The White Sox are adjusting their starting rotation to line up Sean Burke, Davis Martin, and Erick Fedde for a highly anticipated weekend series against the Cubs.
With Wednesday night's win over the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago White Sox secured a series victory in four of their last five matchups. They also got back to .500 with a 21-21 record.
It's the first time the White Sox have been .500 after the month of April since October of 2022, a year in which they finished 81-81.
On Thursday evening, the White Sox will go for the sweep of Kansas City, but they'll also be preparing to host the crosstown rival Chicago Cubs over the weekend. It is a big momentum series that has a different level of anticipation to it this year.
This White Sox team is already playing with a ton of confidence and energy. A strong weekend showing and a possible series win over the crosstown Cubs would continue the team's momentum and create even more buy-in from the fan base.
White Sox fans will be happy to know that the team is putting its best foot forward heading into the weekend. They're even switching up the regular starting rotation and giving their three most productive starters a crack at the Cubs.
The normal rotation the White Sox have been following would call for right-hander Sean Burke to pitch on Thursday night in the final game against the Royals.
Burke last pitched on May 8, so this would be his regular spot in the starting rotation with an extra day of rest due to the off day on Monday. But thanks to that off day, it's also regular rest for lefty Anthony Kay, who last pitched on May 9 and went five innings with one run allowed while picking up a win against the Seattle Mariners.
Some of this likely has to do with how both pitchers fared in their last outing. Kay picked up the win and had one of his better starts of the season, dropping his ERA down to 4.89. Burke, who was coming off two consecutive scoreless starts, gave up six earned runs against the Mariners, inflating his season ERA to 3.68.
It makes sense to keep Kay in rhythm on regular rest and hope he can carry over some of the positive momentum he built against Seattle. It's also possible the White Sox feel that Burke, who is still a young and relatively inexperienced pitcher, could use a few extra days to rest and regroup after a rough outing.
I like to think some of it has to do with the White Sox wanting to put their best foot forward against the Cubs. It's no secret to anybody in that dugout, clubhouse, or front office that this weekend is big for White Sox fans. And after the latest change, the South Siders are going to go with Burke, Davis Martin, and Erick Fedde in the three games against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. That gives them the best chance possible of winning the series.
The projected starter for the Cubs is right-hander Edward Cabrera, with first pitch of the 2026 Crosstown Classic scheduled for 6:40 p.m. CST on Friday evening.