Entering the fourth year of a rebuild and setting the record for the most losses in a season in 2024 (41-121), the Chicago White Sox should be a lot better in 2026.
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Finally spending this offseason, the White Sox’s biggest question at the moment, outside of who will make the 26-man roster, is who will be the Opening Day starter? Manager Will Venable has a ton of arms to choose from, with All-Star right-hander Shane Smith being one of them, who said about making his first career Opening Day start, “Whatever shakes out, I can live with.”
“No,” Smith said to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin. “Everybody in here wants it. I’m included in that,” he added. “Whatever shakes out, I can live with. But as long as I put my best foot forward, and try to do everything I can in the days leading up and make sure I’m a professional in all aspects, that’s all I can do.”
Shane Smith would be the proper choice to be the Chicago White Sox’s Opening Day starter
Turning 26 on April 4th, Smith has the pedigree to be Venable’s Opening Day starter, as he was the team’s lone All-Star last season, going 3-7 with a 4.26 ERA in 18 starts (86.2 innings) before the All-Star break, and then went 4-1 with a 3.17 ERA in 11 starts (59.2 innings) after the break. A Rule 5 Draft pick from the Milwaukee Brewers organization last season, Smith has shown tremendous growth since joining the White Sox staff.
Other potential Opening Day starters for Venable could be right-handers Erick Fedde, who recently re-signed with the team, and Sean Burke, who was the White Sox Opening Day starter last season. Burke pitched six scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels for the White Sox’s 8-1 victory.
All three would be solid options to choose from, with left-handers Sean Newcomb and Anthony Kay providing other alternatives, but spring training will be the battleground for who will ultimately get the nod to kick off the season.
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