2015 AL Central Preview: Chicago White Sox

Starting Rotation

Mar 4, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana throws in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training baseball game at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Sale
Jeff Samardzija
Jose Quintana
John Danks
Hector Noesi

The White Sox feature a three-headed monster in the front of their rotation in Sale, Samardzija and Quintana. If not for injury, Sale could have very well been the AL’s Cy Young award winner.

Samardzija is a lot like Quintana in the sense that both men go out and do their jobs well every night but always seem to lack the run support or bullpen help to get wins. In 2014, they combined for a record of 16-24 despite neither having an ERA higher than 3.32.

The back half of the rotation is a different story.

Danks and Noesi both got knocked around quite a bit and combined to allow 52 home runs. The White Sox are stuck with Danks for two more years at $31.5 million, but aren’t as committed to Noesi. If Noesi struggles again this season, it will be just a matter of time before the White Sox turn to number-one prospect Carlos Rodon.

Next: White Sox: Bullpen