What to watch for as Cubs' spring games begin

MESA, Ariz. -- Cactus League games begin on Thursday for the Chicago Cubs as they take the next step in preparing for the 2016 season. Three players in big league camp won’t participate in the action as Christian Villanueva (broken fibula), Matt Szczur (oblique) and Zac Rosscup (shoulder) are down with injuries. Only Szczur is due to return sometime next week.

Here are things to look for as the games begin.

Individual results: Everyone says to not pay attention to individual results in spring games. About 95 percent of the time that’s true, but I’ll remind you of Carlos Marmol in 2013 and Jose Veras in 2014. Both looked awful in Cactus League action yet opened the season as the Cubs closer,…