Why White Sox's rotation being worst-ranked among playoff teams is justified

1 week ago 14

The Chicago White Sox are fighting to secure a postseason spot, as they hold a 3.0-game lead over the Houston Astros for the third and final Wild Card spot and are 1.0 game back of the Cleveland Guardians for the AL Central lead.

While winning the division would be great, as it's likely to come with a first-round bye, the White Sox should be happy making the postseason after a few rough years before 2026. However, if the White Sox get there, they'll have a major issue to resolve.

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel ranked the White Sox rotation as the worst among the postseason contenders this year, and it's an entirely warranted ranking. Out of 15 contenders, the White Sox are 15th. Unfortunately, that's a justified ranking.

White Sox ranked as having worst rotation in MLB among postseason contenders

McDaniel ranked the White Sox as MLB's No. 15 rotation among postseason contenders, which is his last, behind the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres.

As McDaniel notes, thanks to a weaker rotation, the White Sox might "need to rely on their pen, which has the seventh-best bullpen ERA in baseball, in the postseason."

Sean Burke and Davis Martin are the No. 1 and No. 2 starters in this rotation, but neither can really be trusted to be the ace of this pitching staff.

Anthony Kay has a 4.41 ERA and hasn't been anything special for the White Sox this year. While Erick Fedde has a 3.90 ERA, he's not someone who can be trusted in October.

David Sandlin has a 6.29 ERA and is someone the White Sox are surely going to avoid starting if they have any choice. Luis Castillo has been a massive disappointment since being acquired from the Seattle Mariners.

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Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz are two interesting young pitchers, but it's hard to trust either to be a lengthy starting pitcher.

Burke is the most trustworthy pitcher in this rotation, but he's not someone the White Sox should feel comfortable with against some of the best teams in baseball. He'd be better as a No. 3 starter, not the ace the White Sox need him to be.

While the White Sox have struggled in the second half of the 2026 season, and the issues with the offense and heavily taxed bullpen could end their playoff run, the questionable starting rotation might be what really does them in this October.

It's unfortunate, but White Sox fans shouldn't expect too much from this team, as their last-ranked starting rotation among the postseason contenders is what will likely do them in as they try to make a postseason run this year.