Anthony

Kay

Kay was awful again, and this is his second outing in a row where he went just 2 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old allowed eight hits, two homers, and struck out just one before being pulled. That’s pretty much the opposite of the goal, folks. Kay will try and get going in a start scheduled for Monday against the Angels.

The 31-year-old southpaw walked one and struck out one in the ballgame. The lone run that the Rays were able to muster against him came on an RBI single by Taylor Walls in the fourth inning. Kay needed 71 pitches (43 strikes) to record eight outs in the ballgame, getting four swings and misses while posting a CSW of just 23 percent. He’ll carry a 2.60 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 12/9 K/BB ratio (17 1/3 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Diamondbacks in Arizona.

The 31-year-old southpaw piled up six strikeouts on the evening while issuing two free passes. Kay also plunked a couple of batters in the ballgame. Twice the Royals were able to put two runners on base against him, but they were unable to push any runs across. He got 13 swings and misses on 100 offerings in the ballgame — four each on his fastball and sweeper — while posting a strong CSW of 34 percent. He now sports a 2.45 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and an 11/8 K/BB ratio over 14 2/3 innings through his first three outings on the year. He’ll do battle against the Rays his next time out at home on Wednesday and could be worth a look as a streaming option.

Kay took over for Grant Taylor in the second inning for the piggyback start. He held the Blue Jays off the board over four innings, despite zero strikeouts, before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took him deep for a two-run blast in the sixth. Kay then recorded the first out in the inning and departed at 76 pitches. The 31-year-old left-hander will make his next outing, either starting or in the bulk role, Thursday against the Royals in Kansas City. He’s not a recommendation for fantasy purposes, given the low strikeout upside.

Anthony Kay will work behind him. When White Sox GM Chris Getz said in December that Taylor would remain in the pen, he said it’d be as a multi-inning reliever. In February, Taylor himself said he saw himself throwing 100 innings this year. However, since the games started six weeks ago, it’s been clear none of that is happening. Taylor has gotten more than three outs just once in 11 appearances, pitching 1 2/3 innings on March 10. He’s gone one inning in three straight outings to start the regular season and presumably will do that again on Saturday. If he continues to open regularly, he’ll be particularly useless in fantasy leagues, since both wins and saves will be off the board.

Kay also issued four free passes on the day while recording five strikeouts. All of the damage done against him came in the opening inning as Gary Sanchez belted a two-run homer. He settled in nicely afterwards though and kept the Brewers off the board despite the traffic on the basepaths. Kay got nine swings and misses on 92 pitches on the afternoon, registering a CSW of 27 percent. He’ll try again to earn his first victory when he squares off against the Blue Jays on Saturday.

Kay walked four, plunked two and gave up nine hard-hit balls in an ugly showing. He actually opened with two scoreless innings versus something close to the Athletics’ regular lineup. Then the A’s pulled everyone and scored nine runs between the fourth and fifth. Kay has already been named to the White Sox rotation, but he might fit better in middle relief. He’ll make his first start Sunday in Milwaukee.

Kay was officially named to Chicago’s starting rotation earlier on Tuesday by manager Will Venable. The 30-year-old lefty signed a two-year, $12 million pact during the offseason after spending the last couple years pitching overseas in Japan. He’s more of a late-round flyer than a reliable mixed-league contributor heading into the year, especially for a rebuilding White Sox squad.

Cannon made 17 starts and pitched 103 2/3 innings for the White Sox last season and came into spring training battling for a spot in the rotation. He didn’t pitch poorly, posting a 4.09 ERA and 10/5 K/BB ratio in 11 innings, but it wasn’t good enough to beat out Anthony Kay and Erick Fedde, who both joined the team this winter.

White Sox manager Will Venable confirmed to reporters that Newcomb will operate in relief to open the season after battling for a spot in Chicago’s rotation during camp. The decision makes it a near-lock that both Anthony Kay and Erick Fedde will make the Opening Day rotation. There’s zero fantasy intrigue here but it’s worth noting that the White Sox are going to give a few veterans some run before they consider promoting a top prospect like Hagen Smith or Noah Schultz.