Grant Taylor gets four-out save versus Tigers

After tossing four shutout frames to close out Game 1 over the weekend, Taylor was summoned to protect a two-run lead with two outs in the eighth inning after Sean Burke gave up a two-out single to Chase DeLauter. He immediately surrendered an RBI triple to Jo Adell, but managed to retire Nathaniel Lowe to keep the lead intact heading to the ninth. He needed just five pitches to set down Angel Martínez, Travis Bazzana and Patrick Bailey in the final frame to give Chicago a commanding 2-0 advantage in the best-of-five series. The hard-throwing 24-year-old reliever has yet to allow a run while striking out 11 batters over seven innings of work this postseason. He’s arguably been the difference in the series through two games. Unreal.

Taylor’s curveball was simply dominant, and he was able to punch out six over those four innings while allowing only two hits. The right-hander threw 42 pitches after firing 54 of them in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Astros on Tuesday. The White Sox have a day off Sunday, so there’s a chance he could be available for Game 2 come Monday. More than likely, he doesn’t work again until Game 3.

Taylor came back out to protect a three-run lead in the final frame after needing 36 pitches to record the final out of the seventh inning and make it through a challenging eighth where he allowed one run on a pair of hits and a throwing error. It looked for a moment like he could be in danger when he issued a leadoff free pass to Christian Walker. Yet, he managed to settle down immediately afterwards, striking out Lucas Spence and Cam Smith before winning a seven-pitch battle against Nelson Velázquez to end the ballgame. He wound up throwing a career-high 54 pitches to record the final seven outs. It was a herculean effort that helped spark Chicago to their first postseason win since 2021.

Taylor made things interesting as he allowed a one-out walk to Colt Keith and then a single to Kevin McGonigle to put the tying runs on base. He rebounded though to get Gleyer Torres to hit into a game-ending double play. For the season, Taylor has been the key cog in the White Sox’ bullpen, posting a 2.34 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 103/30 K/BB ratio over 80 2/3 innings while securing seven victories and nine saves.

Taylor was one out away from a two-inning save, but he lost a two-on, two-out battle with Bryan Rocchio, who hit a walk-off two-run double. He’s allowed at least one run in four consecutive appearances. Taylor has a 2.41 ERA and should remain the favorite for saves with the White Sox.

Taylor’s save was his eighth of the season. Things got hairy in the ninth inning when Hagen Smith walked the bases loaded, but Taylor came in to get the final out and pick up the save. He threw two pitches. Taylor has a 2.11 ERA this year.

Taylor couldn’t hold a 1-0 lead while giving up two singles and walking two, but the White Sox picked him up in the bottom of the ninth. It goes as Taylor’s sixth blown save, but it’s just the second of those to come in the ninth and the first that’s come in a game in which he was only brought in for the ninth. (He entered in the eighth the other time.) The run was the first he’s allowed in 10 appearances this month and first earned run he’s given up during the second half. He should still be considered the favorite for saves in Chicago, though he’s not always going to be saved for the ninth.

Taylor struck out two of the four batters he faced in a tie game, and the White Sox went on to win it in the bottom of the ninth. Taylor will probably get Saturday off after this, potentially leading to a save chance for Sean Newcomb or Jordan Hicks.

Taylor struck out two of the four batters he faced in bouncing back from a cheap blown save Tuesday. He’ll rest Thursday, which could lead to a save chance of Bryan Hudson or Jordan Hicks.

It’s a little unfair to give Taylor the blown save, as the damage was really done by Bryan Hudson; who gave up three runs without getting an out. Having said that, it was Taylor who gave up the game-tying two-run single to Tyler Stephenson, so it’s his first blown save of 2026. He hurled a scoreless ninth to keep the White Sox alive, and there’s no reason to think Taylor isn’t going to get the bulk of save chances going forward.