SUN 1
Brewers at Cubs (1:20 p.m., NBCSCH): A certain stud pitcher by the name of Yu Darvish is lined up for the follow-up act to his eight-inning gem at the Mets, but enough about him. Will this be Ben Zobrist’s long-awaited return to the lineup? Astute fans will remember Zobrist as the MVP of a World Series that took place in 2016 or thereabouts. An instant lift from the professional hitter? Goodness, that would be nice.
MON 2
Notre Dame at Louisville (7 p.m., ESPN): The Irish, ranked ninth in the land, take on a foe that likely will be recognizable in name only; the Cardinals fell off a cliff last season. And speaking of downfalls, the name Papa John’s Stadium is no more — a reaction to a racial slur used by the pizza chain’s former CEO. It’s just Cardinal Stadium now, site of what ought to be an easy-rising-dough kind of night for Brian Kelly’s team.
TUE 3
White Sox at Indians (6:10 p.m., Ch. 9): Since falling to 29-30 on June 2 at Guaranteed Rate Field, the Tribe has played like the team everyone expected to see. Truth be told, the Sox have, too. This would be a fine time for Dylan Cease to take the mound and signal a change in this whole AL Central hierarchy thing.
THU 5
Cubs at Brewers (6:10 p.m., NBCSCH): Is this a division-title fight or just a wild-card fight? Either way, it’s Game 1 of a four-game set in what has become a beautiful no-love-lost rivalry. Will it be Wrigley North at Miller Park or will Brew Crew fans lock it down?
Packers at Bears (7:20 p.m., Ch. 5): A word to the wise — a 20-3 fourth-quarter lead, like the one the Bears had in last year’s season opener, isn’t necessarily safe. Just spit-balling here, but if the Bears get Aaron Rodgers down, they might as well go in for the kill rather than let him get up and render all of Chicago apoplectic. In other news: Pray it doesn’t come down to a field-goal try either way.
FRI 6
Men’s soccer: Mexico at U.S. (7:30 p.m., FS1): How “friendly” can this one at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., be? The CONCACAF Nations League tournament, which begins in October, beckons. These sides may or may not meet again in that event. The rivalry rages regardless.
SAT 7
Illinois at Connecticut (2:30 p.m., CBSSN): The Huskies are as bad as — no, they’re worse than — any opponent the Illini will face all season. Yet somehow, the Illini have gone since 2007 without a non-conference road victory. A loss here would be devastating for coach Lovie Smith. It won’t happen, unless it does.
U.S. Open women’s final (3 p.m., ESPN): Watch two women fight, claw, bash the ball like superheroes and otherwise rise to the occasion. Or, if lighter, less-intense fare is your bag, just keep the football game on.
