RADIO
Sean Burke Turns In Elite Relief Outing
Chicago White Sox pitcher Sean Burke came out of the bullpen in Game 2 against the Cleveland Guardians and pitched masterfully as the team earned a 4-3 comeback win to go up 2-0 in the series. Burke came in after Anthony Kay and Sean Newcomb already pitched and calmed things down with 5 1/3 innings of work with one earned run on one hit and one walk with six strikeouts. Burke came out of the pen to throw 83 pitches and didn't give up a run until Grant Taylor allowed an inherited runner to score. Burke mixed his fastball with his offspeed pitches brilliantly and kept the Guardians' hitters off balance during his whole outing. The right-hander entered the game with the White Sox trailing and saw the team score three runs to take over the lead and take a commanding lead in the series.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Grant Taylor Stars in an Extended Relief Appearance in Game 1 Victory
Chicago White Sox right-hander Grant Taylor was electric out of the bullpen in his team's 3-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday. The 24-year-old entered the game in the sixth inning and shut the door on the Guardians, allowing just two hits while striking out six across four scoreless frames. Taylor was one of the best relievers in baseball during the regular season, recording a 2.25 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 106 strikeouts and 10 saves across 84 innings (60 games). Taylor's ability to work multiple innings makes him a unique weapon for the White Sox to deploy out of the bullpen. Taylor threw 42 pitches on Saturday, so he may not be available for Game 2 on Monday. However, the White Sox could try to get multiple innings out of him at least one more time in their series against the Guardians.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Hagen Smith Will Start Game 1 For White Sox in ALDS
Left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith will get the ball in Game 1 for the Chicago White Sox as they open their series against the Cleveland Guardians. Smith started a game in the opening series at Houston and pitched three quality innings with two hits allowed, no walks, and one strikeout. That's just about the perfect scenario for the White Sox as they are counting on Smith as an opener. Three strong inning would help get to the White Sox' bullpen and allow them to bridge the gap to the late innings. Smith was used mostly as a reliever during the regular season and only started one game. He pitched 28 innings and allowed 11 hits, walking 16 for a 0.96 WHIP to go with his 1.29 ERA during the regular season. Smith looks like a bonafide weapon for the White Sox in the postseason and they could vary how they use him. As the opener they will most likely look for 3+ strong innings once again in Game 1.
Source: Chicago White Sox
Source: Chicago White Sox
Hagen Smith Set to Start Game 1 of Wild-Card Series Against Astros
Chicago White Sox left-hander Hagen Smith will be his team's starter in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros on Tuesday, per Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Smith worked almost exclusively as a reliever after making his MLB debut on August 9, so he will likely be the first man up in a bullpen game for Chicago. The 23-year-old was extremely effective for the White Sox during the regular season, recording a 3-3 record with a 1.29 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts across 28 innings (18 games). Smith posted an elevated 14.5% walk rate, but he also struck out 37.3% of the batters he faced. Throwing Smith as the opener assures that Astros lefty slugger Yordan Alvarez has a tough at-bat in his first plate appearance of the game, which is likely a big part of the strategy for Chicago.
Source: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
Source: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
Luis Castillo Moving to the Bullpen
Chicago White Sox veteran right-hander Luis Castillo has been moved to the bullpen, manager Will Venable told Jesse Rogers of ESPN. Castillo, who was acquired by the White Sox from the Seattle Mariners at this year's trade deadline, has really struggled since joining the team, going 1-2 with a 7.76 ERA (6.30 FIP) and 1.79 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and 11 walks in 29 innings pitched across his seven appearances (six starts). The 33-year-old Dominican hurler has allowed 17 earned runs on 26 hits (five home runs) while walking seven and striking out nine in his last 13 1/3 innings pitched for Chicago since Aug. 22. Castillo just has not been good and will now finish out the 2026 campaign as a reliever for the Pale Hose as they look to close out the American League Central division. Overall this year, Castillo has gone 4-11 with a career-worst 5.67 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 111:43 K:BB in 128 2/3 innings pitched in 27 outings (23 starts) with the M's and White Sox.
