Cubs Opening Day 2019: Start time, TV channel and starting pitchers vs. Rangers

SHARE Cubs Opening Day 2019: Start time, TV channel and starting pitchers vs. Rangers
bx116_3383_9_e1553720382588.jpg

Kyle Schwarber and the Cubs get another season started Thursday. | AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Another year of Cubs baseball kicks off with an Opening Day matchup against the Rangers Thursday afternoon at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. It begins a three-game series as the North Siders open their season on the road before ringing in another year at Wrigley Field on April 8 against the Pirates.

Jon Lester will take the mound Thursday for the Cubs to make his eighth career Opening Day start and fourth with his current club. He’s the first Cubs pitcher to start on Opening Day three years in a row since Carlos Zambrano did it a franchise-record six consecutive seasons from 2005-10.

RELATED: Cubs Opening Day 2019 – Live updates and highlights vs. Rangers

Lester will face off against Rangers starter Mike Minor, who’s making the first Opening Day start of his career after emerging as one of Texas’ top pitchers last season.

Minor, who previously pitched for the Braves and Royals, posted a 12-8 win-loss record with a 4.18 ERA, 132 strikeouts and 38 walks in 157 innings for the Rangers in 2018.

It’s worth noting that this could be the Cubs’ final Opening Day broadcast on WGN given their expected transition to Marquee in 2020. For many Cubs fans, growing up watching the team on WGN is inseparable from countless other memories of the team. WGN’s national presence also helped many fans outside of Chicago fall in love with the Cubs before the days of widespread internet giving easy access to almost every game.

How to watch Cubs vs. Rangers, Opening Day 2019

Matchup: Jon Lester (Cubs) vs. Mike Minor (Rangers)

Location: Globe Life Park, Arlington, Texas

Time: 3:05 p.m.

TV: WGN

The Latest
Despite getting into foul trouble, which limited him to just six minutes in the second half, Shannon finished with 29 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Cowboy hats, bell-bottoms and boots were on full display Thursday night as fans lined up for the first of his three sold-out shows.
The incident occurred about 3:40 p.m. near Minooka. The horse was successfully placed back into the trailer, and the highway reopened about 40 minutes later. No injuries were reported.
The Hawks conceded the game’s only two goals within the first seven minutes and were shut out for the 12th time this season in a 2-0 defeat Thursday.