It has been a few years since the Chicago Cubs have entered a season with so much excitement.
MLB Opening Night 2015: Time, TV schedule, streaming for Cardinals vs. Cubs
Bitter NL Central rivals and probable contenders kick off the 2015 MLB season on Sunday night.
The Cubs are a trendy pick to reach the postseason for the first time in six seasons. Their quest begins on Sunday night with their brand new ace on the hill.
Jon Lester, who signed a six-year, $155 million deal in December, will take the ball for the Cubs opposite longtime Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright when the National League Central Division rivals kick off the 2015 Major League Baseball season on national television.
Lester joined the new-look Cubs after posting a 2.46 ERA while striking out a batter per inning for the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics last season. After winning a championship with the Red Sox in 2013, Lester was unable to lead the A's past the American League Wild Card game last year.
Wainwright’s season ended a little bit better.
The Cardinals, behind Wainwright and his 2.38 regular season ERA, advanced to the National League Championship Series, where they were ousted by the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants. Wainwright entered the 2014 postseason having allowed only 19 earned runs in 94⅔ innings, but gave up 10 in 16 frames last October.
SB Nation's Grant Brisbee predicts St. Louis to win the NL Central despite the improvement of the Cubs and the presence of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have appeared in each of the last two postseasons.
Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN2
Streaming: WatchESPN
SB Nation presents: MLB award predictions for 2015
See More:
