Cubs: What went wrong on Opening Day? Well, just about everything.

With fans back in the Wrigley Field stands for the first time since 2019, the Chicago Cubs went out and laid an egg on Opening Day. Really, there were very few bright spots for the team on a day that culminated in a 5-3 loss to the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates.

Chicago mustered all of two base hits on the afternoon – doubles from Anthony Rizzo and Eric Sogard – striking out 13 times in the process. It was a brutal first impression for an offense that’s supposedly going to be more ‘contact-oriented’ this season.

"“They’re just going to have days like that, and the offense has got to weather through that and try to put something together there at the end,” second-year Cubs skipper David Ross said. “But just kind of a crappy game.”"

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Things got off to a rough start for Opening Day starter Kyle Hendricks. The usually-reliable right-hander walked leadoff man Adam Frazier and NL Rookie of the Year candidate Ke’Bryan Hayes followed with a two-run shot into the left field bleachers, filled with vaccination first responders and healthcare professionals.

Hendricks lasted just three innings and walked three – hardly reminiscent of what he did last summer on Opening Day, when he flirted with perfection against the Milwaukee Brewers at the Friendly Confines.  

Cubs: Poor pitching, no offense and it could have been even worse

The 5-3 loss was bad enough. But, lord, it could have been an absolute massacre. Pittsburgh went 3-for-20 with runners in scoring position on the afternoon. Had they managed to deliver more in those situations, things would have gotten wildly out of hand.

Cubs pitchers – Hendricks and the seven relievers who followed – combined to walk 11 batters. Needless to say, that’s not going to get the job done. You can keep things close against a team like the Pirates but going up against the heavy hitters of the league, the Cubs will get absolutely crushed giving up free passes like this.

To rub some salt in the wound, former Cub Duane Underwood Jr., who the team cut loose during the spring, was the first man out of the Pirates bullpen. He tossed one perfect inning, striking out the three batters he faced in order.

Chicago can take Friday to put the game behind them and get ready to take the field on Saturday behind Jake Arrieta in game two of the series. Thankfully, the weather is expected to be much improved this weekend – and, with it, hopefully the bats warm up, as well.