White Sox make perplexing rotation switch vs. Royals that could affect Wild Card Series

The White Sox are on the doorstep of the Postseason for the first time since 2021. Though they couldn’t get the job done against the Royals on Wednesday night, the Mets victory over the Rangers lowered Chicago’s magic number to 1. That means a win over Kansas City in Thursday’s series finale would guarantee the White Sox a spot in the playoffs. The Wild Card is a great consolation prize, but the White Sox remain just one game back of Cleveland in the AL Central. Sometime in the next four days, they’ll need to gain a game on the Guardians in order to win the division. And it seems the White Sox are relying on that, because they aren’t exactly lining up their rotation in an ideal way for a Wild Card series. 

Thursday’s starter against Kansas City has been listed as TBD all week, but the White Sox announced after the game Wednesday that right-hander David Sandlin would start the series finale. There’s nothing wrong with starting Sandlin himself, and he even pitched well in his lone other outing against the Royals this season, but it lines up Sean Burke and Davis Martin to face the Rockies this weekend, and that may create problems next week. 

The regular season ends Sunday, with a day off on Monday, and the first game of the four Wild Card series’ beginning on Tuesday. If Sean Burke starts Friday against the Rockies like he’s scheduled to, he’d be on short rest for Wild Card Game 1 Tuesday. The same goes for Martin in Game 2 if he makes his scheduled start Saturday. Anthony Kay is scheduled to pitch Sunday and would certainly be unavailable for a game Tuesday, leaving the White Sox with few options outside of veteran Erick Fedde to start Tuesday. The team had an off-day on Monday, so pitching Sean Burke on Thursday and Davis Martin on Friday would be regular rest and would line them up to pitch Games 1 and 2 of the Wild Card Series, respectively. 

The White Sox aren't lining up their best starters for a Wild Card Series

I don’t agree with the decision, but it’s not because I don’t believe they’re capable of winning a game with Erick Fedde on the hill. Fedde has been solid since midseason, but is limited in the number of innings he’s able to pitch. It’ll require heavy use of the bullpen in Game 1. Plus, in a Wild Card series, you’re only guaranteed two games. If the White Sox were to lose their first two games, they’re finished and it wouldn’t even give Davis Martin a chance to pitch. Martin has been one of their better starters all year and you’d think they’d want to put it in his hands. 

With four games to go in the regular season, there’s a lot to still be decided. The White Sox could still win the American League Central by gaining a game on the Guardians. That would give them nearly a week off and allow the entire pitching staff to be rested and ready to go for the ALDS. Winning the division and playing in the Wild Card game both feel like very realistic scenarios. The best way they can ensure they’ll win the division is by winning the next four games. 

Hopefully, by the end of the week, the White Sox decision to push Burke and Martin back a day will be irrelevant. But it could very well be the biggest regret of the season if things don’t go well in the Wild Card series.

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