Grant

Taylor

Watching an inning like this from Taylor can give a baseball fan goosebumps. He made mincemeat of Adolis García, Edmundo Sosa, and Kyle Schwarber with three strikeouts and was in control the entire time. He was up 0-2 on all three hitters, regularly flashed triple digits with his fastball, and forced six swings-and-misses in just one inning of work. If he’s ever unleashed as the White Sox’s full-time closer, he’d instantly be one of the nastiest in the league. His last save came nearly three weeks ago though, so be on the lookout if he actually takes this job over.

Some interesting bullpen usage for the White Sox today, as Grant Taylor came in during the sixth with a 2-1 and escaped a jam for Anthony Kay. He then worked a scoreless seventh. It was a 4-1 game when Domínguez entered, but it doesn’t seem likely that he would have been asked for a two-inning save after working a scoreless ninth in a tie game Friday. Perhaps Bryan Hudson would have been in line for a save, but it proved moot after the White Sox made it a 7-1 game in line for the ninth. Trevor Richards finished up at that point. Hudson could still get a save Sunday, since we assume both Domínguez and Taylor will be unavailable.

Seranthony Domínguez got an extra day off after tossing 32 pitches and blowing the save in Sunday’s loss to the Cubs. Taylor got the call in the ninth with a one-run lead and slammed the door on Seattle, striking out the side for his first save. The 24-year-old right-hander has posted a 1.78 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 38/8 K/BB ratio across 25 1/3 innings. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Taylor begin to take more save chances from Domínguez, who’s gone 10-for-13 in save chances and holds a 4.82 ERA over 18 2/3 innings.

Taylor continues to post some of the best ERA estimators and pitch-modeling grades in MLB, and his results are finally beginning to match them. He’s up to 19 strikeouts in 13 scoreless innings over his last nine appearances. Taylor threw a cutter 17 percent of the time last season, and it was his worst pitch. Replacing it with more sliders and a new sinker has helped him match his underlying numbers this year. The White Sox still haven’t shown interest in using him as a closer over Seranthony Domínguez, but he’s becoming the best pitcher in this bullpen while capable of tossing multiple innings any time out.

Colson Montgomery made an error to start the ninth in an 8-5 game, and Taylor went on to give up three hits before the White Sox lifted him with two outs. Bryan Hudson came in at that point and retired Adam Frazier for his first save. Taylor had the chance to close tonight because Seranthony Domínguez had pitched three of the previous four days. It would have been his first save, but he settled for his second hold instead.

He allowed two hits and struck out three. After opening four times earlier this month, Taylor has been a traditional reliever in his last three outings, which is definitely best for his AL-only value. He came into the day with no decisions, no saves and one hold in nine appearances this season.

There was some excitement earlier in the day when it was reported on social media that Brian Bannister, the White Sox’s senior pitching advisor, said that the team would be stretching Grant Taylor out in his role as opener. However, what Bannister said is that he was open to Taylor becoming a more traditional starter if he was able. However, Bannister also said that, when Taylor was previously working as a starter, his body would not respond well when he pitched more than three innings. Getz seemed to second this idea with his comment. As of now, it seems that the White Sox will look to get Taylor multiple inning appearances whenever he pitches, but those appearances don’t figure to be as a traditional starter. He still has fantasy value as a reliever who could pitch 100 innings this year and rack up a handful of strikeouts, but there should not be an expectation that he will join the rotation this year.

Davitt gets the boot with the White Sox set to recall Jonathan Cannon to work behind opener Grant Taylor on Sunday. Davitt will likely be an up-and-down arm throughout 2026.

Taylor operated as the opener for the White Sox for the second consecutive game. He recorded two quick outs on two pitches, then struck out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to end the opening frame. Anthony Kay then took over in the second inning. Taylor was thought to be a potential stash for saves, but pitching as an opener won’t put him in line for either saves or wins.

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.