The first three spots of the Cubs' rotation have been locked in. After announcing earlier this week that Kyle Hendricks will be the Opening Day starter, manager David Ross revealed that Jake Arrieta and Zach Davies will be next in line.

"It's been really fun to just be connecting with these guys," Hendricks said this week, "and kind of learning them through this spring, but also just seeing how good they are, really, at their craft. It's going to be so much fun to go every five days and go a full 162 with this group."

Hendricks is scheduled to take the ball for the Cubs in the season opener against the Pirates on April 1 at Wrigley Field. Following the April 2 off-day, Arrieta will start on April 3 and Davies on April 4, respectively, against Pittsburgh.

Davies, the lone Major Leaguer acquired in the offseason trade that sent ace Yu Darvish and catcher Victor Caratini to the Padres, has dazzled at Spring Training, posting a 0.68 ERA in 13 1/3 innings. On Wednesday night, the righty struck out eight in 4 1/3 innings against Seattle.

"It really is like another version of Kyle walking around," Ross said of Davies. "I think he is a really smart pitcher and has learned a lot over his years taking the mound in the big leagues, and what hitters are trying to do to him and trying to combat that.

"I think you saw that [Wednesday] with just guys not figuring out what to sit on, what to look for. He does a really good job with that."

Wrigley Field capacity increases
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Thursday a loosening of restrictions for outdoor activities. That included 25 percent capacity for major outdoor venues, which includes sporting events, according to a team source. That means the Cubs are expecting to be able to host a larger crowd than the original 20 percent announced earlier this month.

Ross reiterated earlier this week how much he is looking forward to seeing fans at the Friendly Confines again.

"You saw spiderwebs on the seats and stuff, where fans hadn't sat in months and months and months," Ross said. "The fact that thing's going to be all nice and cleaned up and shiny for fans, who are going to get in there and grab a dog and a beer and cheer on the Cubs, it doesn't get any better than that.

"I can't wait. I literally can't. I don't think the players can wait. The fans are what make our sport and so, as nice as the stadium is, and the weather and the city, the fans are what bring it all together."

Worth noting
• If the Cubs opt to carry a second lefty in the bullpen beyond Andrew Chafin, it sounds like veteran Rex Brothers might be Ross' pick. Brothers has nine strikeouts, one walk and two hits allowed in seven shutout innings in Cactus League play this spring.

Brothers, 33, has always featured swing-and-miss stuff (10.7 strikeouts per nine innings in his career), but command has been a problem. He made Ross' Opening Day roster a year ago, but only logged three games in 2020.

"He's done nothing but prove that he belongs in the big leagues," Ross said. "He's mentally where he needs to be. He's mentally tough. He's put his struggles behind him, I truly believe, and is ready to impact our ballclub in a great way."

• Closer Craig Kimbrel worked one shutout inning against the Mariners on Wednesday and was slated to face hitters in camp on Thursday to simulate back-to-back outings. Ross has been pleased with Kimbrel's progress over the past two weeks.

"Just still mechanically in sync. We've talked. He found those cues," Ross said. "It looks like he's on a good track to be ready to close out games when the season starts."

• Righty Trevor Williams threw in a "B" game setting on Thursday, working five innings, per reports from Arizona. Among the position players taking part, Joc Pederson connected for a pair of doubles and a homer in the game.

Quotable
"It's still a lot of hard decisions that are being made and it's coming down here to the back end. And guys are making it tough, because of how great they're all playing.

"It's making my job and Jed's job really difficult." -- Ross, on finalizing the roster with president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer.

Up next
Kyle Hendricks is scheduled to start for the Cubs in a Cactus League tilt against the Giants at Sloan Park. Watch live on MLB.TV at 3 p.m. CT.