Chicago White Sox pitchers taking selfless approach amid playoff run

Everybody wants to be the star. When the lights are the brightest, that’s the time to prove you are truly one-of-one. But during their 2026 playoff run, the Chicago White Sox’s pitching staff is taking an entirely different approach.

Through their three postseason games thus far, the White Sox haven’t had a pitcher throw more than four innings in a game. Chicago will routinely use openers and will look for any way they can maximize their pitching staff. As an example of that, both Anthony Kay and Sean Burke, who are considered starters, are expected to pitch in Game 2 against the Cleveland Guardians.

The White Sox don’t have a lights out Cy Young candidate in their rotation. But they have numerous talented arms who have flashed in bursts. Perhaps that isn’t creating league-wide superstars – just yet – but Chicago remains undefeated in the postseason.

As for the pitchers in question, they remain all-in on the plan. Their sole goal remains leading the White Sox as far as they can in the playoffs.

Chicago White Sox all-in on pitching strategy

Burke will be coming in after Kay, meaning he won’t earn an official playoff start on Monday. But that accolade is irrelevant to the right-hander. All he cares about is helping the White Sox win, via James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times.

“I dream of the World Series more than I dream of a playoff start,” Burke said. “So whatever is going to get us to a World Series, I’m on board with that.”

Kay will be opening up the Game 2 matchup ahead of Burke. While a traditional starter, Kay has made two relief appearances thus far in the postseason. He has fully embraced how the White Sox want to manage their staff.

“We’ve had a lot of openers and stuff, so a lot of guys have done that already,” Kay said. “It’s kind of like our motto, I guess: just whatever way is possible.”

Davis Martin remains on the ALDS roster, but he yet to pitch in the playoffs. When his name is called, whether as a starter or in relief, the right-hander will be ready.

“It’s ‘team before I’ and all that stuff, and you can laugh at it, but it obviously works,” Martin said. “It’s how do you win the game? How do you put your team in the best position to win? If it’s throwing one inning, if it’s throwing seven innings, whatever it may be, it is what it is. You take your ego out of it, you take the goals of trying to do stuff for yourself and put the team in front of you.”

Chicago’s ego-less baseball has led them to a 1-0 lead in the ALDS. The White Sox are hoping their brand of baseball leads them on an even lengthier playoff run.

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