CHICAGO (CBS) — Excitement is building for the Cubs’ home opener at Wrigley Field on Monday. Fans will see changes galore at the Friendly Confines this season.

Wrigley Field is almost ready for defending World Series champion Cubs’ rematch of the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers on Monday.

The Cubs’ home stadium has undergone a significant renovation in the offseason, with the bullpens removed from the left field and right field foul lines and moved under the bleachers.

New flag poles also have been installed on the center field scoreboard to hoist the Cubs’ championship banners Monday night.

The Cubs also have been making major progress on a new plaza next door to the stadium. Crews were installing planters at “The Park At Wrigley” on Friday and putting on finishing touches, so it can open for business on Monday.

Right next to the plaza is a new Cubs store that will open Monday. The 8,400-square-foot “Rank + Rally” store has two floors packed with new Cubs merchandise.

“We’ve got a lot of great installations, including a 250 baseball bat installation with a large video screen monitor, live feed for game footage,” Rank + Rally senior vice president Erin Jones said. “We have amazing custom artwork from local artists. All the fixtures are made out of reclaimed ash. So a really, really great Chicago experience.”

A security perimeter will be in place around Wrigley Field two hours before game time and after the game for the home opener on Monday, very similar to what it was like during the playoffs and the World Series in 2016, as the Cubs are expecting huge crowds.

The game against the Dodgers is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday.

Rank + Rally also plans on having security personnel on site Monday, just to make sure things go smoothly.

CHICAGO (CBS) — The Better Business Bureau is warning sports fans to be on the lookout for scams involving the upcoming Cubs home opener and Blackhawks Stanley Cup playoff run.

Demand and ticket prices will be high for tickets to these games, and scammers will be eager to capitalize on the situation, according to the BBB. The Cubs will play their opening game at Wrigley Field on Monday.

“Whenever there’s excitement about a special event, like the Cubs home opener after winning the World Series or the Blackhawks chasing another Stanley Cup, there are counterfeiters who want to take advantage,” Steve Bernas, president of the BBB in Chicago and Northern Illinois, said in the statement.

In addition to counterfeit tickets, Bernas said scammers will also often try to sell illegal merchandise made with inferior materials as a secondary income stream.

The BBB is warning consumers to be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true and to only buy tickets or merchandise from a reputable ticket broker or retailer. The bureau also advised buyers to use a credit card if possible so they could appeal to the card company if there’s a problem.

“We don’t want the fans’ excitement to be spoiled by losing money with fake tickets or poor merchandise,” Bernas said.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2016. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

CHICAGO (CBS) — The World Series champion Cubs take on the Dodgers on Monday night for their home opener, and fans will notice lots of changes inside and outside Wrigley Field.

The Cubs will raise their World Series banner ahead of Monday’s home opener, and on Wednesday, fans will help present rings to the coaches and players. The team selected 20 “ring bearers” as part of an offseason contest.

The home opener starts at 7:05 p.m., and Hall of Fame players Ryne Sandberg, Ferguson Jenkins and Billy Williams will help raise the banners. Cubs players will be wearing uniforms with gold trim and members of the Ricketts family, who own the team, will throw out the first pitch.

The Cubs made lots of changes to the stadium in the offseason, both big and small, from new padded seats behind home plate to new bullpens and a new plaza outside the ballpark featuring a team store and eventually a tavern-style restaurant named after broadcaster Jack Brickhouse.

During the offseason, the bullpens were moved off the field along the foul lines to a spot under the bleachers, allowing for better accommodations for pitchers and outfielders. The move also allowed the Cubs to add a few more rows of seats along the left and right field sides.

The plaza will give fans a place to hang out before and after the games. However, it won’t be open to the public at game time. Fans will need a ticket to the game to get into the plaza two hours before the game.

A new western gate also will open adjacent to the new plaza, reducing congestion on the concourse before and after games.

The Cubs also want to make sure all fans are safe in and around Wrigley Field, so extra police will be around the ballpark watching for problems, enforcing parking restrictions, coordinating traffic and guiding pedestrians.

