MLB Game Preview - Chicago at St. Louis

Sun Apr 2, 2017 8:38 PM EDT

For the first time in 108 years, the Chicago Cubs will play a game as the defending World Series champions.

Add their archrival St. Louis Cardinals to the mix and you have a prime-time matchup made for the opening Sunday night of the season in front of what should be one of the biggest crowds in Busch Stadium history.

"We're finally to that day," Chicago pitcher Kyle Hendricks told mlb.com after Friday's 6-3 exhibition win in Houston. "You feel it building up, you feel it coming, you see a light at the end of the tunnel. But now, being the last day, flying to St. Louis, you feel it coming."

After ending the fabled Curse of the Billy Goat with a stirring comeback from a 3-1 series deficit to subdue the Cleveland Indians in seven games, Chicago enters the season with the biggest possible target across its chest.

It also enters the season with most of the same cast that made history last November. Six of eight everyday starters return, and the starting rotation is so deep that Hendricks, who pitched at a Cy Young Award level last year, is the fifth starter.

Jon Lester (19-5, 2.44 ERA in 2016) is manager Joe Maddon's choice to start the opener. He has been effective in nine career starts against the Cardinals, posting a 1.97 earned run average despite going only 3-3. That doesn't include two World Series wins against the Cardinals in 2013 when he worked for the Boston Red Sox.

One thing to watch with Lester is whether he can develop the kind of chemistry with his new catcher, Willson Contreras, that he had with the retired David Ross. Lester was pleased with Contreras during the spring, even joking that it's nice to finally get an offensive catcher.

While the 33-year old Lester is an old hand at Opening Night appearances, his mound opponent is a neophyte. Carlos Martinez, who has blossomed as a starter the last two years, made it known early in spring training his desire to pitch the first game.

Manager Mike Matheny opted to go with him, a message that the club knows Martinez has evolved from pure thrower to growing pitcher. But Martinez (16-9, 3.04 ERA) hasn't always found success against the Cubs, going 3-3 with a 4.67 earned run average in 19 games, nine as a starter.

Coming off its first postseason miss since 2010, St. Louis' major offseason move was to raid Chicago's outfield for center fielder Dexter Fowler. The Cubs' leadoff man the last two years, Fowler brings his blend of grinding at-bats, occasional pop and above-average defense to a team badly in need of better glovework.

"I've always held myself to high standards," Fowler said to mlb.com. "They don't pay you for being someone else. They pay you for what you're doing."

The teams get an off-day Monday and conclude the series with games on Tuesday night and Wednesday. In the middle contest, the Cubs will match Jake Arrieta with Adam Wainwright, and the series finale pits John Lackey against either Lance Lynn or Michael Wacha.