The Chicago White Sox have named Jeff Samardzija their Opening Day starter.

"I know it's a surprise," 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.