After belting three home runs on Opening Day, the Chicago Cubs hope to feast on a rookie pitcher when they play the host Miami Marlins in the second of a four-game series Friday. The slugging Cubs figure to make things tough on left-hander Caleb Smith, who is making his Marlins debut and just his third big-league start.
Ian Happ homered on the first pitch of the game and Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber also went deep in the Cubs’ 8-4 win Thursday. Both bullpens were taxed in the opener, as Miami’s Jose Urena lasted only four innings and Chicago’s Jon Lester was knocked out with one out in the fourth. The Cubs’ bullpen was up to the task with five relievers combining to allow just one hit and three walks over 5 2/3 scoreless innings. The youthful Marlins started four rookies, who combined to go 3-for-14 on Opening Day.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (2017: 7-5, 3.03 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Caleb Smith (2017: 0-1, 7.71)
After leading the league with a 2.13 ERA in 2016, Hendricks regressed slightly last year but he had a 2.19 ERA in 13 starts after the All-Star break. The 28-year-old posted quality starts in 14 of his 24 outings last season, including eight of his last nine in the regular season. Hendricks has dominated the Marlins in four meetings, going 2-1 with a 1.32 ERA.
Smith was acquired from the Yankees in November and slides into the rotation in place of injured Dan Straily. The 26-year-old had an excellent campaign in the minors a year ago in which he went 9-1 with a 2.41 ERA and struck out 102 batters in 100 2/3 innings, mostly at Triple-A. Smith was 0-2 with a 5.21 ERA in two starts and four relief outings this spring.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Marlins have 12 players who appeared on an Opening Day roster for the first time in their career, including Smith.
2. After going 9-for-31 with 10 walks and seven RBIs as a pinch hitter last season, Chicago’s INF Tommy La Stella came off the bench to deliver a two-run double in the seventh Thursday.
3. The Cubs had seven extra-base hits Thursday, a total they surpassed only eight times all of last season.