It came as no surprise that White Sox manager Tony La Russa named right-hander Lucas Giolito as his Opening Day starter on Monday. Giolito is coming off two strong seasons, one as an All-Star in 2019, and he has stepped forward as the leader of the Sox’ starting rotation.
That La Russa had two other starters to possibly consider with Opening Day chops says something about Giolito, who started the Sox opener last season. Left-hander Dallas Keuchel and righty Lance Lynn also have Opening Day experience, but Giolito, the incumbent, is a pitching centerpiece of the Sox rebuild who figures to be around longer and potentially add to his collection of Opening Day starts if his career stays on its current path.
“We’re going with Gio, as you expected,” La Russa said.
The Sox open the season April 1 against the Angels in Anaheim, Calif. Keuchel is lined up to pitch the second game April 2 and Lynn is set to follow Keuchel on April 3, La Russa said.
Right-hander Dylan Cease, who was slated to make his first Cactus League start Monday against the Cubs, is the favorite for the No. 4 spot, with lefty Carlos Rodon and right-hander Reynaldo Lopez competing for the fifth spot.
“The [last] two spots are in competition,” La Russa said.
Giolito was 14-9 with a 3.41 ERA and an All-Star Game appearance in 2019. Last season, he went 4-3 with a 3.48 ERA, pitched a no-hitter against the Pirates and took a perfect game into the seventh inning of the Sox’ first playoff game since 2008.
“All three starters could be Opening Day guys and have been,” La Russa said. “Gio has earned that spot based on his performance with our club. And it’s a nice mix with Dallas afterward and Lance in the third spot. But Lucas has been everything you look for. He’s a worker between starts, he’s a good teammate and he goes out there with an arsenal with several ways to get you out. His performance in the first game of the playoffs is everything you need to know about him. And Opening Day is a big game.”
“It means a lot to be labeled the ace by media, fans, all that,” Giolito recently told Sun-Times. “It makes me feel good. It’s a huge honor to be considered that, especially with the caliber of pitching we have on the team, especially with Dallas Keuchel and Lance Lynn mext to me, those guys could go be the ace on a staff.
“But I want our rotation to have five aces. From a competitive standpoint, I want our coaches, and the players playing behind us saying we have a great chance to win today because the ace is taking the mound and that’s all five days.”
