Pregame notes: Still got that Pope thing going for them

If forced to provide some sort of breakdown of the White Sox internal reaction to the big news, it's two parts joyful bewilderment, one part amusement that the Cubs would race to publicize a claim as dubious as some guy who grew up going to Catholic school in Dolton would wind up rooting for the North Side team.

 "I mean, I get it," said Will Venable. "We all want the pope on our side. So I certainly understand, but yeah, I'm glad he chose the right team."

The global following of the Catholic Church is on a scale beyond what we can easily fathom on a national scale, to say nothing of the fact that this is not even a majority Catholic country. The idle thought of "what if Pope Leo XIV wanted to attend a White Sox game?" is almost farcical. It would require more security than a sitting president. The crowds for a Pope even visiting the USA, let alone his hometown, would be astronomical. When Pope John Paul II visited Chicago in 1979 and held a mass at Grant Park, the attendance of 100,000 was the toned down estimate after people started trying to use math.

So, there's going to be a pregame video acknowledging the new pope's fan association. They're trying to send The Vatican White Sox gear, once they can get word on the actual proper place to mail it. They will inevitable try to do more with the White Sox being associated with a truly global figure. But they also just found out on Thursday from watching WGN like everyone else.

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Chase Meidroth was scratched from the lineup with right shoulder soreness and replaced at shortstop with Jake Amaya, while the rest of the batting order was slid up a spot to replace him.

Korey Lee and Gage Workman are both beginning rehab assignments on Friday, with Mike Tauchman scheduled to begin one on Saturday. Tauchman seems like the only sure bet to be activated on the White Sox roster once his stint is completed. Venable noted that Tauchman will be slowly built up, DH-ing initially, getting off days, and it won't be until he's playing back-to-back days in the outfield will he really be in consideration.

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How many people do you recognize in the Marlins lineup? Not many? Well, that's how every other team's fanbase feels when the White Sox roll into town.

For reasons none of us have fully flagged down, Marlins first baseman Eric Wagaman has hit .360/.407/.640 agains the Sox over six games.

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How are the White Sox responding to being outscored 19-4 over four days in Kansas City?

"I've seen the same thing from them every single day and that's no matter what happens the day before," Venable said. "We come to the ballpark excited, expecting to play well, expecting to win. And that's the vibe I get today."

First pitch: White Sox vs. Marlins

TV: CHSN

Radio: ESPN 1000 AM, WTRO 1200 AM (Spanish)

Lineups: