Watch Cubs Opening Day vs. Marlins online, live stream info, TV channel, odds, starting pitchers

The Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins kick off the new baseball season

By R.J. Anderson

Mar 29, 2018 at 12:00 pm ET • 1 min read

Major League Baseball's regular season is finally upon us.

The 2018 campaign will begin on Thursday, March 29. From there, the 30 teams will make the six-month trek with an eye on reaching the postseason. Of course, not every team has realistic playoff aspirations. But that's the beauty of Opening Day: Every team can pretend otherwise.

On paper, this is a lopsided affair. The Cubs are a World Series favorite while the Marlins would be doing well to avoid the worst record in baseball. Anything can happen on any given day during baseball's regular season, however. Chicago's seeming superiority extends to the mound.

The Cubs will send out Jon Lester, who has multiple Opening Day assignments and World Series rings to his name. The well-seasoned Lester had an uneven 2017, finishing with fewer than 200 innings for the first time since 2011. Still, he's a savvy pitcher who, at his best, confounds hitters with an arsenal that's heavy on fastballs, cutters, and curveballs.

Jose Urena, contrariwise, is all about his power fastball-slider combination. He started last season in the bullpen, moving to the rotation in early May. Urena managed a 3.97 ERA over the ensuing 28 starts, but notched fewer than two strikeouts per walk. He's miscast as a staff ace, and it's possible he winds up back in relief if he proves unable to consistently retire left-handed batters.

Here's how you can catch the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins game that will kick off the new season: