The White Sox are using their best starters in the AL Central race, which could leave them with a tough decision for Game 1 of a potential Wild Card Series.
It’s all hands on deck for the Chicago White Sox this weekend against the Colorado Rockies, as it should be.
The White Sox still have plenty to play for after clinching a postseason berth in Kansas City. They’re just one game behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central and hold the tiebreaker. If Chicago can make up one game over the final three days of the regular season, it’ll be crowned AL Central champion and likely head straight to the ALDS with a first-round bye.
The White Sox are sending their best pitchers to the mound against the Rockies. As Will Venable has said, this team isn’t in a position to line up pitchers for playoff games.
Sean Burke takes the mound Friday night. Davis Martin will go Saturday night, and Anthony Kay is the current projected starter for Sunday afternoon’s regular-season finale.
That gives Chicago its best chance to win the division. But if things don’t go to plan and the White Sox end up in the Wild Card Series, they may have a problem in Game 1.
Who Starts Wild Card Game 1?
The Wild Card Series begins Tuesday, September 29, following an off day on Monday. If the White Sox end up in the Wild Card Series, none of their top starting pitchers would be ready to go on regular rest.
Burke pitches Friday night, meaning he’d have only three days of rest before the series begins. With White Sox pitchers already struggling to handle the workload as they reach new career highs in innings, starting Burke on short rest may not be in Chicago’s best interest.
Game 2, played Wednesday, September 30, would be on regular rest for Burke. Martin would then be on normal rest for a decisive Game 3, if needed.
But who does that leave for the White Sox’s first playoff game since 2021?
Do you roll with David Sandlin? Do you roll with Erick Fedde?
Sandlin was marvelous in Thursday afternoon’s clinching game, but he’s been hit or miss during his time with the big league club this season as he develops. Fedde has a 2.87 ERA over 87.2 innings since the start of June, but I’m not sure the White Sox can comfortably bet on him to get through five or more innings.
If starting Fedde means leaning heavily on the bullpen in the first game of the Wild Card Series, is that a risk worth taking?
Using Fedde after an opener has been a regular move for Chicago this season, but it hasn’t worked out recently. Take Wednesday in Kansas City, for example. Bryan Hudson gave up four runs in the first inning, Fedde followed with 2.2 scoreless innings, and the White Sox lost 5-4.
Venable may not have a better option, but it’s a situation that could hurt the White Sox if things don’t go their way this weekend. It’s another reason why winning the Central and securing a bye straight to the ALDS could be critical to Chicago’s chances of making a postseason run.
Starting Burke and Martin now is the right call, but it could leave the White Sox with their backs against the wall in Game 1 of a potential Wild Card Series.
