Surprise! Dylan Cease is the Chicago White Sox 2023 Opening Day starter.
OK, it's not shocking that new manager Pedro Grifol picked last year's American League Cy Young runner-up to take the ball in Houston next Thursday. Cease will be snapping Lucas Giolito's three consecutive year stretch of being the White Sox Opening Day starter and will do so with much pomp and circumstance. The Astros plan to give their players World Series rings and don a new home uniform featuring gold — following the trend Kansas City implemented after winning the World Series.
It will be a packed house in Houston and on ESPN. Countering Cease, Astros manager, Dusty Baker hands the ball to Framber Valdez. Even though it's one start, it'll be a tough test for Cease in his attempt to repeat or improve upon his outstanding 2022 performance. If Cease pitches well, it'll stick with voters' minds. If Cease gets rocked by the formidable Astros lineup, voters will remember. It's just how the award game goes.
Hopefully, next Thursday goes differently than the previous four starts by Cease against the Astros. The White Sox are 1-3 when Cease faces the Astros, and that one win was in 2022 when he held up alright against Justin Verlander. Cease earned the no-decision that night, lasting five innings, giving up three earned runs while walking three and striking out just four. Luckily, Gavin Sheets and Yoan Moncada delivered big hits late.
Cease has made just one start at Minute Maid Park, and that was in 2021 when the Astros beat him up in 3.1 innings scoring seven runs. Later today, Cease will be making his final tune-up for a rocky Spring Training thanks to one terrible outing. From 2018 to 2022 spanning 12 Spring Training starts, Cease only gave up eight earned runs. In 2023, Cease allowed 13 earned runs, thanks to being embarrassed by Kansas City on March 8.
Since then, Cease has only given up three runs (two earned) in 7.1 innings while striking out ten and walking just three batters. If Cease can duplicate that performance on Opening Day against Houston, Grifol, the coaching staff, and White Sox fans would be thrilled.
After Cease, Grifol is setting up his rotation as such:
- Lance Lynn on Friday
- Lucas Giolito on Saturday
- Mike Clevinger on Sunday
- Michael Kopech will start the Home Opener against the San Francisco Giants on Monday
The White Sox home opening series is set up nicely where the Giants will face Kopech, Cease, and Lynn. A week later, for the first series in Minneapolis, it's the White Sox top three. As by creed in 2023, fingers crossed everyone stays healthy.
Speaking of health, if Clevinger's knee doesn't bother him beforehand, his first home start is on track to be against Baltimore Friday night, April 14.
