After a long three weeks from playing in Japan, to starting the domestic Opening Day in Arizona, to finishing up a series sweep in Sacramento, the Cubs are finally heading home to Wrigley Field for their home opener on Friday.

The Cubs’ record currently sits at 4-5 following 3 series’ on the road in Tokyo, Phoenix, and at the Athletics’ temporary home in West Sacramento. In the three games played in at Sutter Health Park, the Cubs outscored the Athletics 35-9.

As the Cubs finished their series against the A’s and swept in Sacramento on Wednesday, players and coaches couldn’t wait to return to the Friendly Confines and playing in front of Cubs fans.

“We’re looking forward to going back to Chicago. We’re looking forward to playing at Wrigley on Friday,” Craig Counsell said prior to Wednesday’s game. “We’re into normalcy right now. We have one more fun day in terms of big excitement but we’re looking forward to that day.

“I think we’re all just looking forward to playing at Wrigley. It’s so much fun, our guys love it, they look forward to it and just getting back to Chicago is number one,” Counsell said following the Cubs’ sweep of the Athletics in Sacramento.

[Condensed MLB game highlights: Seiya Suzuki, Cubs sweep Athletics]

With temperatures slated to be around 50 degrees by first pitch, Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki’s first question when asked about the home opener was whether it would be warm in Chicago.

“Is it warm yet?” Suzuki joked when asked about the Wrigley home opener on Friday. “I’m looking forward to playing in front of the home fans and I think I’ll be ready and I’m going to have a lot of hot packs all over my body to stay warm.”

[Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki forming potent 1-2 Cubs lineup punch]

For players such as Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon, the veteran right-hander is looking forward to seeing the newer Cubs players to take in this special moment ahead of Friday’s game.

“This is our last Opening Day ceremony and it’s going to be the coolest. I’m really excited to get back to Wrigley,” Taillon said following Wednesday’s game. “I’m really excited for all our new players to experience Wrigley and the fans and I’m excited to sleep in my own bed.

“It was a little weird opening in Arizona and stuff so, now we get to go home, be in front of our fans at our park which I know we’re all talking about and excited about.”

Taking the field in front of die-hard Cubs fans no matter what the weather brings is something that Pete Crow-Armstrong is anticipating at the Friendly Confines.

“It’s been a while since we’ve all been at Wrigley,” Crow-Armstrong said after Wednesday’s sweep of the Athletics. “That first day is very enticing, but just to be able to go do my routine in a really nice home setup that we got and being able to go take the field in front of however many decide show up in whatever weather and, just keep winning some ball games and keep making good steps forward as a unit.”

Friday’s home opener is scheduled for 1:20 p.m. first pitch as Shota Imanaga is slated to pitch at Wrigley Field against the San Diego Padres.