White Sox open the season with Lucas Giolito on the mound and Luis Robert batting 7th against the Twins

LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune
·1 min read

The Chicago White Sox will be tested right off the bat, opening the pandemic-delayed season Friday against the Minnesota Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The Twins won 13 of 19 meetings in 2019 on the way to winning the American League Central title.

One of the highlights for the Sox came Aug. 21, when Lucas Giolito pitched a three-hit shutout at Target Field in Minneapolis. He struck out 12.

Giolito (14-9, 3.41 ERA in 2019) is on the mound Friday.

“It truly is an honor to be named opening-day starter,” Giolito said Thursday.

Highly touted prospect Luis Robert makes his major-league debut, batting seventh in the lineup.

Nicky Delmonico is batting eighth and playing right field. He’s in the lineup for Nomar Mazara, who is on the injured list for an unspecified reason.

Delmonico spent last year between the Sox and Triple-A Charlotte before undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder in May. He later was released.

Delmonico returned and had a strong spring and summer camp to make the 30-man roster.

“It means a lot to me, and I’m just really happy to be here, especially with this team that we have,” Delmonico said Friday.

Jose Berrios (14-8, 3.68 ERA in 2019) starts for the Twins.

Here’s the Sox lineup:

Anderson SS

Moncada 3B

Abreu 1B

Grandal C

Encarnacion DH

Jimenez LF

Robert CF

Delmonico RF

Garcia 2B

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