White Sox Make Needed Pitching Staff Changes

Prior to the biggest series of the year, a three-game set with the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park over the weekend, the Chicago White Sox made a series of roster moves to help stabilize the pitching staff.

Right-handed pitcher Davis Martin, who has seriously struggled lately and has failed to eat innings for the White Sox in the starting rotation, has been placed on the 15-day IL with a blister. That blister was to blame for Martin's lack of control on Thursday afternoon against the Cincinnati Reds. Too many pitches got away from him, leading to 3-0 Reds lead in the first inning and, ultimately, an ejection in the top of the third after Martin ran two pitches near Sal Stewart's head.

Martin recorded just six outs before being thrown out of the game, and this comes after his start on Sunday, when he allowed two runs in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians and had the rest of his outing nixed by a long rain delay.

Ultimately, Martin hasn't been getting the job done. And more than anything, he needs a break right now. The White Sox are giving it to him with a 15-day IL stint as they turn to other arms to provide valuable innings.

Right-handed pitcher Tanner McDougal was also sent down after making just one appearance in Major League Baseball. McDougal was supposed to be part of this bullpen for the long haul in 2026, but didn't look the part in his debut on Thursday when he walked three consecutive batters, then hit a batter to bring in a run.

McDougal threw 25 pitches...17 of them were balls, and the run he donated to Cincinnati proved costly in a 9-8 defeat.

Left-handed pitcher Tyler Schweitzer, the No. 19 prospect in the White Sox organization who has posted a 2.78 ERA over 22.2 innings on the year, has been recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to take McDougal's place in the bullpen.

Jose Urquidy, a veteran right-handed pitcher who was acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates and has spent the last few weeks in the minor leagues, has been promoted to take a spot in the rotation.

The White Sox plan to start Sean Newcomb against the Tigers on Friday night in what should be a strict opening role for the left-hander. I'd expect Urquidy to follow Newcomb as the bulk inning guy.

Since joining the White Sox organization, Urquidy has a 2.25 ERA over 12 innings pitched in three starts at the Triple-A level. Over 95.2 innings in total in the minor leagues this season, Urquidy has a 3.48 ERA, though he did struggle out of the MLB bullpen for the Pirates earlier in the season.

The clear mission for the White Sox here is to eat some quality innings. They don't have another off day until August 27. The bullpen is already tired, and Martin's recent performances have done them no favors. Schweitzer has already proven himself as a long relief option who can eat some innings. And Urquidy, even if only in Chicago temporarily, should be able to provide some length for the White Sox on Friday as they look to rest their bullpen during a critical series.

I don't think we're done seeing the White Sox make tweaks to their pitching staff. Even the starting rotation feels completely unsettled. Anthony Kay takes the ball for the White Sox on Saturday, followed by Sean Burke on Sunday, but what the White Sox do for the rotation beyond that remains completely up in the air.