Chicago White Sox News

Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz said on Wednesday that right-hander Davis Martin (calf) was hindered by right-calf discomfort in 2026, according to James Fegan of The Athletic. "I think it's very clear that he was hindered and wasn't himself," Getz said. Martin said that he battled calf issues off and on since April. The 29-year-old finished the year going 9-8 overall with a career-best 3.95 ERA (3.83 FIP), and 1.31 WHIP with a career-best 122 strikeouts and 46 walks in 146 innings pitched over 29 appearances (28 starts). Martin's calf injury apparently bothered him more as the season progressed, as he had a sharp 2.00 ERA with 71 strikeouts and 14 walks in his first 67 2/3 innings before sporting an ERA closer to 6.00 with 51 strikeouts and 32 walks in 78 1/3 innings pitched to close out the year. The White Sox did not trust him enough to use him as a starter during the postseason, as Martin pitched just one inning out of the bullpen and gave up two runs. With extended rest during the offseason, Martin should come into spring training in 2027 fully healthy and ready to bounce back.

Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz said on Wednesday that meetings continue with first baseman Munetaka Murakami on a contract extension, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Getz said that negotiations are sensitive, so no specific information will be coming from the team. The two sides began talking late in the summer. The 26-year-old Japanese left-handed slugger hit only .207 (94-for-454) during the regular season with a 35.4% strikeout rate, but he added 35 home runs, 77 RBI, 82 runs scored, and a stolen base in 127 games across 553 plate appearances in his first year in the States. Murakami made a statement in his first year with the Pale Hose after signing a two-year, $34 million contract as a free agent. He helped the White Sox turn things around big time after they were one of the worst franchises in the game in 2025. Murakami's power from the left side is apparent, but his swing-and-miss ways are a cause for concern for fantasy managers. He also finished ice-cold at the dish to close the season with a .156/.299/.375 slash line in the last two months of the regular season.

Chicago White Sox right-hander Sean Burke will make the start in Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Saturday night in Cleveland against the division-rival Guardians, manager Will Venable told Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Burke will be opposed by Cleveland right-hander Gavin Williams. The 26-year-old Burke went 11-7 with a 3.34 ERA (3.62 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with a career-high 185 strikeouts and 62 walks in 172 1/3 regular-season innings across 32 outings (27 starts) in his second full season in the big leagues. The former third-rounder in 2021 from Maryland allowed three earned runs with three home runs allowed, no walks, and eight strikeouts in a no-decision in Game 2 of the Wild-Card Series against the Houston Astros on Sept. 30, and then gave up just one earned run with one walk and six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings for a win in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Guardians. Burke was great against Cleveland in three appearances (two starts) during the regular season, allowing three runs (two earned) with three walks and 21 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings pitched. The White Sox are hoping his dominance against the Guards continues to help send them to the AL Championship Series to face the Tampa Bay Rays.

Chicago White Sox rookie left-hander Hagen Smith will serve as the opener in Game 4 of the American League Division Series on Thursday at home against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. The 23-year-old former fifth overall pick in 2024 from the University of Arkansas made 18 appearances (only one start) in his major-league debut during the 2026 regular season, posting a nice 1.29 ERA (2.35 FIP) and 0.96 WHIP with 41 strikeouts and 16 walks in 28 innings pitched. The talented young southpaw has already thrown 6 1/3 innings in his first experience in the playoffs, too, allowing just one earned run on three hits while walking five and striking out six. He started Game 1 of the ALDS against Cleveland and threw 2 2/3 shutout innings with three walks and four strikeouts in the team's 3-0 victory before allowing a run with two walks and a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning in Wednesday's Game 3 loss. Smith will probably have a short leash as the White Sox try to close out the best-of-five series, with right-hander Erick Fedde potentially piggybacking Smith in Chicago. In three relief appearances against the Guardians during the regular season, Smith allowed two earned runs with six walks and eight strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings pitched.

