The White Sox officially named Shane Smith their opening day starter on Sunday. He seems very honored.
this means so much for Shane 🥹 pic.twitter.com/Gezx7MmvUp
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 8, 2026
Based on last season's performance, upside for this coming season and career credentials, Smith was a pretty obvious choice for the role.
He's also a prudent choice, given that the Sox clearly sequenced Smith, Anthony Kay and Davis Martin in that order at the outset of their spring schedule, setting them up to all make their season debuts in Milwaukee on a day of extra rest. Hell, anyone other than Smith would have reflected some degree of organizational mania.
But this feelsy video of Will Venable informing Smith of the news certainly has a way of pushing those cold logistics aside for a moment.
Ready to set the tone 🤝 pic.twitter.com/vtCWXWAxHB
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 8, 2026
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Meanwhile in the WBC, Sam Antonacci remains on brand.
Sam Antonacci comes all the way around and it's now 7-2 Team Italy! 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/44AHsA7JHf
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 8, 2026
First pitch: White Sox vs. Royals
TV: whitesox.com
Radio: ESPN 1000 AM
Lineups:
| Royals | White Sox | |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Loftin, 2B | 1 | Luisangel Acuña, SS |
| Isaac Collins, LF | 2 | Colson Montgomery, 3B |
| Carter Jensen, C | 3 | Jarred Kelenic, RF |
| Michael Massey, RF | 4 | Miguel Vargas, DH |
| Kameron Misner, CF | 5 | Austin Hays, LF |
| John Rave, DH | 6 | Lenyn Sosa, 2B |
| Connor Kaiser, 1B | 7 | LaMonte Wade Jr., 1B |
| Peyton Wilson, 3B | 8 | Korey Lee, C |
| Daniel Vazquez, SS | 9 | Dru Baker, CF |
| Noah Cameron | SP | Jordan Hicks |