Source: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
Source: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
Mathias LaCombe to be Promoted to Triple-A
Chicago White Sox pitching prospect Mathias LaCombe will be promoted to Triple-A Charlotte following a strong finish to the Double-A campaign. The right-hander recorded a 1.12 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and an 18.5 percent K-BB% over his final 12 appearances (16 innings pitched) for Birmingham. The former 12th-rounder got a late start to his season due to shoulder discomfort, but showed well in 16 appearances at High-A, which propelled him to a promotion. Due to the late start, the organization is sending the 6-foot-2 hurler to participate in the Arizona Fall League for some additional exposure. The French-born prospect has some strikeout potential if he can refine his fastball/slider/splitter mix, but doesn't have prototypical closer stuff, and unless Chicago converts him back into a starter, the 24-year-old will be off the fantasy radar to begin next season.
Source: MiLB Central
Source: MiLB Central
Pierce George Headed to Triple-A Charlotte
Chicago White Sox pitching prospect Pierce George is expected to be promoted to Triple-A Charlotte, his third promotion this year. The right-hander began the season at Single-A, earning promotions to High-A and Double-A, the latter of which is where he posted a 4.91 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and an 11.0 percent K-BB% in 33 innings as a reliever. The 6-foot-6 hurler features a high-90s fastball that can touch triple digits, and although he had some control issues last year (19.3 percent BB%), he improved that greatly this season, lowering his walk rate to a palatable 10.3 percent. Chicago is also sending the right-hander to the Arizona Fall League for some additional work, so they may envision him being part of their bullpen as early as next year. While all that is good, Chicago's 19th-ranked prospect isn't on the dynasty radar at the moment and likely won't be on the redraft radar unless he makes a push for the closer role on the South Side.
Source: MiLB Central
Source: MiLB Central
Grant Taylor a Worthy Waiver-Wire Target
Chicago White Sox right-hander Grant Taylor has been one of the breakout success stories of the 2026 season, recording a 7-2 record with a 2.16 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 97 strikeouts across 75 innings (55 games). The 24-year-old is averaging 98.1 miles per hour on his fastball and has paired an excellent 32.4% strikeout rate with a manageable 8.7% walk rate. Given Taylor's utility to the White Sox as a high-leverage fireman who can work more than one inning, the team has not deployed him as a traditional closer. Still, he's racked up eight saves this season and remains a threat to take over the full-time closer role in Chicago at any point. Even if Taylor's usage remains the same down the stretch, he provides value to fantasy managers as a high-end source of ratios and a better source of strikeouts and wins than most relievers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
White Sox Call Up Pitching Prospect Tanner McDougal on Tuesday
With rosters expanding on Tuesday, the Chicago White Sox called up right-handed pitching prospect Tanner McDougal from Triple-A Charlotte, according to the team. The 23-year-old former fifth-round selection in 2021 made his major-league debut for the Pale Hose on Aug. 13 against the Cincinnati Reds and allowed an earned run on three walks in just one-third of an inning. The team's seventh-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline, went 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 47:27 K:BB in 41 1/3 innings pitched across 22 outings (six starts) for High-A Winston-Salem and Charlotte this year. The 6-foot-5, 185-pounder has not exactly been dominant in the minors in 2026, so he is unlikely to have anything more than a low-leverage role out of the bullpen for the White Sox in his return to the Show in the final month of the regular season. McDougal does feature a high-90s fastball that touches triple digits, and he really knows how to spin his breaking pitches. The pure stuff is intriguing, but McDougal still needs plenty of refinement with his command and control.
