Cubs Opening Day
The 2026 MLB season begins on Thursday, with the Chicago Cubs opening the year at the Friendly Confines against the Washington Nationals. The game is scheduled for a 1:20 P.M. first pitch.
Here’s what to know about the Cubs’ Opening Day roster, starter and more as the Northsiders open the 2026 season against the Nationals this week.
The Cubs are giving Matthew Boyd the first start of the season.
After earning an All-Star nod in the 2025 season, finishing the year with a 14-8 record and a 3.21 ERA, Boyd will be the Opening Day starter on Thursday vs. the Nationals.
Washington will counter Boyd with Cade Cavalli.
Cavalli is making his first career Opening Day start. Last season, the 27-year-old right-hander finished with a 3-1 record and a 4.25 ERA in 10 starts.
Cubs’ 2026 Opening Day roster
Starting Rotation:
Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon
Bullpen:
Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, Caleb Thielbar, Hunter Harvey, Jacob Webb, Ben Brown, Hoby Milner and Colin Rea.
Infield:
Michael Busch (1B), Nico Hoerner (2B), Dansby Swanson (SS), Alex Bregman (3B) and Carson Kelly (C)
Outfield:
Ian Happ (LF), Pete Crow-Armstrong (CF) and Michael Conforto (RF)
Bench:
Miguel Amaya (C), Matt Shaw (Util.), Dylan Carson (OF), Scott Kingery (INF) and Moises Ballesteros (C/DH)
White Sox Opening Day
The Chicago White Sox will open the 2026 season looking to take another step forward in their rebuild. Last year saw a plethora of top prospects join the major leagues, and the 2026 season will see immediate excitement with the arrival of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami.
Here’s what to know about the White Sox Opening Day roster, starters and more as the Southsiders open the 2026 season on the road against the Brewers this week. The White Sox take on the Brewers at 1:10pm.
White Sox Opening Day Starter
The White Sox are giving their All-Star the bump.
Shane Smith was named the Sox’s 2026 Opening Day Starter, headlining a pitching rotation that hasn’t completely arrived at the MLB level yet.
The Brewers are countering with their flamethrowing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski.
Misiorowski made his MLB debut in 2025 and wowed Milwaukee fans by throwing fastballs over 100 miles per hour. He carried that into an MLB All-Star nod and hit a rookie wall. Milwaukee keenly moved him into the bullpen, and Misiorowski became a key part of the Brewers’ bullpen in the playoffs against the Cubs and Dodgers.
White Sox 2026 Opening Day roster
Starting Rotation:
Shane Smith, Sean Burke, Anthony Kay, Davis Martin and Erick Fedde
Bullpen:
Seranthony Domínguez, Grant Taylor, Jordan Leasure, Jordan Hicks, Sean Newcomb, Chris Murphy, Jedixson Paez
Infield:
Munetaka Murakami (1B), Chase Meidroth (2B), Colson Montgomery (SS), Miguel Vargas (3B) and Edgar Quero (C)
Outfield:
Andrew Benintendi (LF), Luisangel Acuña (CF), Austin Hays (RF)
Bench:
Reese McGuire (C), Lenyn Sosa (INF/DH), Tristan Peters (OF), Jarred Kelenic (OF), Everson Pereira (OF) and Derek Hill (OF)