The stadium also will have metal detectors at every gate, and security teams will conduct bag checks at the entrances. So fans have been told to arrive early to make sure they get through security screenings before the start of the game. If you bring a bag, it can’t be larger than 16 inches.

Driving around the park also will be restricted. Truck traffic won’t be allowed around Wrigley from two hours before the game until at least one hour after.

CHICAGO (CBS) — The family of fallen Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer will present the official game ball on Thursday when the White Sox host their home opener.

The White Sox said Bauer’s family will present the game ball for the 3:10 p.m. game against the Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, a member of the 2005 World Series champions, will throw the ceremonial first pitch.

Bauer, 53, was shot and killed in February while trying to apprehend a suspect outside the Thompson Center downtown.

A longtime White Sox fan, bauer and other fathers at South Loop Elementary School organized a number of annual student events, including annual outings to a White Sox game.

CHICAGO (CBS) — Even though the weather doesn’t feel like it, it’s time for baseball on the South Side. The White Sox host their home opener Thursday afternoon against the Tigers.

It could be one of the coldest home openers the Sox have ever played, with temperatures expected to be around 38 degrees for the first pitch at 3:10 p.m. Light rain and snow flurries also are a possibility Thursday afternoon.

With the team averaging nearly 6 runs per game, and their hitters bashing a least one home run in each game so far, the White Sox will hope the temperatures don’t put their hot offense on ice.

Brooks Boyer, senior vice president of marketing for the White Sox, said the cold certainly won’t put a damper on the festivities.

“It may be a little chilly out, but it’s not going to stop anybody from having some nice cold beers on Opening Day,” he said. “Baseball warms the spirit.”

The team is encouraging fans to come out early. The parking lots open at 1:10 p.m., so fans will have plenty of time for tailgating before the game.

A.J. Pierzynski, the catcher for the 2005 World Series champion White Sox team, will throw out the first pitch. Grace Bauer, the daughter of fallen Chicago Police Cmdr. Paul Bauer will present the official game ball.

“Just our way to show a debt of gratitude for Commander Bauer, and all he brought to the city; and really first responders, police officers, firefighters across the city,” White Sox Charities Executive Director Christine O’Reilly said.

The new attractions at Guaranteed Rate Field include a 90-second virtual reality home run derby experience, allowing fans to hit the ball out of the park.

Above the field, is a new continuous LED ribbon board, which will allow fans sitting in the outfield to keep an eye on player stats during the game without having to turn around to look at the big video boards.

There are also new treats on the menu: such as the “Change Up,” which features Monterey Jack chicken sausage and salsa fresca; the “Slurve,” a cheddar beer bratwurst with caramelized onions and spicy mustard; and the “South Side Horseshoe,” which is the White Sox’s take on a signature Springfield dish, an open-faced sandwich with an Italian sausage patty on top of Texas toast, topped with French fries, giardiniera, and a cheddar sauce made with Modelo beer.

CHICAGO (CBS) — The Friendly Confines weren’t quite so friendly on Monday, with the Cubs forced to postpone their home opener by a day, due to snowy conditions.

The Cubs originally were scheduled to start their home opener at 1:20 p.m. Monday morning, they delayed the start of the game until 2:20 p.m., but later postponed the game until 1:20 p.m. Tuesday.

A dusting of snow had fallen at Wrigley Field overnight, and more snow was falling hours before Monday’s scheduled first pitch, with plenty of snow still on the grass. Although temperatures were rising above freezing by the afternoon, a mix of rain and more snow was possible Monday afternoon.

The Cubs tried to use the outfield sprinklers to help melt the snow Monday morning, but the team ultimately decided to postpone the game until Tuesday.

CBS 2’s Roseanne Tellez and Cubs mascot Clark had some fun with the snow early Monday, having a snowball fight at “Gallagher Way,” the newly renamed plaza outside Wrigley Field.