Source: Chicago White Sox
Source: Chicago White Sox
Bryan Hudson Enters the Closer Mix in Chicago
Chicago White Sox left-handed reliever Bryan Hudson struck out a batter in a perfect ninth inning on Saturday in the win over the division-rival Detroit Tigers for his fifth save of the season and his first since July 22. In his first full season with the White Sox, Hudson has gone 3-4 with a 3.14 ERA (2.87 FIP), 1.28 WHIP, and a 50:17 K:BB in 51 2/3 innings pitched across 54 appearances (six starts). The 29-year-old southpaw is part of a crowded committee situation for saves in Chicago, with Grant Taylor, Sean Newcomb, and Jordan Hicks also involved. Newcomb picked up the save for the Pale Hose on Sunday, and Taylor leads the back end of the bullpen with six saves on the year. So far in six appearances out of the bullpen in August, Hudson has allowed three earned runs on seven hits while walking none and striking out six for one save and two holds. He is probably more attractive in holds leagues, but fantasy managers desperate for saves in deeper formats could also give him a look. Hudson is rostered in just 1% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Pitching Prospect Tanner McDougal Getting the Call From the White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Tanner McDougal from Triple-A Charlotte, according to The Athletic's James Fegan. McDougal earned his first big-league call-up after going 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 44:21 K:BB in 36 2/3 innings pitched across 17 appearances (six starts) with High-A Winston-Salem and Charlotte. The 23-year-old began his pro career as a starter, but he has since been moved to a relief role after suffering a forearm injury last month. Like left-handed prospect Hagen Smith, who is also being called up from Charlotte, McDougal will most likely work in a relief role in his first taste of the big leagues, limiting his fantasy baseball value to deep dynasty/keeper leagues as a stash. McDougal, a former fifth-rounder in 2021, posted a 2.86 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with Charlotte, but he has surrendered six runs in 8 2/3 frames down on the farm since returning from his forearm injury. Smith is the much better prospect stash with more starting-pitching upside in the long-term.
Source: The Athletic - James Fegan
Source: The Athletic - James Fegan
Grant Taylor Is a Strong Add for Saves and Strikeouts
Chicago White Sox reliever Grant Taylor has been one of the better strikeout arms on the wire all year, and the deadline made his saves path more interesting. He owns a 2.31 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 78 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings, with a 33.2% strikeout rate that sits in the 97th percentile. Seranthony Dominguez is gone, traded to Seattle, but Taylor still isn't being used like a one-inning closer. He worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings on August 2 and two more on August 6, a reminder that Chicago will deploy him when the game needs him, not just in the ninth. That caps the save total, which sits at five, but it also makes the ratios and strikeouts useful even between chances. Taylor is rostered in 27% of Yahoo leagues, and RotoBaller still has him as a 12-team add. Managers chasing saves with strikeout help should be interested.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Hagen Smith Works in Relief Over Last Five Outings at Triple-A
Chicago White Sox pitching prospect Hagen Smith worked one out in relief in his latest outing for Triple-A Charlotte. Since he returned from the IL on July 19, Smith has worked solely in relief and hasn't started a game in his last five appearances. Saturday was his shortest outing in relief since his return as he has lasted at least 1 inning in each of his other four appearances. In his relief outings, he has only allowed one earned run in 5 1/3 innings pitched. The switch to relief in Triple-A could foreshadow a similar move at the big-league level. Smith is a high-strikeout pitcher with 86 strikeouts this season in 57 1/3 innings pitched. That could make him ideal for a high-leverage relief role with the White Sox if given the opportunity. That might not be ideal for fantasy but it is worth monitoring what the White Sox want to do with Smith for the rest of this season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Grant Taylor Has Arrived as a Must-Add Reliever
Chicago White Sox right-hander Grant Taylor has been one of the better relievers in baseball so far this season, recording a 2.58 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 74 strikeouts, four wins, and five saves across 52 1/3 innings (39 games). Chicago has been hesitant to deploy Taylor as its full-time closer in 2026, preferring to utilize him in a fireman role. However, the 24-year-old has notched three saves in July and could be securing the team's ninth-inning role. Even if Taylor does not see every save chance for the White Sox the rest of the way, he should remain a valuable reliever for fantasy managers to roster. Taylor is averaging 98.3 miles per hour on his fastball and has posted a 34.9% strikeout rate and a 26.4% K-BB rate. In leagues where he is available on the waiver wire, Taylor profiles as a must-add pitcher.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bryan Hudson Earns Save for White Sox, Remains Deep-League Target in Committee
Chicago White Sox left-hander Bryan Hudson picked up his fourth save of the season on Wednesday, throwing a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts in his team's 4-2 win over the Texas Rangers. It was Hudson's first save since June 10, as the White Sox continue to operate a closer committee between Hudson, Sean Newcomb, and Grant Taylor. Still, Hudson has been a very effective reliever in 2026, recording a 3-2 record with a 2.08 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 42 strikeouts across 43 1/3 innings (44 games). The 29-year-old owns a middling 23.2% strikeout rate, but he's allowed just one home run on the year. In deeper leagues, Hudson could be worth targeting on the waiver wire as a source of solid ratios who also provides the occasional save.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
