(670 The Score) The Cubs have officially set their rotation for their season-opening series at the Texas Rangers, and they'll give two pitchers the chance to face their former team.
After left-hander Jon Lester takes the ball for the opener Thursday, right-hander Yu Darvish will follow Saturday and left-hander Cole Hamels will start Sunday. Darvish played for Texas from 2012-'17, and Hamels played there from 2015 until the Cubs acquired him from the Rangers in a trade last July.
Darvish recently dealt with a blister issue on his throwing hand but has since proclaimed himself ready to go. He was 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA in eight starts in an injury-plagued 2018, when he deal with elbow issues. Darvish had surgery in September.
Hamels posted a 2.36 ERA in 12 in Chicago after the Cubs acquired him from the Rangers. That quality work came after he struggled with a 4.72 ERA in 20 starts in Texas to open the season.
The Cubs haven't announced their fourth starter. It could be right-hander Kyle Hendricks, who agreed to a contract extension with the Cubs on Tuesday that runs through 2023 with an option for 2024.
After Chicago opens at Texas, it travels to Atlanta for a three-game series starting Monday.