A few players also had some fun in the snow when they arrived Monday morning, tossing some snowballs at each other before heading back into the warmth of the clubhouse.

Wrigley Field organist Gary Pressy pointed out it’s hardly the first time the Cubs have dealt with a few flakes at their home opener, tweeting a video of snow falling at the stadium in 1975.

CHICAGO (CBS) — Thousands of fans headed back to Wrigley Field for the Cubs’ postponed home opener against the Pirates.

The Cubs tried to clear a couple inches of snow from the field before Monday’s scheduled 1:20 p.m. start, even turning on the sprinklers in an effort to melt the snow. After first pushing back the game an hour, the Cubs ultimately decided to postpone until Tuesday afternoon, which was a day off in the schedule for just such an eventuality.

Finally, on Tuesday, there was baseball at the Friendly Confines. Before the game, Loyola’s men’s basketball team shared the spotlight and the beloved Sister Jean tossed out a ceremonial first pitch.

Jeremy Crafton and son, Lane, from Indianapolis, had tickets yesterday and spent the night in Chicago to make today’s game.

More expensive but well worth it, the told CBS 2’s Jim Williams.

“anytime you can come to Wrigley Field and hang out with these beautiful people, it’s a great day. The excitement is still here,” said Jeremy.

Players made the most of the snow delay on Monday, having a snowball on the field before heading back into the warmth of the clubhouse.

Some Cubs fans ventured south to Guaranteed Rate Field to watch the White Sox take on the Rays. There wasn’t quite as much snow on the South Side, and the series against Tampa Bay is the only scheduled trip to Chicago for the Rays, so rescheduling their game would have been more difficult.

CHICAGO (CBS) — The Cubs are hoping for a fresh start this afternoon, as they welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates, hoping to get on a winning streak, after a seriously disappointing 2-7 road trip to start the season.

On the heels of their worst nine-game start since 1997, manager Joe Maddon said he’s trying to keep things loose, saying “adversity is good for the soul.”

The Cubs took early batting practice under sunny skies Monday morning, with players relieved to be back at home, with a chance to kind of start over.

“You get back home, our fans are wonderful, the ballpark is the best, and then all of a sudden you get this little carrot with the weather too. All of a sudden, it’s kind of neat,” Maddon said. “Listen, it’s not something that you just turn around in a second, on a dime. It’s a slow turnaround normally, and for me it’s a patient process.”

Outfielder Albert Almora said, despite winning only two of their first nine games, a lot of positive things happened for the Cubs on their road trip.

“The results might not be there, but I love the way we’re playing, and we’re not giving up. It’s real easy to fold at the end of these games when it’s kind of lopsided, or whatever the case may be, but we fight to the end, and then that’s all we could really ask for,” he said.

The Cubs have the right man on the mound to try to get them back on track on Monday, with ace Jon Lester starting the season with a 3.00 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 12 innings over his first two starts.

CHICAGO (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 19 points, OG Anunoby added 17 and the Toronto Raptors spoiled Chicago’s home opener by beating the Bulls 108-84 on Saturday night.

The defending NBA champions went on a run in the second quarter to take a 48-40 halftime lead and pulled away for their 10th straight win over the cold-shooting Bulls.

Anunoby hit three 3-pointers, and Serge Ibaka added 18 points and seven rebounds. Fred VanVleet scored 16 as the Raptors shook off a loss Friday in Boston.

The Bulls see themselves as playoff contenders coming off a 22-60 season that ranked among the worst in franchise history. But they hardly looked the part, shooting just 30.2% overall and 9 of 35 on 3s.

Wendell Carter Jr. led Chicago with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Zach LaVine scored 11 after averaging 26.5 over the first two games. Lauri Markkanen struggled again, finishing with nine points for the second straight night. The 7-footer from Finland shot 3 of 10 after going 4 for 15 in a loss at Memphis.

