For the Diamondbacks, Thursday’s Opening Day against the Cubs at Chase Field is a chance to put the disappointing end to 2024 when they missed the postseason due to a three-team tiebreaker behind them and start fresh.

The fresh start the Cubs will be seeking is a lot more recent, as they went 0-2 against the Dodgers after opening the season in the Tokyo Series earlier in the week.

Both teams come into the season with postseason expectations and a pair of star players they hope will lead them there. All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker, who was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Astros, will be a force in the North Siders lineup, while the Diamondbacks made a splash this winter signing right-hander Corbin Burnes to a six-year, $210 million contract.

Cubs Pitcher: LHP Justin Steele

Previous Opening Days starts: 2024

2024 season: 5-5, 3.07 ERA

Steele, who followed Opening Day starter Shota Imanaga with a Game 2 nod in Tokyo on Wednesday, will make his second straight start in the Cubs’ domestic opener. The lefty got the Opening Day nod last season, but it wound up being his last start until May after a fifth-inning hamstring injury sent him to the injured list.

This will be a chance for Steele to bounce back after taking the loss at the Tokyo Dome. He gave up five runs on five hits, including two homers, while striking out five in four innings. Home runs were a problem in Cactus League play as well, but manager Craig Counsell said he’s not at all concerned.

D-backs Pitcher: RHP Zac Gallen

Previous Opening Days starts: 2023, 2024

2024 season: 14-6, 3.65 ERA

After wrestling with the decision of whether to start Gallen or Burnes, manager Torey Lovullo decided to go with Gallen, who will be making his third straight Opening Day start for the Diamondbacks. One of the deciding factors was Lovullo’s history with Gallen. Since his arrival at the Trade Deadline in 2019, Gallen and Lovullo have been together for the lows – a 110-loss season in 2021 – and the highs – a trip to the World Series in 2023.

Lovullo said he began contemplating which pitcher to start as soon as he was told the team had signed Burnes. Just this past weekend, he asked all his coaches to text him with their choice for Opening Day starter and their reason for selecting him so he could make sure he covered all his bases.