MESA, Ariz. — Sloan Park got its last look at Marcus Stroman on Friday before he takes the ball against the Brewers on Opening Day at Wrigley Field. Fans gave him a warm ovation as he headed for the dugout after a crisp start.
“I felt good,” he said. “I felt like I got pretty good work in. My slider felt probably the best it’s felt all spring.”
Stroman held the Rangers to one run through 5⅔ innings. He allowed five hits, all soft contact.
He credited rookie Hayden Wesneski, whose slider is a highlight in his arsenal, with helping him sharpen his slider. They talked before the game about cues to generate more consistent horizontal movement.
“He got me locked in,” Stroman said. “After throwing them things [in his start Thursday], I had to make sure I picked his brain today.”
Manager David Ross said a lot of factors went into naming Stroman the Opening Day starter for Thursday, including experience and how the rest of the rotation lined up.
“Stro deserved it,” Ross said. “He earned it last year, one of our better pitchers on the back half, and he’s got a presence about him. [He’s] a guy we expect to pitch big innings and carry this rotation we have throughout the season.”
Said Stroman: “Obviously the energy at Wrigley’s different, and Opening Day’s always a little bit more. I love those atmospheres. I love that energy. . . . I’m excited to go out there and perform in front of that home crowd, which I truly believe is the best in the league.”
Hoerner still sidelined
Second baseman Nico Hoerner, who was scratched from the lineup Thursday with a tight left biceps, was out of both split-squad lineups Friday.
“He’s fine,” Ross said. “He’s a tough guy, so whenever something’s bothering him, you raise a little bit of a red flag. But it’s all precautionary. And talking to him, he’s gotten a lot of at-bats. He feels good on his timing.”
Hoerner went through infield-outfield cutoff and relay drills Thursday, Ross said, noting it’s “just not something we want to push.”
With Hoerner out, minor-league middle infielder Luis Vazquez started at second base against the Rangers. He went 2-for-3 with a double and a home run.
Closer? Too constraining
When plotting bullpen moves, Ross can work backwards in close games, mostly planning on veterans Michael Fulmer and Brad Boxberger for the eighth and ninth innings and going from there. He isn’t naming a closer.
Ross posed this example: What if Boxberger’s changeup matches up well against the top part of an opponent’s lineup, but Fulmer’s cutter matches up better against the bottom of the order? He’d play the matchups rather than fixed roles.
“Just makes the best sense to put them in a position to succeed,” he said.
CUBS 5, RANGERS 3
GUARDIANS 5, CUBS 3
• Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson showed off his range and footwork against the first batter, sliding to his right to field a grounder in the hole and throw out Marcus Semien at first.
• Luis Vazquez had the more powerful game, but Eric Hosmer had two hits for the Cubs.
• In addition to a strong start, right-hander Marcus Stroman fielded a sharp comebacker and caught Josh Jung off third base.
• The long ball hurt right-hander Adrian Sampson again. He gave up three runs in five innings against the Guardians, all scored on solo homers.
• On deck: Cubs at Angels, 2:10 p.m. Saturday, Tempe, Marquee, 670-AM, Roenis Elias vs. TBD.