Chicago White Sox outfielder Braden Montgomery came up with the biggest hit of Game 2 against the Cleveland Guardians. The outfielder came up with two runners on and two outs against left-handed relief pitcher Erik Sabrowski and ripped a ball down the right field line to drive in both runners and put the White Sox ahead 3-2. Montgomery was then driven in by a clutch single by White Sox second baseman Chase Meidroth to give Chicago a 4-2 lead. Montgomery was 1-for-4 in the game and struck out twice, but he delivered the big blow of the game on his huge double. Facing a left-hander in Sabrowski, Montgomery, a switch hitter stood his ground and delivered a right-handed hit when it mattered most for his team.

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.

Chicago White Sox right-hander Sean Burke was one of the heroes of his team's 4-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Monday. Normally a starting pitcher, Burke entered the game out of the bullpen in the third inning and dominated, allowing just one hit, one walk, and one earned run while striking out six across 5 1/3 innings of work. Burke was a breakout arm for the White Sox during the regular season, recording an 11-7 record with a 3.34 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 185 strikeouts across 172 1/3 innings (32 games). The 26-year-old allowed three solo home runs in his first postseason appearance against the Houston Astros, but he's now logged 14 strikeouts in 9 1/3 playoff innings. Given his success on Monday, the White Sox could choose to continue using an opener in front of Burke in future postseason outings.

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.

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.

Chicago White Sox second baseman Chase Meidroth was one of the stars of his team's 7-3 closeout victory over the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card Series on Wednesday, going two-for-three with a home run, a walk, and three RBI. Meidroth was one of the drivers of Chicago's two-game sweep, logging four hits and four RBI in eight plate appearances in the series. The 25-year-old was a steady presence in the White Sox lineup all season long in 2026, slashing .276/.350/.415 with 16 home runs, 63 RBI, 90 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 643 plate appearances. With his 9.5% walk rate and elite defense at second base, Meidroth profiles as the type of under-the-radar contributor who could help power a deeper-than-expected postseason run for Chicago.

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.

The Chicago White Sox announced on Thursday that they placed right-hander Luis Castillo (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list with a right-shoulder impingement and recalled right-hander Tyler Davis from Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move. The White Sox had recently sent Castillo to the bullpen, but he did not fare any better there, posting a 13.50 ERA in three relief appearances after recording a 7.52 ERA in his final six starts of the year. The 33-year-old veteran Dominican will finish his 2026 regular season with a 4-11 record, 5.85 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 112 strikeouts, and 44 walks in 130 2/3 innings across 29 appearances (23 starts) with both the White Sox and Seattle Mariners. Castillo was much worse in his nine outings (six starts) with the White Sox, recording an 8.42 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, and 26:12 K:BB in 31 innings. He will be eligible to return for the American League Division Series in the playoffs, but we have most likely seen the last of Castillo with the White Sox this year.

Chicago White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters (rib/shoulder) crashed into the wall during Friday's game while trying to catch a fly ball in the outfield. He exited the game with contusions to both his ribs and shoulders, and Braden Montgomery took his place in the outfield. The good news is that he is listed as day-to-day and has no head injury, which was the initial concern at the time of impact. It's unclear if he will miss any time before returning, but with the White Sox in the middle of a divisional race, they may need his help sooner rather than later. The 26-year-old is hitting .272 on the season with 12 home runs and eight stolen bases, and is worth rostering in deep leagues.

