The Cubs will play the first game at the renovated Tropicana Field on Monday, April 6, in the cubs vs rays matchup scheduled for 3:10 p.m. CT (4:10 p.m. ET); this is confirmed.
Tropicana Field Opening for Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay is scheduled to host its first home game of the season against the Cubs on Monday, April 6, confirmed; the Rays had played nine games on the road before this series and are scheduled to be the last of MLB’s 30 teams to play a home opener this year, confirmed.
Jameson Taillon vs Shane McClanahan
Monday’s scheduled starters are Jameson Taillon for the Cubs and Shane McClanahan for the Rays, confirmed. Tuesday’s scheduled starters are Matthew Boyd for the Cubs and Drew Rasmussen for the Rays, confirmed. Wednesday’s likely starters are Colin Rea for the Cubs and Joe Boyle for the Rays, confirmed. The Monday game is scheduled to be televised on Marquee Sports Network, confirmed.
Read Also: Matthew Boyd Placed on 15-Day IL as Cubs Shuffle Rotation
Wrigley Field Return for Cubs
The Cubs and Rays enter the series with identical 4-5 records, confirmed. Cubs history against the Rays is documented: the teams have met in 25 previous games, with the Cubs 11-14 overall and 2-6 in Tampa, confirmed. The Cubs lost three straight in Tampa in 2008, split two games in Tampa in 2017, and went 1-2 in Tampa in 2024; the Cubs won two of three at Wrigley Field against the Rays last year, all confirmed. The Cubs have Thursday off after the series, confirmed; the Cubs will return to Wrigley Field for a three-game series against the Pirates beginning Friday afternoon, April 10, confirmed.
What remains unknown: the verified facts do not state final roster availability, in-game starting times beyond the published schedules, nor which pitcher will make any emergency or late change; those items will be confirmed by team announcements or broadcast updates closer to game time. The next confirmed schedule milestone is Tuesday’s 5:40 p.m. CT (6:40 p.m. ET) game and Wednesday’s 5:40 p.m. CT (6:40 p.m. ET) game, both confirmed and both listed as televised on Marquee Sports Network.
