Cubs vs. Rangers at Surprise Preview, Wednesday 3/23, 3:05 CT

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- This is the Cubs' only game against the Rangers this spring, as in a scheduling oddity, Texas does not visit Sloan Park (although the Cubs got two visits from the Royals and Reds). The Cubs will have their chance to see more of the Rangers in interleague play, as Texas visits Wrigley Field for a three-game series right after the All-Star break, July 15-16-17.

After the Cubs/Rangers tilt, the teams' prospects will face each other in a "Futures Game" that will begin 30 minutes after the regular game. Both teams will make donations to charity in honor of this event:

Funds will be sent to the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, which aims to improve the lives of children in need and provides funding for youths in crisis, and the Cubs Charities Diamond Project, which expands opportunities for young children to play baseball in the Mesa, Ariz. area.

I won't be attending these games and will be watching on TV with all of you. TV details are below. Here are the rest of today's particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Russell SS, Negron 1B, Schwarber LF, Soler RF, Federowicz C, Szczur CF, Kawasaki 2B, Vosler 3B, Hendricks P

Well, that's interesting. Several regulars have the day off, and are likely going to play in Thursday's 4:05 (Arizona time) game against the Giants, which will be on ESPN.

Rangers lineup:

Alberto SS, Desmond CF, Fielder 1B, Beltre 3B, Moreland DH, Ruggiano LF, Ciriaco 2B, Stubbs RF, Gimenez C

Old friend alert: Justin Ruggiano in the Rangers lineup.

Kyle Hendricks gets the start for the Cubs. Also scheduled for the Cubs: Adam Warren, Spencer Patton and Manny Parra.

Derek Holland gets the call for the Rangers. Also on the Rangers' pitching list for today: Shawn Tolleson, Keone Kela and Matt Bush. Yes, that Matt Bush, former No. 1 pick of the Padres (2004) who served prison time for a DUI auto accident in 2012, has reinvented himself as a pitcher. Now 30 years old, he's in the Rangers' minor-league camp and expected to pitch at Double-A Frisco this year. He's being given this chance in a big-league game due to his performance in camp. More on Matt Bush in this Dallas News article.

Today's game is on cubs.com with Mick Gillispie. It's also on CSN Chicago with Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies. (no blackouts if you have a subscription).

MLB.com Gameday

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

Please visit our SB Nation Rangers site Lone Star Ball. If you do go there to interact with Rangers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

Please note that during spring training, Gameday doesn't usually go pitch-by-pitch as it does during the regular season -- usually, it will update after each at-bat.

For spring-training games, we'll have a first-pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time (because I know how you all like overflow threads!). For today, that will be 3 p.m. CT and 4:30 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. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher boxes and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.

Discuss amongst yourselves.