First pitch: White Sox vs. Athletics

Is this the opening day lineup? Because it doesn't include Chase Meidroth nor Omar Narváez, it doesn't have anyone who was explicitly told Monday morning that they are not making the White Sox opening day roster.

Narváez has been released by the White Sox, but there is still a chance he returns to the organization on a new minor league deal, but Meidroth is headed to Triple-A Charlotte, where the presence of Colson Montgomery means he'll return to being a defensive nomad as well. Meidroth's plate discipline was on display across his .154/.313/.179 batting line, but Venable made multiple mentions of him needing to be more aggressive in the strike zone.

"It’s taking chances over the heart [of the zone]," Meidroth said. "It’s something I need to get better at. I’m going to do that."

How many times has a team's opening day shortstop been someone they designated for assignment previously in the offseason? That's just one thing to ponder as Jacob Amaya mans shortstop in the Cactus League finale.

"He's obviously a great defender," Will Venable said of Amaya. "We love that, just the stability that he brings to the defensive position, and he's done a really nice job offensively, really shortening down his stroke. He admittedly was trying to do a little bit too much early in camp, but I think he got back to who he really is and has done a nice job offensively.

Amaya has hit .240/.406/.360 overall in camp.

--Narváez's release means Korey Lee and Matt Thaiss are officially the White Sox catching pairing, where they will form a platoon but not a strict one.

--Jonathan Cannon praised Lee's work after throwing five innings of two-run ball in a minor league game on Sunday, striking out six. Cannon said four of the hits he allowed didn't leave the infield, and he's talking about the outing as the sort of 'back to business' showing he needed at the end of a choppy spring.

"I think being able to go through that at the beginning of spring rather than the first month of the season was beneficial for me," Cannon said. "I'd rather go through those problems now than do it in Chicago."

--Penn Murfee (right ankle soreness) and Tyler Gilbert both haven't been seen in action over the last week, but both are scheduled to pitch Monday. Murfee will be in the Cactus League game and Gilbert is slated for a minor league game. Ultimately though, this is a time of year where a team like the White Sox might fill a bullpen spot from the waiver wire, which is full of new candidates across the league.

"A lot of people are making those decisions late and that can change kind of how you view your roster and your personnel," Venable said. "We're focused on who we have. At the same time, I think our front office does a great job of doing their job and doing everything they can to improve our ballclub. So I know that we'll be doing that and at the same time, that part of that is trusting our guys and leaning on our guys to get the job done, too."

First pitch: White Sox vs. Athletics

TV: CHSN

Listen: MLB.TV (A's Broadcast)

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