It didn’t help Chicago that Otto Porter Jr. missed most of the second quarter after taking what appeared to be an inadvertent elbow to the face while drawing a charge against Stanley Johnson. Porter spent several minutes lying face down as blood poured out, leaving a puddle on the court. He went straight to the locker room with the team’s medical staff to get stitches and returned to start the second half.

By then, the Raptors led by eight after outscoring Chicago 17-4 over the final 6 1/2 minutes of the second quarter.

Marc Gasol and Kyle Lowry hit consecutive 3s. Anunoby added another from beyond the arc to bump it to 62-46 with 7:47 left in the third, and the Raptors remained in control the rest of the way.

TIP-INS

Raptors: Coach Nick Nurse might have to pay more attention to the Angels now that Joe Maddon is managing Los Angeles and not his beloved Cubs. “It’s a tough one for me,” said Nurse, a big Cubs fan growing up in Iowa. “Always loved the Cubs. Joe and I have become friends the last couple years. I certainly will become a much bigger Angels fan than I ever have been in my life now.” Nurse brought the Larry O’Brien Trophy to Wrigley Field last season and sang “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” while wearing Harry Caray-style glasses. Maddon and the Cubs parted after the season, ending a five-year run that produced a drought-busting championship in 2016. David Ross, a member of the title team, is the new manager. … F Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (sore left groin) and F Patrick McCaw (sore left knee) remain sidelined. Nurse had thought one or both might be available for the first time this season.

Bulls: Coach Jim Boylen said F Chandler Hutchison (hamstring) is “closer than ever” to making his season debut. … The Bulls are obviously looking to play better at the United Center after tying New York for the league’s worst home record at 9-32 last season. “It’s a huge point of emphasis,” Boylen said. “But those are just words. You’ve got to go do it.”

UP NEXT

Raptors: Host the Orlando Magic on Monday.

Bulls: Visit the New York Knicks on Monday.

© 2019 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Hendricks convinced new manager David Ross to let him finish a three-hitter, Anthony Rizzo homered and dished out hand sanitizer, and the Chicago Cubs started the season by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 on Friday night.

Ian Happ also had a two-run drive and Ross got his first victory as a big league manager as the Cubs opened this pandemic-shortened 60-game season without fans at Wrigley Field.

Showing off an improved curveball, Hendricks struck out nine and walked none in his first career opening-day start and fourth career shutout.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks throws the ball against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning of an opening day baseball game Friday, July, 24, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Orlando Arcia had each of Milwaukee’s hits off Hendricks (1-0). After he singled with two out in the third for the Brewers’ first baserunner, he accepted a splash of sanitizer from a smiling Rizzo at first and cleaned off his hands.

Ross came out to check on Hendricks with two out and a runner on first in the ninth. He decided to leave him in, and Keston Hiura bounced into a game-ending fielder’s choice on Hendricks’ 103rd pitch.

One of Chicago’s elevated train lines rumbled in the distance as the NL Central rivals renewed acquaintances three months after they were scheduled to begin the season at Miller Park. Normally, the sound of the Red Line is drowned out by 30,000-plus fans, but Wrigley Field was largely empty because of the coronavirus pandemic — making for a handful of unusual scenes.

Chicago Cubs’ Ian Happ, left, is greeted by Nico Hoerner, center, and Kris Bryant (17) after hitting a two-run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the third inning of an opening day baseball game Friday, July, 24, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Cubs left-hander Jon Lester watched the start of the game from the bleachers in left field. Brewers slugger Ryan Braun, who is normally greeted by vociferous boos when he comes to Chicago, played in relative silence all night long.

Even with the stands empty, Jason Heyward carried a Chicago flag when he ran out to right field for the start of the game.

Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff allowed four hits in five innings in his first career opening-day start. Woodruff (0-1), who made the All-Star team last year for the first time, struck out five and walked one.

Woodruff’s only rough patch occurred in the third, when Nico Hoerner singled with one out and Happ followed with a deep drive to center. Happ also homered on opening day in 2018.

