Fast facts on Chicago White Sox home opener

After opening the season with stops at Kansas City and Toronto, the White Sox return to Guaranteed Rate Field today. Here's a primer to get you to, and through, the game.

Today's game:

Opponent: Detroit Tigers

First pitch: 3:10 p.m.

Parking lots open: Noon

Gates open: 1:10 p.m.

National anthem singer: country entertainer Brandon Lay

Ceremonial first pitch: A.J. Pierzynski

Game ball presentation: Family members of fallen Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer will present the game ball.

Just for fans

Safety upgrade: Protective netting has been extended from the backstop to the outfield end of both dugouts, covering 21 sections (122-142).

Bundle up: Snow is expected to be out of the area before first pitch, but the temperature is predicted to be in the upper 30s.

White Sox record in home openers: 28-24

Last year

Familiar foe: The White Sox played the Tigers in last season's home opener. Starting pitcher Jose Quintana and the Sox lost to Justin Verlander and Detroit 6-3. Quintana was traded to the Cubs last July and Verlander was traded to the Astros in August

History lessons

Remember when? Five years ago, the White Sox beat the Royals 1-0 in their home opener. Chris Sale started for the Sox and had 7 strikeouts over 7⅔ innings. James Shields started for Kansas City and allowed 1 run in 6 innings. Sale is now with the Red Sox. Shields is with the White Sox, and he starts against the Tigers today

2005 flashback: More than 38,000 saw the White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 1-0 at then U.S. Cellular Field. The biggest surprise was the game took less than two hours. Of course it did - Mark Buehrle was pitching.

A no-no: Bob Feller, the farm boy from Van Meter, Iowa, could bring the heat, and he did just that on April 16, 1940 in Chicago when he tossed the only Opening Day no-hitter ever, beating the White Sox 1-0. Feller faced 33 batters and had 8 strikeouts and 5 walks.