Cubs vs. Royals at Surprise Preview, Wednesday 3/1, 2:05 CT

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- Even on a cool, wet day, the Cubs drew more than half as many fans on Tuesday as all the other Cactus League games combined.

Tuesday attendance at Sloan Park: 12,688

Tuesday attendance elsewhere in the Valley:

White Sox (ss) at Reds: 1,422
Royals at Brewers: 1,806
Mariners at White Sox (ss): 2,200
Diamondbacks at Rangers: 2,556
Giants at Padres: 3,047
Indians at Athletics: 3,108
Dodgers at Rockies: 4,255
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TOTAL: 21,441

I'm not attending today's game, instead will be following online with all of you.

Cubs lineup:

Baez 2B, Jay LF, Contreras C, Candelario 3B, Almora CF, Dominguez 1B, Caratini DH, Szczur RF, Kawasaki SS

Looks like Joe is giving most of his regulars the day off, in anticipation of the split-squad games tomorrow.

Royals lineup:

Escobar SS, Merrifield 2B, Cain CF, Hosmer 1B, Perez C, Moss DH, Soler RF, Orlando LF, Colon 3B

Hey, there's a familiar name! Jorge Soler starts in right field for the Royals this afternoon. Most of KC's regulars are in today's lineup.

Eddie Butler will start for the Cubs. Only one reliever is listed for the Cubs today, Ryan Williams, though I'm sure several minor-league relievers will also throw.

Nathan Karns gets the call for the Royals. Other Royals pitchers scheduled: Jake Junis, Josh Staumont, Brandon League, Bobby Parnell, Chris Withrow and Scott Alexander.

Today’s game is on cubs.com with Len Kasper and Mick Gillispie.

MLB.com Gameday

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

Please visit our SB Nation Royals site Royals Review. If you do go there to interact with Royals 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 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. 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 Night.

Discuss amongst yourselves.