The Cubs got out of Houston with a series win to open the new season, but not before showing a glimpse of what could be their Achilles heel. 

Something seemed different about Cubs center fielder Kosuke Fukudome on Wednesday, even in batting practice. 

The 2009 salaries for the top 100 highest-paid major league baseball players on opening day rosters and disabled lists. 

Cubs manager Lou Piniella joked with Ted Lilly that he picked the right night to have a mediocre start. 

ANERICAN LEAGUE 

AMERICAN LEAGUE 

Astros 3, Cubs 2 10 innings 

Astros update 

AL standings 

The Cubs got through spring training relatively unscathed from a health standpoint, but manager Lou Piniella was eager to see his regular-season lineup intact after getting C Geovany Soto and CF Kosuke Fukudome back from the World Baseball Classic. 

Manager Lou Piniella tweaked his lineup for the second game of the season-opening series at Houston. 

--The Cubs opened a season without anybody on the disabled list for the first time since 1986. 

A week ago Jeff Keppinger thought he was going to be released from the Cincinnati Reds after a sluggish spring. 

Jeff Keppinger's broken-bat single in the 10th inning off closer Kevin Gregg gave the Houston Astros a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night. 

The Chicago Cubs may be the two-time defending NL Central Division champions, but that's not because of their play against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.