Opening Day is Here

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Apr 5, 2010 4:00PM

An old friend returns today, as Major League Baseball marks Opening Day of the 2010 season. And while maybe, deep down, we realize its not likely we'll be celebrating in October, when there are still 162 games left to play anything seems possible. This year, the White Sox kick off the season at home, hosting the Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field at 1:05 p.m. (CSN, ESPN2). Mark Buehrle takes the mound for the Sox -- his record-setting eighth opening day start. He's 3-1 with a 3.99 ERA in those openers. He'll face off against the Tribe's Jake Westbrook. The Sox will have five new players in their line-up on Opening Day, which is the most new faces since 2005. And how'd that work out for the South Siders?

The Cubs start the year in Atlanta against the Braves, with first pitch at 3:10 p.m. (WCIU, ESPN). For the sixth straight year, Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano gets the Opening Day call and today he'll face off against Derek Lowe. He's 1-1 with three no decisions over the first five starts (the Cubs are 3-2) overall. The Cubs won't host their first home game until April 12, when they'll welcome the Brewers to Wrigley Field.

Meanwhile, in the Nation's Capital, Sox Fan-in-Chief Barack Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Washington Nationals - Philadelphia Phillies game, marking the 100th anniversary of President William Taft's first pitch. We just hope he breaks out the Sox windbreaker again, like he did at last year's All-Star Game.