GLENDALE, Ariz. — Manager Will Venable is waiting till Wednesday to announce his rotation following Opening Day starter Sean Burke, who was a surprise choice given his four games of major league experience.
Jonathan Cannon, Martin and Martin Perez are lined up, in order, to follow, but Venable hasn’t made it official.
Perez is staying in Arizona Tuesday to pitch in a minor league game. Shane Smith is the likely fifth starter.
With three off days in the first 12 days of the season, a fifth starter wouldn’t be needed for two and a half weeks in.
“We talked about that possibility [of a four-man rotation for a while],” Venable said. “We will have a five-man rotation.”
No starter has been better this spring than Martin, who gave up a run in five innings of work in Monday’s Cactus League finale against the Athletics.
In nine innings, Martin gave up one run on three hits and one walk. He struck out eight. He also had one scoreless outing in a minor league game.
Martin felt best about the consistency.
“I want to go deep in games and I want to take pressure off our bullpen, whatever that looks like,” Martin said. “If it’s 10 punchouts, go six innings, whatever. Every game is going to be different so I just try to go out there and execute pitches. Whatever happens, happens.”
Two catchers
As expected, the Sox will go with two catchers, Korey Lee and left-handed hitting Matt Thaiss. Veteran Omar Narvaez, who was in camp on a minor league deal, was released Monday but the Sox will consider keeping him in the organization.
Prospects Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero will open the season at Triple-A Charlotte.
Robert Jr. is ready
Luis Robert Jr. hit his second homer in two days and fourth of the spring. He’ll enter the season knowing his name will come up in trade rumors, especially as the July 30 trade deadline nears.
“Yeah, it’s tough to say,” general manager Chris Getz said, speaking generally about the possibility. “Most importantly we want Luis to have a really good season. He’s really worked hard and he looks very locked in and ready to go. And I just want him to go out there and play and we’ll see where that takes us. We know when Luis is out there playing at a high level, it’s good for the White Sox.”
Bullpen stars
Lefty Cam Booser, who hasn’t allowed a run over his last 13 2/3 spring innings, made nine scoreless appearances this spring. Relievers Booser, Penn Murfee (seven appearances) and Mike Clevinger (six) did not allow a run in Cactus League games.
Bring on the Angels
Venable said the staff is already preparing for the Angels, the Opening Day opponent Thursday at Rate Field.
“We’ve done a lot of good work already, played them the other day and did our little mock advance with them,” Venable said. “And continue to look at them as they announce their roster and shape it up, we’ll continue to do our homework, and [we’re] just excited to get going.”
Notes
The Sox drew an average of 4,567 fans at Camelback Ranch in Cactus League games.
*The team will hold a workout at Rate Field Wednesday.
Sox 8, A’s 5
A good five-inning start from Davis Martin and three homers helped the Sox (11-19-1) finish Cactus League play with a victory.
*Luis Robert hit his fourth homer of the spring, and Austin Slater and Brooks Baldwin homered for the first time. Robert, looking to bounce back from the worst season of his career, had a good spring with a .300/.386/.580 batting line with 15 strikeouts and eight walks in 18 games. Infielder Nick Maton tied him for the team lead in homers.
*Closer candidate Mike Clevinger, transitioning from being a starter throughout his career, had his sixth scoreless one-inning appearance. He gave up three hits and one walk while striking out eight over six innings.
*Left-hander Fraser Ellard, who figures to have a spot in the bullpen, gave up two homers and walked two batters and couldn’t finish the ninth.
On deck: Angels at Sox, Thursday, 3:10 p.m., Rate Field, Opening Day, CHSN, 1000-AM, Yusei Kikuchi vs. Sean Burke