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 [March 27, 2024]
The Texas Rangers will take the first step on what they hope
is the long journey toward defending their World Series title on
Thursday night when they open the season against the Chicago Cubs in
Arlington, Texas.
Last season's path to glory saw the Rangers post a 90-72 record and
a second-place finish in the American League West. They swept the
Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles in the first two rounds of the
playoffs before outlasting the Houston Astros in seven games during
the AL Championship Series. Texas capped it off by dispatching the
Arizona Diamondbacks in five games to win its first World Series
title in franchise history.
And while the Rangers would like to become the first team to win
consecutive World Series titles since the New York Yankees from
1998-2000, they know that Game 1 of the regular season holds just as
much value as the 161 contests that follow.
"Every game matters, so I'm making sure that we go out there and we
set the tone and we do the little things that we've been working on
during spring training," Rangers right-hander and Texas native
Nathan Eovaldi said. "I think it's special because we won the World
Series last year and there's gonna be a lot of excitement, a lot of
adrenaline."
Eovaldi, 34, hopes to pick up where he left off in 2023 when he
makes his fourth career start on Opening Day. The two-time All-Star
and two-time World Series champion followed a 12-5 record with a
3.63 ERA in 25 starts during the regular season by going 5-0 with a
2.95 ERA in his six outings in the playoffs.
Texas' bread and butter is its high-octane offense, and manager
Bruce Bochy expects to have two key cogs in the lineup on Thursday.
World Series MVP Corey Seager has returned to action following
surgery to repair a sports hernia, while All-Star third baseman Josh
Jung is good to go following a calf issue.
Seager, Jung, Marcus Semien and Adolis Garcia ignited a Rangers
offense that led the AL with 881 runs and tied for the league lead
with 233 homers last season.
The Cubs, who missed the playoffs after finishing with an 83-79
record in 2023, will turn to left-hander Justin Steele on Thursday
to make his first career start on Opening Day.
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Mar 23, 2024; Surprise, Arizona, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher
Nathan Eovaldi (17) pitches against the Kansas City Royals during
the second inning at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe
Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Steele, 28, posted a 16-5 record with a 3.06 ERA
last season to finish fifth in the balloting for the National
League's Cy Young Award. He won his lone career encounter vs. Texas
on April 8, allowing one run on four hits in six innings of a 10-3
victory.
There's even more reason for optimism in the Windy City outside of
Steele. The Cubs signed Cody Bellinger to a three-year, $80 million
contract on the heels of his 26-homer, 97-RBI performance in 2023.
They also hired former Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell to
serve in the same role for them this season.
But for now, it's Day One. And the Cubs won't have far to look for
inspiration.
"It's gonna be really cool," Chicago right-hander Kyle Hendricks
said. "Feeling that emotion and that energy, seeing it on the other
side, that's where we want to get to. So just having that example
right in front of you, that extra motivation, to be able to start
there and get the ceremony, the whole thing, and then play against
them, just that whole bit, it's going to be great for our experience
and really kick-start the season for us."
Chicago will try its luck against Eovaldi, who is 0-2 with a 3.72
ERA in three career meetings vs. the Cubs.
--Field Level Media
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