First Pitch: White Sox vs. Rangers

The first Joey Gallo Revenge Game of how many?

Pregame notes

-- Brian Bannister is a big fan of Rule 5 pick and Monday's scheduled starter, Shane Smith, viewing him with exceptional talent for spinning the baseball, and arming him with a seam effects changeup. Smith's efforts to throw a traditional riding four-seam fastball had often been undercut by his tendency to cut the baseball, which he decided to just start leaning into late last year.

"I think it's beneficial because it's different from what a hitter usually sees; if you're righty it's usually coming in to you in some facet," Smith said. "It also helps with tunneling a pitch. If I want to throw a bullet slider off the cutter, it's just knowing where that miss should be off the bullet. If I'm going to pound with glove side heaters, the slider should be off the plate."

--Will Venable sort of declared Miguel Vargas the starting third baseman on Monday morning.

"He’s going to be someone we’ll lean on at third base," Venable said. "He’s going to get the bulk of at-bats over there and so for him to be physically prepared for that means a lot. I know he worked really hard in the offseason."

Asked to clarify if he meant Vargas will be the No. 1 option at third or simply if most of the opportunities Vargas gets will be at third, and Venable removed all doubt.

"Both."

Congrats to Miguel.

--Venable is aiming to win two World Series championships...is a logical takeaway from his comments about facing his mentor and four-time World Series winner Bruce Bochy.

"I hope to be half the manager that he’s been," Venable said. "He’s really versatile and he does everything really well. Something that really sticks out for me is his communication with players and the way he empowers his staff." 

Given the "Sure, let's go!" Venable gave in response to me making this dumb joke about shooting for two titles after his pregame scrum, we're assuming he approves of this note.

--Jake Burger is not in the Rangers lineup for Monday's tilt, for the most legitimate of reasons.

TV: CHSN

Radio: ESPN Chicago

Lineups: