The Marlins may have as many as a dozen players participating in opening-day festivities for the first time.
Their No. 2 starter, Caleb Smith, was a Rule 5 pick whom the Cubs returned to the Yankees last spring.
Nevertheless, the Cubs vow not to take the Marlins for granted. That was a trap the Cubs fell into last season against some of the league’s feebler teams.
Losing road series to the Giants, Phillies and Padres made the Cubs’ mission tougher last season, and they realize they can’t take the depleted Marlins or Reds for granted as they try to get off to a fast start in 2018.
“We might have fallen into that trap of, ‘OK, we’ll turn it on and be good,’ ” Cubs left-hander Mike Montgomery said. “That’s a tough way to go about it.”
The Marlins open the season Thursday without the talented but since-traded outfield of Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich. Cubs reliever Steve Cishek, who pitched for the Marlins from 2010-15, knows the motivation second-division teams possess when they play contenders.
“Anytime you’re a successful team and win the World Series, everyone is coming after you,” Cishek said. “It’s a big deal when you beat the Cubs. I was on the other end of that. I remember when I was with the Marlins when we weren’t so great. We would play teams that were supposed to do major damage, and we’d come away with a series win, and it was a big deal for us.
“Younger teams like that build off that stuff and want to beat those teams.”
Especially when all 30 teams — even the Marlins — are filled with optimism after spring training.
“Maybe when you catch a team at the bottom of their division and out of a (playoff) race in July, there’s not as much competition on their side,” Cubs closer Brandon Morrow said. “It’s just human nature. Early in the year everyone is trying to get off to a hot start, and it definitely helps to set the tone for the season. That way you don’t have to play from behind.”
Twitter @MDGonzales
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