Chicago Cubs 2018 Season: 6 Must-See Games On The Schedule

CHICAGO, IL — Every Chicago Cubs fan has had this day marked on his or her calendar since Major League Baseball released the 2018 schedule. March 29. Opening Day.

The Cubs play the Miami Marlins at 11:40 a.m. Thursday at Marlins Park in Miami But that's just one game. What about the other 161 games on the schedule? Or better yet, the 81 Wrigley Field games?

Good questions. That's why Patch has gathered the six games and six Wrigley Field promotional days worth checking out this season:

Games

1. March 31: Cubs at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

Why is the third game of the season and the finale game in an opening series against the gutted Marlins? It's the first regular-season start as a Cub for big free-agent pitcher Yu Darvish. The one downside: The game is at the same time as the Loyola's Final Four matchup with Michigan.

TV: NBC Sports Chicago | Radio: 670 The Score

2. April 9: Pittsburgh Pirates at Cubs, 7:10 p.m.

Home opener, baby. 'Nuff said.

RELATED: Chicago Cubs Full 2018 Regular Season Schedule

TV: ABC 7 Chicago (WLS-TV) | Radio: 670 The Score

3. April 24: Cubs at Cleveland Indians, 5:10 p.m.

A rematch between the teams of the 2016 World Series, one of the best, most exciting World Series on record. Cleveland might not be as threatening as it was in '16 — especially with the way the Cubs have reloaded this offseason — but the Indians will still be looking for some payback. The two teams also will meet for a two-game series in Chicago starting May 22.

TV: WGN-TV | Radio: 670 The Score

4. May 11: Chicago White Sox at Cubs, 1:20 p.m.

The first skirmish in the battle for the Crosstown Cup comes early this season, but that's not the only thing different this year. For the first time since 2015, the Crosstown Classic will be six games, not four. And instead of playing all the games consecutively, the series will be split. The first three games will be played in May at Wrigley, and the final three will be in late September at Comiskey U.S. Cellular Guaranteed Rate Field.

TV: NBC Sports Chicago | Radio: 670 The Score

5. June 18: Los Angeles Dodgers at Cubs, 7:05 p.m.

And speaking of rematches, this time it will be the Cubs looking for revenge as they face the Dodgers for the first time since LA bounced them out of the 2017 postseason in the National League Championship Series. The second part of this season series heads to Los Angeles a week later.

TV: NBC Sports Chicago | Radio: 670 The Score

6. Sept. 28: St. Louis Cardinals at Cubs, 1:20 p.m.

It's the last series before the postseason, and it's against the Cubs' hated rivals. What better way to head into the playoffs. (Deep breaths for the superstitious fans. It's OK to expect the Cubs to make it to the postseason this year.)

TV: ABC 7 Chicago (WLS-TV) | Radio: 670 The Score

Promotional

1. April 15: Cubs Athletic Socks

Available to the first 10,000 fans | vs. Atlatna Braves, 1:20 p.m.

TV: WGN-TV | Radio: 670 The Score

2. May 23: Cubs and Star Wars T-shirt

Available to the first 10,000 early arriving fans | vs. Cleveland Indians, 7:05 p.m.

TV: NBC Sports Chicago | Radio: 670 The Score

3. July 1: Willson Contreras Laundry Hamper

Available to the first 5,000 early arriving children 13 and younger | vs. Minnesota Twins, 1:20 p.m.

TV: WGN-TV | Radio: 670 The Score

4. July 3: Cubs Hawaiian Shirt

Available to the first 10,000 early arriving fans | vs. Detroit Tigers, 1:20 p.m.

TV: NBC Sports Chicago | Radio: 670 The Score

5. July 24: 1979-81 Cubs Replica Away Jersey

Available to the first 10,000 early arriving fans | vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 7:05 p.m.

TV: WGN-TV | Radio: 670 The Score

6. Sept. 16: Promotion: Cubs ''Fan Vote'' Bobblehead

Available to the first 10,000 early arriving fans | vs. Cincinnati Reds, 1:20 p.m.

TV: ABC 7 Chicago (WLS-TV) | Radio: 670 The Score

Photo by Ezra Shaw | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images