(670 The Score) At long last, the MLB season will begin Thursday night, more than four months after the coronavirus pandemic halted spring training and set the sport onto a path of ugly labor negotiations.
While fans won't be in attendance at the ballparks, the sight of baseball on our television screens and the sound of it on the radio will be embraced.
The Cubs get going by hosting the Brewers at Wrigley Field on Friday evening. The game can be heard on 670 The Score, with pregame starting at 5:10 p.m. CT. The White Sox host the Twins in their opener Friday, with first pitch coming from Guaranteed Rate Field at 7:10 p.m.
Ahead of the unique season, we opened the floor for our staff to share their predictions. Twelve of them responded, and the group was higher on the White Sox than the Cubs.
Of the 12 responses, 11 project the White Sox will be over .500 and 10 believe they'll make the playoffs. Five individuals predict the White Sox will win the AL Central, and one staffer has them winning the World Series.
There was a more mixed response on the Cubs. Seven of our 12 prognosticators think they'll be over .500, and six of them see the Cubs reaching the playoffs. But only two envision the Cubs winning the NL Central, and no one believes they'll be the World Series champions.
Here's a look.
Matt SpiegelCubs record: 31-29White Sox record: 37-23
NL East: PhilliesNL Central: CardinalsNL West: DodgersNL wild cards: Reds, Cubs
AL East: YankeesAL Central: TwinsAL West: AstrosAL wild cards: A's, White Sox
NLCS: Dodgers over PhilliesALCS: Yankees over AstrosWorld Series: Dodgers over Yankees
David HaughCubs record: 33-27White Sox record: 36-24
NL East: BravesNL Central: BrewersNL West: DodgersNL wild cards: Phillies, Cubs
AL East: YankeesAL Central: TwinsAL West: AngelsAL wild cards: Rays, White Sox
NLCS: Brewers over DodgersALCS: Rays over AngelsWorld Series: Brewers over Rays
Dan McNeilCubs record: 30-30White Sox record: 35-25
NL East: BravesNL Central: BrewersNL West: DodgersNL wild cards: Reds, Nationals
AL East: YankeesAL Central: White SoxAL West: AstrosAL wild cards: Twins, Red Sox
NLCS: Dodgers over RedsALCS: Twins over YankeesWorld Series: Twins over Dodgers
Chris TannehillCubs record: 30-30White Sox record: 35-25
NL East: BravesNL Central: BrewersNL West: DodgersNL wild cards: Phillies, Reds
AL East: YankeesAL Central: White SoxAL West: AngelsAL wild cards: Rays, Athletics
NLCS: Dodgers over BrewersALCS: Yankees over White SoxWorld Series: Dodgers over Yankees
Herb LawrenceCubs record: 33-27White Sox record: 28-32
NL East: BravesNL Central: RedsNL West: DodgersNL wild cards: Cubs, Mets
AL East: RaysAL Central: TwinsAL West: AstrosAL wild cards: Angels, Yankees
NLCS: Dodgers over RedsALCS: Yankees over TwinsWorld Series: Dodgers over Yankees
Chris EmmaCubs record: 35-25White Sox record: 34-26
NL East: MetsNL Central: CubsNL West: DodgersNL wild cards: Reds, Phillies
AL East: YankeesAL Central: TwinsAL West: A'sAL wild cards: White Sox, Rangers
NLCS: Dodgers over CubsALCS: Yankees over A'sWorld Series: Dodgers over Yankees
Nick ShepkowskiCubs record: 31-29White Sox record: 31-29
NL East: BravesNL Central: RedsNL West: DodgersNL wild cards: Phillies, Brewers
AL East: YankeesAL Central: TwinsAL West: AstrosAL wild cards: Rays, A's
NLCS: Reds over DodgersALCS: Yankees over AstrosWorld Series: Yankees over Reds
Les GrobsteinCubs record: 34-26White Sox record: 32-28
NL East: NationalsNL Central: RedsNL West: DodgersNL wild cards: Cubs, Cardinals
AL East: YankeesAL Central: TwinsAL West: AngelsAL wild cards: Rays, White Sox
NLCS: Dodgers over CardinalsALCS: Rays over YankeesWorld Series: Dodgers over Rays
Kevin DziepakCubs record: 28-32White Sox record: 33-27
NL East: NationalsNL Central: RedsNL West: DodgersNL wild cards: Padres, Braves
AL East: YankeesAL Central: White SoxAL West: AstrosAL wild cards: Rays, Twins
NLCS: Dodgers over RedsALCS: Rays over White SoxWorld Series: Dodgers over Rays
Jay ZawaskiCubs record: 36-24White Sox record: 38-22
NL East: BravesNL Central: CubsNL West: DodgersNL wild cards: Phillies, Reds
AL East: YankeesAL Central: White SoxAL West: AstrosAL wild cards: Rays, Twins
NLCS: Dodgers over BravesALCS: Yankees over TwinsWorld Series: Dodgers over Yankees
Shane RiordanCubs record: 26-34White Sox record: 38-22
NL East: BravesNL Central: BrewersNL West: DodgersNL wild cards: Reds, Phillies
AL East: RaysAL Central: White SoxAL West: AstrosAL wild cards: Twins, Angels
NLCS: Dodgers over PhilliesALCS: White Sox over AstrosWorld Series: White Sox over Dodgers
Joe OstrowskiCubs record: 30-30White Sox record: 33-27
NL East: MetsNL Central: BrewersNL West: DodgersNL wild cards: Reds, Padres
AL East: RaysAL Central: IndiansAL West: AstrosAL wild cards: Yankees, White Sox
NLCS: Dodgers over MetsALCS: Rays over AstrosWorld Series: Rays over Dodgers
