Chicago Cubs Opening Day roster, lineups, rotation & bullpen

Let's do this again, shall we? The Chicago Cubs technically kicked off the 2025 MLB season in mid-March with the Tokyo Series matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but Thursday marks Opening Day around Major League Baseball - and Craig Counsell's club gets going on the domestic schedule with a late-night game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

First pitch is set for 9:05p CT from Chase Field in Phoenix as Chicago (0-2) looks to pick up its first win of the season against Arizona (0-0) behind left-hander Justin Steele (0-1, 11.25). You can catch the game on Marquee Sports Network or listen to Hall of Famer Pat Hughes and his broadcast partner Ron Coomer with the radio call on 670 AM WSCR.

Chicago Cubs Opening Day Roster

Ahead of Opening Day, the Cubs placed three players on the injured list - which had a trickle-down effect on the roster. A decision on the roster crunch that boiled down to Vidal Brujan or Gage Workman has been, at least temporarily, pushed off with Brujan hitting the 10-day IL with a right elbow injury.

In the bullpen, veterans Ryan Brasier (hip) and Tyson Miller (hip) were also placed on the 10-day IL, with right-handers Eli Morgan and Brad Keller taking those respective spots on the 26-man to start the season. Apart from those last-minute changes due to injury, the roster is exactly what we expected - with no surprises ahead of the domestic season opener.

CATCHERS:
Carson Kelly
Miguel Amaya

INFIELDERS:
Michael Busch
Nico Hoerner
Dansby Swanson
Matt Shaw
Gage Workman
Justin Turner
Jon Berti

OUTFIELDERS:
Seiya Suzuki
Kyle Tucker
Ian Happ
Pete Crow-Armstrong

PITCHERS:
Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Shota Imanaga
Matthew Boyd
Ben Brown
Nate Pearson
Ryan Pressly
Eli Morgan
Colin Rea
Caleb Thielbar
Brad Keller
Julian Merryweather
Porter Hodge

Chicago Cubs Opening Day Lineup

There are no surprises in the Cubs' Opening Day lineup. Ian Happ leads off, followed by Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch. Shortstop Dansby Swanson bats fifth, with Nico Hoerner returning to the lineup after missing the Tokyo Series earlier in March. The bottom third of the order - arguably the most important portion if the Cubs want to contend - features speedster Pete Crow-Armstrong, rookie third baseman Matt Shaw and catcher Miguel Amaya.

Chicago Cubs Opening Day Starting Rotation

Justin Steele will make his second start of the year in Thursday's Opening Day tilt opposite Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen and will be followed by Jameson Taillon and Shota Imanaga in the second and third games of the series. That means Steele and Imanaga will combine to start four of the Cubs' first five games - which feels like a nice boost given the team's brutal schedule in the first month.

Newcomer Matthew Boyd and Ben Brown round out the rotation, at least to open the season - and we'll have to wait and see how the rotation shakes out once Javier Assad returns from the IL, which could happen sometime in April.

Last season, Cubs starters ranked sixth in baseball with a 3.77 ERA, led by Imanaga's breakout rookie season that saw him get both Rookie of the Year and Cy Young consideration, and another strong season from Steele. Wrigley Field played notoriously pitcher-friendly in 2024, so this is one area we might see some regression this season.

Chicago Cubs Opening Day Bullpen

The late inning duties are likely to fall to the tandem of Ryan Pressly and Porter Hodge. Pressly, who waived his no-trade clause to come the Cubs in a deal with Houston, was the Astros' closer until being displaced by Josh Hader last season - and brings a ton of big-game experience to the ninth inning. Hodge was a breakout performer on the staff last year and definitely looks like the next man up should Pressly falter.

Caleb Thielbar represents the only lefty in the Cubs' bullpen - and he joins a bullpen mix that also includes Morgan, Keller, Julian Merryweather, Nate Pearson and Colin Rea. Managers regularly use the first month of the season to carve out guys' respective roles, but Rea is definitely the long man of the group as he was a finalist for the fifth starter spot before the Cubs tapped Brown for the role.