MLB Opening Night 2015: TV Schedule and Live Stream for Cardinals vs. Cubs

Welcome back, baseball. The 2015 MLB season begins Sunday night with a showdown between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs.

Although a one-sided feud over the years, the Cubs are ready to escape the National League Central's basement and challenge the Cardinals for division supremacy. Behind an army of lethal young position players and free-agent signing Jon Lester, the future is bright in the Windy City.

St. Louis, however, won't go gently into the good night. With the exception of shipping starting pitcher Shelby Miller to the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Jason Heyward, they largely stood pat after making a trip to the National League Championship Series last year.

As Chicago rises back into relevance, this storied rivalry will regain gusto starting Sunday evening. 

St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs

When: Sunday, April 5 at 8 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN2

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Probable Pitchers: Adam Wainwright vs. Jon Lester

Top Storylines

Where's Kris Bryant?

Norm Hall/Getty Images

Those hoping to witness Kris Bryant's MLB debut must wait. Despite hitting .425/.477/1.175 with nine home runs—one against Felix Hernandez—during spring training, the superstar prospect will start 2015 in the minors.

The Cubs announced the expected decision, which will buy an extra year of service time for the 23-year-old third baseman, on Monday:

Bryant is chomping at the bit to take his skills to the next level, per MLB's official Twitter page:

The anticipated move has generated a stir around the league, with detractors blasting the Cubs for failing to deliver the best possible product for financial gain. If he's as good as everyone thinks, however, delaying Bryant's free agency by a year saves too much money not to sacrifice nine games.

Would Chicago carry a better offense Sunday night with Bryant at the hot corner? Definitely. If a 1.652 spring OPS isn't enough to prove his readiness, last year's .325/.438/.661 minor league slash line with 43 home runs does the trick.

But given the current, flawed system, the Cubs made the right business decision. Of course, fans at Wrigley Field justifiably want to see the future cornerstone in action as soon as possible.

Aces Take Mound

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Bryant's absence wouldn't cause much stir if the Cubs were headed toward another last-place finish. With Lester on the mound, however, a staff that ranked 24th in team ERA last year has a legitimate anchor.

Cubs fans were left to wonder about curses when their new $155 million man was scratched from a March 20 start due to a dead arm. Yet the 31-year-old assured the Chicago Tribune's Mark Gonzales that he'd be fine.

"I don’t think it’s anything to be concerned about," Lester said. "There’s no pain, no worry, not anything on anybody’s part. We all know how to go about this, and I don’t think there’s any worry on any end from the training staff to the coaching staff to my side of it. I really wouldn’t be too concerned about it."

According to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat, new Cubs manager Joe Maddon is encouraged by his ace's progress. Lester, however, may receive a slightly shorter leash than usual:

On the other side, Adam Wainwright was last seen surrendering 11 runs through 16 postseason frames. The 33-year-old also dealt with an abdominal injury in February, but he recovered in time to earn another Opening Day nod, per the team's Twitter account:

Wainwright recorded a career-low 2.38 ERA last season, but his strikeouts per nine innings (K/9) diminished to 7.10. Those diminished whiffs are a scary sign for a veteran hurler who has logged 519.2 innings over the past two years, including postseason play.

Lester and Wainwright are essential to their clubs' pennant chances. Each will be eager to outshine the other while ushering in the 2015 campaign.

Changing of the Guard

Brian Kersey/Getty Images

The Cardinals have captured eight NL Central titles since 2000, punching tickets to five of the last six postseasons. After spending the past few years ruling the division, they now see the Cubs gaining ground in the rearview mirror.

Chicago isn't placing all of its hopes in the Bryant basket. Outfielder Jorge Soler, who registered a .573 slugging percentage through 94 MLB plate appearances last year, will challenge his eventual teammate for National League Rookie of the Year Award honors.

After years of underwhelming results, Jake Arrieta finally put it all together, accruing a 2.53 ERA and 9.59 K/9. Lester isn't Chicago's only ace on tap.

If Javier Baez can curtail his strikeout problems, he'll become of the game's most dangerous sluggers playing middle infield. If not, star shortstop prospect Addison Russell is waiting.

In addition, Anthony Rizzo is a sleeper MVP candidate. The Cubs are young, hungry and loaded with talent, and they will at least push for a playoff spot. Even if they don't usurp the Redbirds this year, the Cubs will soon return to playing October baseball.