GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Do not discount Jose Quintana's chances of starting on Opening Day if Chris Sale is unable to take the ball that day for the Chicago White Sox.

Quintana had just the Cactus League start he was looking for Wednesday when he pitched two hitless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener for each team. He had no walks with two strikeouts.

While the outing was short, it was long enough to deliver these impressive numbers: Quintana threw 26 pitches, 20 for strikes.

“It’s time for preparation, throw good pitches, more strikes the first time,” Quintana said. “The first hitter I was a little bit nervous because I wanted to throw a good pitch, but I feel really good. I threw the fastball in and out really good.”

The assumption if Sale can’t start on April 6 at Kansas City is that Jeff Samardzija would move up from his No. 2 start in the rotation and grab the Opening Day honor. After all, the pitched in the opener for the Chicago Cubs in each of the past two seasons.

But Quintana has pitched well in each of the past two seasons, and he does have more history with the White Sox than Samardzija.

“I don’t have control over that,” Quintana said. “I would like one time, but I think Sale is the first guy here, and we need him to throw the Opening Day, and we want him to come back healthy.”

Known for not getting any run support from the White Sox offense over the last two years, seeing four runs in three innings brought a smile to Quintana’s face.

“I think I throw a lot of tough games, sometimes you have to look for runs, but you need to keep the team in the game,” Quintana said. “I think this year is better, with better hitters, and we have a chance this year.”