3/30 Cubs prep for opener

Cubs manager Dale Sveum revealed his Opening Day lineup on Friday against the Dodgers with David DeJesus leading off and Alfonso Soriano batting fifth. The Cubs open the season next Thursday at Wrigley Field against the Nationals and the lineup will likely be DeJesus batting first followed by Darwin Barney, Starlin Castro, Bryan LaHair, Soriano, Ian Stewart, Marlon Byrd, Geovany Soto and Ryan Dempster. Sveum said he will probably tweak the lineup against left-handers and Barney could slide into the leadoff spot.

“We have a pretty nice right-handed hitting lineup, as we saw [Thursday],” Sveum said, hinting at the Cubs’ 12-11 loss to the Padres on Thursday. “You’ve got to get those guys in against lefties as much as you can.”

Those guys include Jeff Baker, who was batting .333 against lefties this spring. Barney had four hits on Thursday. Soriano has had his best spring, batting .341 with six homers and 15 RBIs.

– Carrie Muskat