Chicago Cubs' Bryant an expert on slow starts

ST. LOUIS - As good as he is, Kris Bryant can afford to laugh at himself now and then.

Before Tuesday night's game against the Cardinals, Bryant lamented his lack of success in season debuts.

"I'm not a good debuter," the Chicago Cubs third baseman said. "First game in pro ball, first game in Rookie ball, first game in short-season, I've never had a good first game."

In Sunday night's season opener, Bryant was 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts. Last year in Anaheim, he was 0-for-3, but he did walk twice in addition to striking out twice.

In his major-league debut two years ago, he was 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts.

"I'm frustrated even after good games," the reigning MVP said. "That's what drives me. Even when I do something good, there's always something I can do better. There's no different feeling. We're going through this route all over again, hopefully another 180-plus games. It's a grind. I've always been that way."

Then, on mock seriousness, he said: "I'm going to keep trying my hardest."

Beyond that, he said it was good to have Opening Night over and done with.

"I felt the nerves," he said. "It's the first game, a ton of people here. In Cardinal territory, you feel the nerves a little bit. So it's nice to just get it out of the way and just move on."

It's getting closer:

Things are taking shape for the festivities surrounding the Cubs' season-opening homestand, which begins Monday night with a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers (to be televised exclusively by ESPN).

The championship banner will be raised Monday with Cubs alumni before members of the Ricketts family throw a ceremonial first pitch. Cubs Hall of Famers Fergie Jenkins, Ryne Sandberg and Billy Williams will lead the seventh-inning stretch. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for home opener pregame festivities, which will start at approximately 6:15 p.m.

World Series rings will be presented Wednesday night, before the second game of the homestand. Former Cubs catcher David Ross will throw a first pitch and sing during the stretch.

Fans may enter Wrigley Field's new western Gate H through the "Park at Wrigley," which opens to the public April 10.

Preparing for rain:

Bad weather is expected for Wednesday afternoon's scheduled series finale. If a rainout were to happen, the Cubs would love nothing better than to have the game rescheduled for later in the season so they can stop in Chicago and enjoy an off-day Thursday before heading to Milwaukee for the weekend.

However, there's a good possibility the Cardinals will insist on playing the makeup game Thursday. The teams have a mutual off-day Thursday, May 11, before the Cubs open a weekend series at Busch Stadium, but the Cardinals may well opt to do the Cubs no favors.