Cubs vs. Royals at Mesa Preview, Sunday 3/2, 2:05 CT

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- After being rained out of two games Saturday, the Cubs will definitely play baseball at Cubs Park Sunday afternoon. Most of the guys you really wanted to see play Saturday -- Kris Bryant, Mike Olt, Jorge Soler -- will be playing in the morning "B" game Monday against the Giants. Jason Hammel, who was to have made his debut today against the Royals, will pitch in that game instead. Incidentally, that's a change -- originally, that game was to have been against the Angels in Tempe -- now the morning game will be at Cubs Park. It hasn't been announced yet whether that game will be open to the public.

I wanted to make a comment here about the Cubs' rainout policy. I was pleased to learn that as a spring season-ticket holder, I can get a refund (or credit to next year). But the single-game buyer is out of luck, apparently. I heard from a couple of people upset that they can't get their money back, according to an email they received from the Cubs.

Spring-training rainouts are different from regular-season rainouts. The games aren't made up; have a look at the cubs.com schedule. It says "Cancelled." Usually, when events are "cancelled," ticket buyers can get refunds. This ought to especially apply to spring training, where large numbers of people travel to Arizona from other states, for a long weekend or maybe a week, and can't re-do their schedule to come to another game.

I checked around other teams' websites for rainout policies; some don't have any posted. The Diamondbacks -- who I'm going to ask for a refund for the tickets I had for last night's game, since I don't need any more tickets from them -- say it's "up to the discretion of Salt River Fields management."

I realize it sucks for the Cubs, who had a sellout crowd Saturday. But a fan-friendly gesture would be to offer refunds for those who request them.

Cubs lineup:

Bonifacio CF, Castro SS, Rizzo 1B, Ruggiano LF, Sweeney DH, Castillo C, Schierholtz RF, Murphy 3B, Barney 2B

Well, that's interesting -- Emilio Bonifacio in center field. Clearly, the team is looking at him as a "super-sub."

Royals lineup:

Aoki CF, Valencia 2B, Hosmer 1B, Maxwell DH, Moustakas 3B, Peguero LF, Cain RF, Hayes C, Ciriaco SS

Edwin Jackson, who was to pitch Saturday night's game, will start today, and be followed by Carlos Villanueva.

For the Royals, Wade Davis and Yordano Ventura, both candidates for Kansas City's rotation, are scheduled to be the first two pitchers followed by John Lamb, Francisley Bueno and P.J. Walters.

Today's game is on WGN radio with Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer.

MLB.com Gameday

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

For spring-training games, we'll have a first-pitch thread at game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time (because I know how you all like overflow threads!). For today's game, that will be 2 p.m. CT and 3:30 p.m. CT. These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page. They will also appear in this StoryStream™. The pitcher box and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.

Discuss amongst yourselves.