White Sox will face the Royals in earliest Opening Day in MLB history

The White Sox announced their 2020 regular-season schedule Monday, featuring the earliest Opening Day — March 26 against the Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field — in franchise and major-league history.

All 30 teams are scheduled to play on March 26. Only international games have been played at earlier dates.

The Sox open against the Royals for the third consecutive season. They also will take part in the Red Sox’ home-opening series April 2-5 at Fenway Park.

The Sox will play host to the Yankees in MLB’s “Field of Dreams” game Aug. 13 in Dyersville, Iowa, at the site of that iconic 1989 baseball movie.

The annual Crosstown Series against the Cubs will be played in two-game sets: July 7-8 (Tuesday and Wednesday) at Guaranteed Rate Field and July 20-21 (Monday and Tuesday) at Wrigley Field.

Other 2020 Sox interleague series: Rockies (April 28-29 at Coors Field; May 19-20 at Guaranteed Rate Field), Giants (May 8-10 at Oracle Park), Padres (May 11-13 at Petco Park), Diamondbacks (July 10-12 at Guaranteed Rate Field) and Dodgers (September 8-10 at Guaranteed Rate Field).

Rained out

The Sox’ scheduled game against the Astros was postponed because of rain and will be made up as part of a straight doubleheader Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field starting at 3:40 p.m. The originally scheduled game will begin approximately 30-40 minutes after the conclusion of the opener but not sooner than 7:10.

Astros right-hander Zack Greinke and Sox rookie righty Dylan Cease, who were scheduled to pitch Monday, will pitch Game 1. Righty Gerrit Cole and Sox righty Ivan Nova are scheduled for the second game.

Fans with game tickets, parking coupons and Huntington Bank Stadium Club passes to Tuesday night’s originally scheduled game can attend both games with their ticket and parking pass. Gates will open at 2:40 p.m. and parking lots at 1:40 p.m.

Eloy still working on defense

Rookie left fielder Eloy Jimenez is batting .207 with two homers in 14 games since he came off the injured list, and while his bat will always be his calling card, he needs to clean up his defense.

The goal is not to be great defensively but adequate, and it’s something Jimenez must accomplish to avoid becoming a designated hitter, which he wants no part of.

Outfielders coach Daryl Boston says Jimenez can be a decent outfielder.

“Absolutely he can be average,” Boston said. “He wants it. And every time [manager] Rick [Renteria] takes him out, he doesn’t like it. But if you don’t like it, do what you need to do.”

And that’s work on it, although the bruised elbow sidelined him from that.

“He knows what he needs to do, seeing balls off the bat in batting practice, working on his footwork,” Boston said. “There is progress, but there is still a long way to go.

“He needs to get to balls sooner. Sometimes balls get in the corner, and he’s tentative because the ball can shoot around there, and he doesn’t want balls to get past him. I’d like to see him attack it like Leury Garcia does. But his footwork is cleaned up, and the strength is starting to come back in his arm.”

2020 White Sox Calendar.pdf