Moncada went 2-for-5 with a double Sunday against the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Moncada tallied only his second multi-hit game of the season, but he has at least one knock in seven of his nine games. He also boasts an impressive 13.2 percent walk rate. Despite his strong individual start to the new campaign, Moncada has just three runs scored and zero RBI due to the poor lineup context around him -- something that doesn't project to change in 2024.

Moncada (illness) will start at third base and bat second in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Moncada was scratched from the lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Reds, but the day off was apparently all he needed to overcome the illness. The 28-year-old is off to a solid start to the spring with a .343/.377/.457 slash line across 16 Cactus League games. He's expected to remain in the two hole once the regular season gets underway next week.

Moncada was a late scratch from the White Sox's Cactus League lineup Wednesday due to illness, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

He should be ready to return to action in a day or two. Mike Moustakas replaced Moncada at third base Wednesday.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said earlier this month that Moncada will serve as the team's No. 2 hitter this season, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Moncada mostly hit fourth or fifth during his injury-shortened 2023 season but will slide up to the No. 2 spot to start the 2024 campaign. He'll be preceded by Andrew Benintendi and likely followed by Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez and Andrew Vaughn. Moncada has battled through chronic back and leg problems the past two seasons but is fully healthy this spring and has slashed .348/.464/.435 during Cactus League play.

Moncada said Thursday that he's feeling healthy after being plagued by chronic back and leg issues the previous two seasons, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Moncada told reporters he's been focused this offseason on improving his core strength after he was limited to just 104 games in 2022 and 92 games in 2023. The 28-year-old has slashed just .234/.288/.386 over that span, and it has seemed like he's never been totally healthy. Moncada will report to spring training early this year ahead of what he hopes will be a bounce-back 2024 campaign. The White Sox hold a $25 million option on him for 2025, so it could be a walk year for the third baseman.

White Sox general manager Chris Getz on Tuesday wouldn't rule out Moncada playing multiple positions in 2024, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

"I think he is capable of playing different positions," Getz said of Moncada. "He's played some second base with us. I think he's a better third baseman than second baseman. That doesn't mean there aren't going to be some days where perhaps he goes over to second base or plays first base and perhaps even the outfield. We'll do what's best for our club." Duber cautions that "the expectation is still that Moncada will be the White Sox' everyday third baseman in 2024." However, it it sounds like he could bounce around a bit if the situation calls for it. Moncada has been used exclusively at third base since 2019.

Moncada is not in Sunday's lineup against the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

He will open the final game of the season on the bench, with Lenyn Sosa getting the nod at the hot corner. Moncada played in only 92 games this year due mostly to a major back injury, but he finished extremely strong, slashing .316/.358/.553 with eight home runs over his final 42 games.

Moncada went 1-for-2 with a solo homer and a second run scored in Thursday's 3-1 victory over the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

Moncada drew a leadoff walk in his first plate appearance before coming around to score on an Andrew Vaughn home run that put the White Sox up 2-0. The third baseman would then add an insurance run with a leadoff shot to open the bottom of the fourth, giving him five long balls this month to go along with 11 RBI. Moncada's hit safely in six of his last eight games, though he's also struck out at least one time in 12 straight.

Moncada is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

Moncada is receiving his second day off in a three-game stretch. He went 1-for-4 in his last start Tuesday. Prior to that, he had a five-game stretch in which he had a .786 OPS. With the 28-year-old on the bench, Lenyn Sosa gets the start at third base.

Moncada is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Moncada started the past five games and will receive a day off after he posted a .786 OPS and 42.9 percent strikeout rate in that stretch. Lenyn Sosa will handle the hot corner and bat seventh for Sunday's series finale in Boston.