79)
- Justin Grimm, RHP (52)
- Jason Hammel, RHP (39)
- Kyle Hendricks, RHP (28)
- Edwin Jackson, RHP (36)
- Eric Jokisch, LHP (43)
- Jon Lester, LHP (34)
- Jason Motte, RHP (30)
- Joseph Ortiz, LHP (60)
- Blake Parker, RHP (50)
- Neil Ramirez, RHP (54)
- Hector Rondon, RHP (56)
- Zac Rosscup, LHP (59)
- Brian Schlitter, RHP (63)
- Pedro Strop, RHP (46)
- Jacob Turner, RHP (38)
- Tsuyoshi Wada, LHP (18)
- Travis Wood, LHP (37)
Catchers
- Welington Castillo (5)
- Rafael Lopez (51)
- Miguel Montero (47)
- David Ross (3)
Infielders
- Arismendy Alcantara (7)
- Javier Baez (9)
- Starlin Castro (13)
- Tommy La Stella (11)
- Mike Olt (20)
- Anthony Rizzo (44)
- Christian Villanueva (61)
Outfielders
- Chris Coghlan (8)
- Chris Denorfia (15)
- Dexter Fowler (24)
- Junior Lake (21)
- Jorge Soler (68)
- Ryan Sweeney (6)
- Matt Szczur (41)
Non-Roster Invitees
Pitchers
- Daniel Bard, RHP (55)
- Corey Black, RHP (82)
- Francisley Bueno, LHP (48)
- Anthony Carter, RHP (73)
- Hunter Cervenka, LHP (71)
- Phil Coke, LHP (-)
- Jorge De Leon, RHP (72)
- Gonzalez Germen, RHP (57)
- Pierce Johnson, RHP (80)
- Armando Rivero, RHP (81)
- Donn Roach, RHP (62)
Catchers
- Kyle Schwarber (74)
- Taylor Teagarden (12)
Infielders
- Kris Bryant (76)
- Jonathan Herrera (19)
- Addison Russell (75)
- Chris Valaika (16)
- Logan Watkins (45) (injured)
Outfielders
- Albert Almora (78)
- Mike Baxter (33)
- Adron Chambers (40)
For new readers of the CCO, a game preview will be posted one hour prior to the scheduled first pitch of every regular season game. For the fifth spring in a row, the CCO will publish game previews for each of the Cactus League games. With a majority of the spring games being broadcast via radio (WBBM-780, SiriusXM Radio, Cubs.com, MLB.com), television (WGN-TV, Comcast SportsNet, MLB Network) and Internet (Cubs.com, MLB.tv), the CCO will have a place to discuss each and every spring game.
When the regular season begins, each game preview (Talkin’ Cubs Live) will feature hitter’s stats versus the day’s starting pitchers, FIP for the starting pitchers as well as other news and notes related to the day’s game. Talkin’ has been one of the mainstays for Chicago Cubs Online since the 2006 season and provides our readers not only with info on the game but a place to discuss the action on the field.
The CCO is in Arizona for the first few games of the spring, our 11th straight Spring Training. Updates from the park will be posted on Twitter so make sure to check the CCO’s Twitter feed or follow us on Twitter: @TheCCO. A full recap and observations from the Sloan Park will be posted after the games.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …