Justin Steele to start Cubs' opener against Diamondbacks

Justin Steele will start the Chicago Cubs' domestic opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. Steele recently returned from Japan, where he pitched in the season opener. In that game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he struggled, allowing five runs and five hits in four innings. He did manage to strike out five batters. Jameson Taillon is scheduled to start Game 2 in the four-game series at Chase Field. Manager Craig Counsell has not announced when Shota Imanaga will pitch against the Diamondbacks. Imanaga had a strong showing in his first game, throwing four scoreless innings. Steele faces Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen, who is making his third consecutive Opening Day start. Last year, Steele was also the Cubs' Opening Day starter but had to pause his season due to a hamstring injury. The Cubs made a roster move by releasing infielder Nicky Lopez, who was competing for a utility role. Lopez, who had played for the White Sox last season, has reportedly attracted interest from the Rockies. The Cubs returned to Cactus League play on Friday for adjustments after their series in Japan. Their recent game against the Padres ended in a 5-1 loss, featuring mostly minor-leaguers, and Nico Hoerner made his Cactus League debut after recovering from surgery. Counsell said the team will ease back into action and prioritize player recovery. He noted the challenge of returning to spring training after the regular season games. The first game of the Tokyo Series on Tuesday achieved high viewership in Japan, making it the most-watched major-league game in the country's history. The games featured all-Japanese pitching duels and strong performances, including a homer by Shohei Ohtani.