Rizzo connected in the eighth against J.P. Feyereisen, sending a shot over the wall in right against the Wisconsin native in his major league debut.

Fans watch from the rooftops an opening day baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, July, 24, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: Braun (back) got the start as the designated hitter and went 0 for 3. Manager Craig Counsell said Braun went through a full workout Thursday. “I think he needed to feel good after yesterday and he reported feeling better than he did the day before,” Counsell said. “That’s a good sign.”

Cubs: Rizzo was in the starting lineup after dealing with back trouble during summer camp. … Kris Bryant got the start at third after he was scratched from Wednesday’s exhibition game against Minnesota due to back stiffness.

UP NEXT

Corbin Burnes and Yu Darvish take the mound when the series resumes Saturday afternoon. Burnes is making his fifth career start after spending much of his first two seasons in Milwaukee’s bullpen. Darvish finished strong last year, posting a 2.76 ERA over his final 13 starts with Chicago.

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

CHICAGO (CBS/AP) — Justin Fields played the second half after Andy Dalton exited with a knee injury against his former team, and the rookie quarterback used Chicago’s stellar defensive performance to direct the Bears to a 20-17 victory over Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Roquan Smith returned an interception 53 yards for his first career touchdown, one of three straight picks thrown by Burrow during the decisive stretch in the Bears’ first win of the season.

Fields took over on the Bears’ final drive of the second quarter after getting in on a handful of plays prior to that. But the biggest key for the Bears was the defense bouncing back after it was picked apart by Matthew Stafford in a season-opening loss at the Los Angeles Rams.

The Bears were up 20-3 before Burrow threw a 43-yard touchdown to Ja’Marr Chase. Fields then got intercepted at the Chicago 25 by Logan Wilson, who returned it to the 7. Burrow hit Tee Higgins with a 7-yard TD on the next play, cutting it to 20-17 with 3:39 remaining. But the Bears hung on for their third straight win over Cincinnati (1-1).

Fields, the No. 11 overall draft pick, completed just 6 of 13 passes for 60 yards. He also ran for 31 yards.

Dalton, facing his former team for the second time in as many seasons, threw a touchdown pass to Allen Robinson. The three-time Pro Bowler, who led Dallas to a victory at Cincinnati last year, completed 9 of 11 passes for 56 yards.

Dalton was hurt late in the second quarter. He took some warmup throws at halftime, but did not return to the game.

Robinson caught his 40th career TD when he hauled in an 11-yarder on the game’s opening possession.

Burrow was 19 of 30 for 207 yards. The 2019 Heisman Trophy winner threw for two TDs and was picked off three times, after setting career highs in passer rating (128.8) and yards per attempt (9.67) in an overtime win over Minnesota.

The Bears (1-1) led 10-3 after Cairo Santos kicked a 28-yard field goal in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter that was set up by Tashaun Gipson’s fumble recovery.

Smith made it a 14-point game when he leaped to haul in a short pass intended for Tyler Boyd at the 47 and returned up the left sideline.

Jaylon Johnson got his first career interception on Cincinnati’s next possession. After the Bears punted, Angelo Blackson got his first as a pro deep in Bengals territory on a ball that teammate Alec Ogletree deflected. That led to another field goal for Santos, making it 20-3.

Fields downplayed his own performance after the game.

“Me personally, I didn’t play well,” he said. “Of course, I played well enough to get the win, but I think there’s a lot of room for me to improve.”

Justin Fields not satisfied even after a #Bears win: "Me personally, I didn't play well… Of course, I played well enough to get the win, but I think there's a lot of room for me to improve." @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/VyDrObmlQv

— Matt Zahn (@mattzahnsports) September 19, 2021

INJURY REPORT

Bengals: No injuries reported.

Bears: NT Eddie Goldman (knee) was inactive after missing the opener and being listed as doubtful for this game. He opted out of last season because of COVID-19 concerns.

UP NEXT

Bengals: Visit Pittsburgh on Sept. 26.

Bears: Visit Cleveland on Sept. 26.

(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)