PITTSBURGH — Jeff Samardzija can only hope his performance Monday matches his last opening game in Pittsburgh.

Samardzija will start for the Chicago Cubs and A.J. Burnett for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday as two teams with long streaks of futility meet on opening day. The Cubs haven’t won a World Series since 1908 and the Pirates haven’t had a winning season since 1992.

This will be the first opening-day start for Samardzija, who went 9-13 with a 3.81 ERA in 28 games last year in his first full season as a starting pitcher.

As a junior wide receiver at Notre Dame in 2005, Samardzija caught three passes for 34 yards and one touchdown to help the Fighting Irish beat Pitt 42-21 in Charlie Weis’ first game as coach. Samardzija went on to become a consensus All-America that year.

“That was a big moment for me, scoring my first college touchdown, but football seems so long ago now,” Samardzija said.

Burnett will be making his first opening-day start of his 15-year career. He was the undisputed ace during his first season with the Pirates last year, going 16-10 with a 3.51 ERA in 31 starts after being acquired from the New York Yankees in a trade on the eve of spring training.

“I don’t know exactly what my emotions will be like because I’ve never pitched on opening day before, but I’m glad that it’s happening in Pittsburgh,” Burnett said. “I really love It here. Last year was the most fun I had in a long time. It’s a great group of guys to play with and the fans have treated me great.”

Burnett is considering retirement at the end of this season. Burnett is 36 and his children are 12 and 9,.

However, Burnett has developed such an affinity for Pittsburgh that he would consider playing in 2014 if the Pirates are interested in having him back.