MLB Opening Day: Much Awaited Start to Chicago Cubs 2021 Season

CHICAGO — The 2021 Major League Baseball season gets underway this week, with Opening Day for the Chicago Cubs and 29 other teams set for Thursday.

The Cubs begin their 2021 season on April 1 at 1:20 p.m. against the Pittsburgh Pirates at their home stadium in Wrigleyville. Kyle Hendricks will get the nod on the mound for the Cubs against the Pirate's Chad Kuhl in the first pitching match-up of the season.

The 2021 MLB season will look different from any other year, at least in the stands, as fans will be allowed inside all 30 ballparks after a 2020 regular season that was played entirely without attendees because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Teams have varied greatly in the attendance capacity rules set forth before the season. The Texas Rangers are allowing a 100 percent capacity return, which could mean more than 40,000 fans at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. No other team is allowing more than a 50 percent capacity.

The Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals are the teams allowing the fewest number of fans, only permitting 12 percent to start the season, according to The Athletic.

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At Wrigley Field, a 20 percent capacity will be allowed to start the season, meaning about 8,300 fans will be allowed inside.

Most larger city teams, like the White Sox in Chicago and Yankees and Mets in New York, have set limits below 25 percent capacity.

Thursday will also be the first time in many years that all 30 teams will start the season on the same day. In recent years, a Sunday night baseball game was held before a Monday Opening Day.