Levine: Jeff Samardzija Still On Pace For Opening Day
By Bruce Levine--
MARYVILLE, Ariz. (CBS) -- The Opening Day starter role is still open for the White Sox. After his outing against Milwaukee on Sunday, Chicago right-hander Jeff Samardzija should have two more starts before the first game of the season in Kansas City on April 6.
On Sunday, manager Robin Ventura still wouldn't commit to either Samardzija or Jose Quintana to replace the injured Chris Sale as the first pitcher on the hill for Chicago in 2015.
Samardzija has two Opening Day starts on his resume. Quintana, on the other hand, has been a steady performer for the White Sox for three seasons. Either would be a good choice, but it's Samardzija who's lined up for two more starts and Opening Day exactly five days apart.
"No one has said anything to me about it," Samardzija said about an Opening Day assignment.
Sunday wasn't the best day for Samardzija or the team's defense. Micah Johnson made an error, threw a ball wide on a rundown play that allowed a run to score and failed to get in front of a hard ground ball that should have been blocked. For his part, Samardzija took the blame for leaving the ball up on back-to-back homers to Jonathan Lucroy and Ryan Braun in the fifth inning.
"I thought my stuff was good for the most part," Samardzija said. "You know its spring training and I am still working on things I won't to make sure I feel strong and get my body ready for the season."