MESA, Ariz. — The White Sox made it official Friday, naming Dylan Cease to start the season opener against the Houston Astros on Thursday night.
Cease, who has never pitched on Opening Day, finished second in voting for the American League Cy Young Award to the Astros’ Justin Verlander last season, his fourth in the majors.
“Yeah, it’s Dylan Cease,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “It’s great to have options, obviously.
“Dylan had a great year last year. Years like that, you don’t see often. He was second in the Cy Young voting, and he’s deserving of it.”
Cease will be opposed by Astros left-hander Framber Valdez, who was fifth in AL Cy Young voting last season. Cease is making his final Cactus League start Friday against the Athletics in Mesa.
The Sox rotation will follow with Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito and Mike Clevinger in the four-game series at Minute Maid Park in Houston, followed by Michael Kopech in the home opener Monday, April 3, against the Giants at Guaranteed Rate Field.
“I’m happy with that. That’s really good,” Grifol said.
“Starting pitching is extremely important. Our guys are strong, good, hungry.”
It’s an all right-handed rotation, and while it would be nice to have a lefty to combat certain lineups, Grifol said having all righties would be an issue if they all profiled in the same manner.
“We feel like our starters are different,” Grifol said.
In 32 starts last season, Cease’s 227 strikeouts ranked second in the AL behind Gerrit Cole (257), and his 2.20 ERA was second behind Verlander (1.75). Cease struck out 12.28 batters per nine innings, a Sox record.
Gametime Thursday is 6:08 p.m. CT (ESPN). The Astros, defending World Series champions, will feature former Sox first baseman Jose Abreu in their lineup.
