Gamethread: White Sox at Dodgers

It’s an away-home game for the White Sox, who unofficially named Eloy Jiménez their Opening Day left fielder

The Chicago White Sox held their signing ceremony with Eloy Jiménez and his family at Camelback Ranch early on Saturday. Intriguingly, GM Rick Hahn said today that the White Sox have been working on this extension for a long time now, and that a deal was nearly announced in November, during the GM Meetings.

While Hahn was noncommittal regarding Eloy’s immediate future with the team, a couple items made it clear:

• Eloy has moved back into the major league side of camp, where he will reside the following two days before the White Sox head to Phoenix for two final preseason games.
• Presumptive left field placewarmer Nicky Delmonico was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte today.

One scenario has Ervin Santana is told he’s made the roster, but takes another start or two in extended and hits the injured list. That opens up the opportunity for Jiménez to be officially recalled from Charlotte, to start on Opening Day.

For now, let’s focus on the starting lineup today, at the Los Angeles Dodgers, as the road team at home. It looks like the regular starting lineup vs. righthanders to begin the season:

The Dodgers are rolling out a Futures lineup:

Ballgame is an hour earlier than normal, with first pitch at 2:05 p.m. CT. Check it out on WhiteSox.com.