Cubs vs. Athletics at Mesa preview, Wednesday 2/28, 2:05 CT

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Since we all can’t get enough of the Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship, check out this cool painting of the celebratory moment — painted by former Cub Matt Szczur:

Szczur has real artistic talent. He’s still on the Padres’ 40-man roster and has a chance to be a fourth or fifth outfielder there again this year.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Almora CF, Baez 2B, Rizzo 1B, Russell SS, Heyward RF, Gimenez C, Navarro DH, Bourjos LF, Bote 3B

It’s been reported that Kris Bryant will be back in “a day or two.”

Athletics lineup:

Semien SS, Joyce RF, Lowrie 2B, Davis LF, Olson 1B, Piscotty DH, Fowler CF, Pinder 3B, Maxwell C

“Fowler” in that lineup is Dustin Fowler, who the A’s acquired from the Yankees last year. Fowler suffered a serious knee injury in his first major league game last June 29 against the White Sox on the South Side. He is currently suing the White Sox and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority as a result of that injury. Here’s an excellent article that explains why that lawsuit is happening and its chances of success.

Kyle Hendricks will start for the Cubs and be followed by Mike Montgomery. Today, we will also see some Cubs relievers who will be on the Opening Day roster: Justin Wilson, Justin Grimm and Carl Edwards Jr., as well as Luke Farrell and Eddie Butler.

Former Cubs prospect Paul Blackburn gets the call for the Athletics. Other pitchers on the A’s list today: Daniel Mengden, Chris Hatcher, Blake Treinen, Danny Coulombe, Lou Trivino, Nolan Blackwood and Jeremy Bleich.

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

MLB.com Gameday

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.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

Please visit our SB Nation Athletics site Athletics Nation. If you do go there to interact with A’s 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.

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 Day.

Discuss amongst yourselves.