Chicago White Sox starter Sean Burke encountered difficulties earlier this August. ‘The August 16 outing in Detroit was probably the worst I felt physically,’ he stated to the Tribune. ‘Not painful, more of a dead-arm feeling.’ Burke consulted with trainers and strength staff for adjustments. ‘We made tweaks throughout the week to ensure I felt good on game day,’ Burke mentioned.
During his last start against the New York Mets, Burke reported feeling ‘really good again.’ He is scheduled to start in Wednesday’s series finale against the Texas Rangers. A solid rotation is essential as the Sox pursue a division title. They held a 2.5-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central as of Tuesday’s game.
Manager Will Venable noted the challenges of maintaining a consistent pitching staff. ‘There are periods of stability and times of instability, but our goal remains to win each game,’ he explained. The Sox ranked last in the majors for innings pitched by starters, due partly to their occasional use of openers.
More length from the starters is vital.
The bullpen has been heavily utilized, shown by the starter José Urquidy allowing five runs over three innings in an 11-2 loss to the Rangers. Luis Castillo’s performances also contribute to the rotation concerns. Acquired in a trade on August 1, Castillo has a 5.89 ERA in four starts, faltering in his last two outings despite a standout game against the Cincinnati Reds on August 12.
Anthony Kay emerged as a reliable starter, maintaining a 2.66 ERA over his last four outings, with 17 strikeouts and four walks in 23 2/3 innings. Burke reflected on his latest six-inning appearance, allowing four runs but expressing satisfaction with his command and performance.
While not regular starters, pitchers like Urquidy and Erick Fedde have acted as bulk pitchers lately. Fedde threw 8 2/3 scoreless innings in his recent appearances after transitioning from starter to bullpen. Urquidy delivered six strong innings against the Cubs on August 19, striking out eight.
The Sox face juggling challenges due to Davis Martin’s absence on the injured list. Martin has been sidelined since August 14 with a blister issue. Despite this, the team remains focused, according to Venable’s comments on game strategy.
In a roster move, the Sox placed reliever Huáscar Brazobán on the 15-day injured list with a left lat strain. They recalled right-hander Jonathan Cannon from Triple-A Charlotte. Brazobán has a 6.30 ERA in ten appearances since joining the team from the Mets. Additionally, outfielder Andrew Benintendi was placed on the bereavement list, with Rikuu Nishida being called up from Charlotte.