Mark Buehrle started nine of the last 10 opening days for the White Sox, including the last four. But with Buehrle off to Miami, the Sox will have someone other than the dependable lefty starting the season opener for the first time since 2007, when Jose Contreras started against Cleveland.
Jake Peavy sees John Danks as that guy.
"Id love to see Johnny Danks get that nod," Peavy told CSNChicago's Chuck Garfien in a one-on-one interview that will air on Comcast SportsNet Sunday. "Johnny has worked so hard, kind of a Mark Buehrle protg. Hes here for the next five or so years."
Only two White Sox pitchers since the end of the deadball era have started five consecutive opening days. One is Wilbur Wood, who started every opening day from 1972-1976. The other is Buehrle.
With Danks under control for the next five seasons, he very well could join that group.
Peavy also elaborated on the difference between starting opening day and any other early-season game:
"Ive pitched on opening day six or seven times, and it's a thrill no doubt, and you feel some extra excitement on opening day that you may not feel in game two or three or four," explained Peavy. "Ill certainly take the ball whenever and however I got it. I can promise you this Im going to do everything I can to be the top end of the rotation guy that I know I can be, and whether thats on opening day or game five."