Here’s everything you need to know ahead of today’s Cactus League opener!
White Sox vs. Cubs
Fast Facts
- First Pitch: 2:05 p.m. CST
- Location: Sloan Park – Mesa, AZ
Broadcast Information
- Watch: Cubs – Marquee Sports Network
- Listen: Cubs – 670 The Score, White Sox – ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM
Probable Pitchers
- Starters: Jonathan Cannon, RHP (White Sox) vs. Jameson Taillon, RHP (Cubs)
White Sox Starting Lineup
- Curtis Mead – 3B
- Kyle Teel – C
- Austin Hays – LF
- Munetaka Murakami – 1B
- Everson Pereira – RF
- Derek Hill – CF
- Sam Antonacci – 2B
- Korey Lee – DH
- Tanner Murray – SS
Cubs Starting Lineup
- Jonathon Long – 1B
- Alex Bregman – 3B
- Seiya Suzuki – CF
- Miguel Amaya – C
- Dylan Carlson – RF
- Chas McCormick – LF
- Pedro Ramirez – 2B
- BJ Murray – DH
- Scott Kingery – SS
*Lineups subject to change
Before this afternoon’s first pitch, get caught up on all the White Sox nuggets from the past couple of days below!
Venable reveals Cannon will start spring opener
Jonathan Cannon will kick off the South Siders’ spring campaign Friday as the starting pitcher, manager Will Venable revealed Wednesday. Cannon flashed some promise in 2024 before struggling in 2025 and ending the year with Triple-A Charlotte.
On Thursday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reported that new reliever acquisition Chris Murphy will take the bump Saturday, with 2025 rotation mainstay Sean Burke starting Sunday.
Acuña has inside edge on center field
Noted non-switch-hitter and new outfielder Luisangel Acuña will likely occupy center field come Opening Day, according to CSHN reporter Brooke Fletcher, labeling it “his job to lose”.
Quero, Teel list priorities for spring development
On CHSN, insider Chuck Garfien relayed that catcher Edgar Quero is focused on improving his power this spring, as well as his framing. Alden Gonzalez of ESPN recently mentioned Quero’s launch angle focus in a fascinating dive into modern swing analytics here.
Meanwhile, Kyle Teel has put on 20 pounds of muscle this offseason and aims to boost his power as well, according to Fletcher.
Taylor impresses on Thursday
Second-year flamethrower Grant Taylor won Thursday’s “Camper of the day” nod from Venable. According to Merkin, Venable had this to say:
“Looked amazing. Stuff looked really crisp. Just aggressive coming down the mound.”
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Featured Photo: © Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
