I would intro here with something like, “When you win the World Series, everybody wants a piece of you,” but the Chicago Cubs were already wildly popular before they completed the greatest quest in sports history.

So, instead, I’ll simply say: the Chicago Cubs are wildly popular, and ESPN is all too happy to share them with you.

The early-season slate of ESPN Sunday Night Baseball has been announced, and it is decidedly Cubs heavy (game times at 7pm CT, except where noted):

Apr. 2: Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals (Opening Night Game, 7:30pm CT)

Apr. 9: Miami Marlins at New York Mets

Apr. 16: St. Louis Cardinals at New York Yankees

Apr. 23: Washington Nationals at New York Mets

Apr. 30: Chicago Cubs at Boston Red Sox

May 7: New York Yankees at Chicago Cubs

May 14: Houston Astros at New York Yankees (6:30pm CT)

May 21: TBD

May 28: New York Mets at Pittsburgh Pirates

June 4: St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs (6:30pm CT)

June 18: TBD

June 25: TBD

July 2: TBD

July 9: Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Indians

July 16: New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox

July 23: St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs

RIP my Sunday night sleep.

The Cubs will be appearing no fewer than five times on Sunday Night through July 23 (nearly 42% of the games announced thus far). Three of those are against the Cardinals – bring on the rivalry! – and the other two are against ESPN darlings, the Red Sox and Yankees. Hate on it all you want, but the market dictates these decisions.

The Cubs’ full broadcast schedule will come out closer to the season, but games will once again be divvied up locally among CSN Chicago (more than half), WGN-9, and ABC-7.