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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Jeff Samardzija officially has been named the Chicago White Sox's Opening Day starter. "I know it's a surprise," manager Robin Ventura said sarcastically. "I wasn't going to pull out a name you hadn't heard before. Now that would have been news." The right-hander, acquired from the Oakland Athletics in a December trade, will replace Chris Sale, who has been scratched from the honor because of a fractured bone in his right foot. Samardzija will pitch in the April 6 game at Kansas City, with an off day scheduled for April 7. Jose Quintana will take the mound for the White Sox on April 8 against the Royals, according to Ventura. Ventura declined to name his Nos. 3 and 4 starters, although they are believed to be John Danks and Hector Noesi, in that order. If that holds true, it would mean that Noesi would pitch in the White Sox's home opener April 10 against the Minnesota Twins. The opening week off day means the White Sox could then come back with Samardzija for a second start on April 11. The hope is that Sale would then be ready to pitch April 12 against the Twins. "It's always an honor for guys to start on Opening Day and Jeff's done it before," Ventura said. "I think even bringing him over here, that was a reason to bring him over here. Chris was going to be the guy and, if not him, then it was going to be Jeff." There was some conjecture that perhaps Quintana would get the call for Opening Day as a reward for three solid seasons as a White Sox starter. But by placing Quintana No. 2 in the rotation, that means his second start would come against the Cleveland Indians instead of the Twins. Quintana is 3-0 lifetime against the Indians with a 3.24 ERA over 11 appearances (nine starts). Against the Twins, he is 3-2 with a 4.40 ERA over 10 starts. Samardzija was the Chicago Cubs' Opening Day starter each of the past two seasons. Both games took place at Pittsburgh, with Samardzija holding the Pirates without a run in each outing (15 combined innings). Samardzija is proud of being able to go deep into the game in each of the two openers he pitched. "The last thing you want is your bullpen getting used early in the year," the right-hander said Tuesday. "As a starting pitcher I want those guys to be fresh in July, August and September. If they need to pick up any innings, do it then, not at the start. The best shape I can be at the start will help the team exponentially as it goes on."
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