GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Lance Lynn will start for the White Sox in their Cactus League opener against the Padres (live at 2:05 p.m. CT on MLB.TV) on Saturday afternoon at Camelback Ranch.
Lynn is scheduled to work two or three innings, which is slightly more than usually planned for the first Spring Training trip to the mound. But Lynn is pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, and he has worked ahead of schedule with that competition in mind.
“He’s been Lance. He’s been good,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “He’s pounding the strike zone. He’s worked extremely hard. He’s ahead of schedule. He’s right where he needs to be. He knows his body really well. And he knows what he needs to do to be ready for our first series.”
Kendall Graveman (Team USA) and José Ruiz (Venezuela), who also are pitching in the Classic, are scheduled to throw. Grifol said six or seven starters from the regular lineup will play on Saturday, with left fielder Andrew Benintendi and second baseman Elvis Andrus out of action.
“Other than that, we’re going to start getting some work in,” Grifol said. “Four guys going to the WBC, so those guys have to get work in early, get them ready and then when those guys depart, the other guys will be stepping in and carrying the load.”
Those four position players are Tim Anderson (USA), Yoán Moncada and Luis Robert (Cuba) and Eloy Jiménez (Dominican Republic). Grifol already has put a great deal of research into finding the best fit for his starting lineup, but he mentioned it’s too early to commit that lineup to paper.
Dylan Cease, Lucas Giolito and Lynn are Opening Day starter options on March 30 in Houston, with Cease, the 2022 American League Cy Young runner-up, looking to be the leading candidate. But Grifol was not ready to name that Day 1 selection.
“We have to wait to see how things start to unfold in the WBC,” Grifol said. “We’ll know a little bit maybe prior to that, kind of which direction we’re headed. Right now, it’s just too early.
“I’m really happy with our starters. We’ve got five really good quality starters that I feel are horses that can beat anybody at any time. We’ll wait and see how that plays out.”