After winning the first two ALDS games on the road -- shortly after sweeping the Astros in the Wild Card Round in Houston -- everything appeared to be going the Chicago White Sox's way. They were returning home to Rate Field, a venue they finished the regular season 48-33 at, with two chances to clinch their first postseason series in Chicago since the early 1900s.
Unfortunately, the Cleveland Guardians came roaring back to life with their backs against the wall, scoring nine runs in both Games 3 and 4 to even the ALDS. Now, the White Sox's only hope of advancing to the ALCS for the first time since winning it all in 2005 will come on the road in Game 5, hardly a promising proposition given the team's 36-45 record away from the South Side this year.
However, even with the Guardians sending one of their star starters to the mound (Gavin Williams), the Pale Hose will be countering with an ace in the hole of their own in the form of Sean Burke.
History is firmly on Sean Burke's side as White Sox eye do-or-die Game 5 in Cleveland
Burke already made highlights with his all-in mentality prior to the playoffs, and he responded to a meager showing against the Astros (three homers allowed in four innings) with a terrific effort against the Guardians in Game 2 of this current series (5.1 innings of one-hit, one-run ball). That was merely a continuation of his dominance of the White Sox's AL Central rivals this year, as he recorded a 1.04 ERA and 21-to-3 K:BB ratio in 17.1 innings against them during the regular season.
Dominance from Sean Burke
— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2026
He retired 13 straight batters on his way to Player of The Game honors!
(MLB x Primo Brands) pic.twitter.com/URigICbVa7
It's that track record that should make the White Sox supremely confident heading into Game 5. Only two batters on Cleveland's roster have five or more plate appearances and an OPS above .700 against the right-hander: Steven Kwan (1.053 OPS in 16 PAs) and Austin Hedges (1.768 OPS in eight PAs). Everyone else on their team is either unfamiliar with Burke or has had no success against him.
In fact, many of the Guardians' mainstays, from Chase DeLauter (.650 OPS in five PAs) to Travis Bazzana (.333 OPS in nine PAs) to José Ramirez (.200 OPS in 10 PAs), have outright struggled against Burke throughout their careers. During his transcendent performance in Game 2, only DeLauter managed to secure a hit against the righty.
Of course, relying solely on one pitcher to win a sudden-death playoff game isn't going to be Will Venable's plan. But with a bullpen that got heavily used and couldn't keep runs off the board in Chicago, the team's postseason fate firmly rests in the hands of Sean Burke, A.K.A. the Cleveland Guardians' kryptonite.
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