Last season in 33 starts with the Chicago Cubs and A's, Samardzija posted a 7-13 record with a 2.99 ERA. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Right-hander Jeff Samardzija will start the Chicago White Sox’s opener against the Kansas City Royals on April 6.
White Sox manager Robin Ventura told the Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday that Samardzija will get the ball on Opening Day in Kansas City in place of injured Chris Sale.
Sale likely would have started in the opener for the third straight year, but a fracture in his right foot that he suffered in February is expected to sideline him through the opening week of the season. His projected debut is April 12 against the Minnesota Twins.
Samardzija will oppose 23-year-old right-hander Yordano Ventura, who was named Kansas City’s starter on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Samardzija is in his first year with the White Sox after a six-player trade involving the Oakland Athletics in December.
Last season in 33 starts with the Chicago Cubs and A’s, Samardzija posted a 7-13 record with a 2.99 ERA. He became a full-time starter with the Cubs in 2012 and has a 36-48 record with a 3.87 ERA in 99 career starts and 222 games.
