[Psyblast]

Piniella sets roster
Cubs activate and call up Sheets to the big league team

April 6, 2009

HOUSTON - It's Opening Day around Major League Baseball, and the Cubs are slated to start their season at 7:05 eastern time in Houston against their Central Division rivals, the Astros. Carlos Zambrano will get the Opening Day nod against fellow ace Roy Oswalt. Earlier in the day, the Cubs officially activated Ben Sheets, who told reporters he was "100%." As of now, Sheets will occupy the 5th spot in the rotation, and his debut will indeed take place in Milwaukee against the Brewers over the weekend.

Just a short time ago, Cubs manager Lou Piniella released his Opening Day lineup:

1. Alfonso Soriano, LF
2. Kosuke Fukudome, CF
3. Derrek Lee, 1B
4. Aramis Ramirez, 3B
5. Milton Bradley, RF
6. Geovany Soto, C
7. Mike Fontenot, 2B
8. Ryan Theriot, SS
9. Carlos Zambrano, P

On the bench of the Cubbies will be rookies Bobby Scales (2B/3B), Micah Hoffpauir (OF/1B), and Andres Blanco (SS/2B), along with veterans Koyie Hill (C/3B) and Reed Johnson (OF).