Luzardo is the wild card. The Phillies have publicly acknowledged he's trying to make small mechanical tweaks after a rough opening two months, and the stuff-vs-results gap has been the story all spring — the strikeouts are there, the damage on contact has not been. Against a White Sox lineup playing without Munetaka Murakami and Austin Hays, this is the start where he either resets or the noise gets louder.
Kay, meanwhile, has been the quiet best story on the South Side. He hasn't blown anybody away, but Chicago has won each of his last five outings, and the formula — soft contact, get to the 5th, hand it off — has played in any park. Citizens Bank's short porch in right is the real test; if Kay can keep the ball on the ground against Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, this becomes a very long night for the Phillies.
- Day-To-DayMason Adams (RP) — The White Sox announced that Adams underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILMunetaka Murakami (1B) — White Sox manager Will Venable said Monday that Murakami (hamstring) stayed back in Chicago during the team's road trip and was given a platelet-rich plasma injection, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.06/01
- 10-Day-ILAustin Hays (LF) — Hays has been pulled off his rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte due to a recurrence of left calf soreness, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.06/01
- 10-Day-ILEverson Pereira (RF) — Pereira (pectoral) resumed throwing Monday, MLB.com reports.05/26
- 15-Day-ILNoah Schultz (SP) — White Sox manager Will Venable said Wednesday that Schultz (knee) remains sore and isn't ready to throw a bullpen session, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.06/03
- 15-Day-ILJordan Hicks (RP) — Hicks was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right lat strain.05/23
- OutTim Elko (1B) — Elko (knee) agreed to a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Sunday, Jack Ankony of SI.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILJordan Leasure (RP) — Leasure (forearm) said Friday that he will be shut down from throwing for four weeks, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.05/30
- 60-Day-ILKyle Teel (C) — Teel (knee) will begin a running program Saturday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.05/29
- 60-Day-ILKy Bush (SP) — Bush (elbow) had a setback in his recovery from Tommy John surgery and is unlikely to return until the second half of the season, MLB.com reports.05/26
- 60-Day-ILDrew Thorpe (SP) — Thorpe (elbow) recently underwent an appendectomy but has resumed throwing, MLB.com reports.05/26
- 60-Day-ILPrelander Berroa (RP) — Berroa is dealing with right elbow inflammation and will have his rehab stint paused, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.05/17
- 60-Day-ILMike Vasil (RP) — The White Sox transferred Vasil (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILTanner Murray (LF) — The White Sox transferred Murray (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Monday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILBrooks Baldwin (LF) — The White Sox transferred Baldwin (elbow) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08
- Day-To-DayCarson DeMartini (SS)
- Day-To-DayBryan Rincon (SS) — The Phillies promoted Rincon from Single-A Clearwater to High-A Jersey Shore on Aug. 15.05/27
- Day-To-DayRene Pinto (C) — Pinto (undisclosed) began a rehab assignment Monday, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayDaniel Robert (RP) — Robert suffered a cardiac incident Sunday while preparing to throw a bullpen session and was taken to a local hospital, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayMark Kolozsvary (C) — Kolozsvary (undisclosed) agreed to a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.05/08
- 15-Day-ILKyle Backhus (RP) — Backhus (elbow) played catch Wednesday, MLB.com reports.05/14
- suspensionJohan Rojas (CF) — Rojas (shoulder) is starting in center field and batting leadoff in Thursday's Grapefruit League contest against Atlanta, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.05/08
Chicago's IL is brutal — Noah Schultz, Drew Thorpe, and Ky Bush all out of the rotation picture, Kyle Teel on the 60-day, and the lineup down two regulars in Murakami and Hays. The fact that they're 33-29 anyway is the most underrated story in the AL Central. Win this opener and Will Venable's group walks into the weekend as a legitimate problem for anyone still pretending the White Sox are a rebuild.