Chicago White Sox infielder Colson Montgomery (wrist) is starting at shortstop and batting eighth in Friday's contest against the division-rival Detroit Tigers and left-hander Andrew Sears, per MLB.com. It is good news to see Montgomery back in Chicago's starting lineup after he was pulled from Wednesday's game against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians following being hit by a pitch on his left wrist. Thankfully, the 24-year-old avoided any fractures in his wrist and has returned following a scheduled day off on Thursday. Fantasy managers will want to get Montgomery back in their lineups this weekend for the stretch run, despite the fact that he has not hit a home run in his last 10 games. The former 22nd overall pick in 2021 is hitting only .203 (109-for-536) in his first full big-league season in 2026, but he has done damage with 31 home runs and 84 RBI across his 144 games played and 604 plate appearances for the ChiSox. However, he hit an even .200 (20-for-100) in 26 games in August and has gone just 5-for-49 (.102) with two homers, seven RBI, six walks, and 26 strikeouts in 15 games so far in September.

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.

Chicago White Sox infielder Colson Montgomery (wrist) is not in the team's starting lineup on Thursday against the division-rival Detroit Tigers and left-hander Framber Valdez, according to MLB.com. Miguel Vargas is playing third base and batting third, with Luisangel Acuna playing shortstop and batting eighth. Montgomery will sit this one out after being hit by a pitch on his left wrist on Wednesday, but thankfully, X-rays were negative, so he should be considered day-to-day for now. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Friday to see if the left-handed slugger is back in action for Game 2 of the series against Detroit in Chicago. The 24-year-old former 22nd overall pick in 2021 is hitting just over the Mendoza Line, has an on-base percentage under .300, and has struck out a league-high 211 times in 604 plate appearances, but fantasy managers cannot argue with his power. Montgomery has clubbed 31 home runs and driven in 84 RBI in 144 games after he hit 21 homers and drove in 55 runs in just 71 games as a rookie in 2025.

Across 470 plate appearances in 2026, Chicago White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters is hitting .273/.343/.452 with 12 home runs, 54 RBI, 61 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. The lefty-swinger is hitting .192 across just 63 plate appearances against left-handed pitching, so his big-side platoon role limits his fantasy value to some degree. However, Peters owns an .824 OPS against right-handers and brings a balanced profile at the plate that allows him to provide modest production across all five fantasy categories. After hitting six home runs across 87 plate appearances in August, the 26-year-old has gone without a homer in his first 56 trips to the plate in September. Still, Peters hits for average and should continue to provide steady run production in stretches where the White Sox face a string of right-handed starting pitchers. Heading into the final week-plus of the regular season, Peters could be worth targeting as an outfield streamer off the waiver wire.

Chicago White Sox infielder Colson Montgomery (wrist) left Wednesday's game against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians with a left-wrist contusion, according to the team. Montgomery is being further evaluated after he was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning. In addition to being hit by a pitch, the 24-year-old left-handed slugger walked before being replaced at third base by Miguel Vargas, who moved over from first base. Munetaka Murakami entered the game to play first base. Montgomery, the 22nd overall pick in 2021, will likely undergo X-rays to rule out a fracture in his wrist. A significant injury at this point in the season could make Montgomery unavailable for the postseason next month, which would be a big loss for the Pale Hose. Montgomery came into Wednesday's contest hitting just over the Mendoza Line in his first full season in the majors, but he has also contributed 31 home runs and 84 RBI in his 144 games. The young infielder has 51 homers in his first 214 big-league games, making him a must-roster player for his power from the left side. If his injury is not serious, Montgomery could return as soon as Thursday's series opener against the division-rival Detroit Tigers.

Chicago White Sox corner infielder Miguel Vargas has been one of the breakout success stories of the 2026 season, hitting .249/.358/.475 with 31 home runs, 84 RBI, 98 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases across 658 plate appearances. The 26-year-old's underlying metrics largely support his power emergence, as he's posted a 13.4% barrel rate and a 44.2% hard-hit rate. Vargas also offers an elite approach at the plate, logging a 13.7% walk rate while striking out in just 17.9% of his plate appearances. Vargas has also significantly boosted his aggression on the basepaths in recent games, going six-for-six as a base stealer in September. Heading into the final stretch of the regular season, Vargas profiles as an elite option at either third or first base for fantasy managers.

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.