Grant

Taylor

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.

He’ll be followed by Sean Burke. Taylor has thrown two innings in relief this year, allowing one run, and has mostly been out of the closing mix for the White Sox so far this year after saving six games in 2025. Burke should be the one with the chance at a win.

Taylor hit triple-digits three times and averaged a blistering 99.8 mph on his four-seam fastball, needing just 12 pitches to spin a flawless frame. The hard-throwing 23-year-old former top prospect has the unmistakable aura of a future closer — the velocity, the demeanor, the kind of stuff that feels pre-destined for the ninth inning. However, it feels like the rebuilding White Sox will turn the ninth inning role over to veteran Seranthony Domínguez at the outset of the season, if only to increase his value for a midseason trade.

After the White Sox traded for Jordan Hicks and signed Seranthony Dominguez, it was clear they did not view Grant Taylor as a potential closer. However, the former starter is not moving back into the rotation either. The team will keep him in a bulk relief role, and Taylor himself is targeting 100 innings pitched as his goal for this upcoming season. White Sox manager Will Venable had a slightly different idea, saying, “We are going to have more freedom to use Grant to win games, as opposed to fulfill some innings limit.” However, Venable acknowledged that Taylor may one day move back to starting games, so they would like to keep him as stretched out as possible. While we don’t normally draft middle relievers in fantasy baseball, it does seem like Taylor will be given plenty of innings and brought in during plenty of close games, which could lead to a surprising amount of fantasy value.

Taylor forged a 4.91 ERA and 54/15 K/BB over his 36 2/3 innings with the White Sox in 2025. The right-hander has the stuff to be a starter, but it sounds like Chicago is more comfortable using him out of the bullpen at this stage of his career. Unless it’s pitching at the end of games, there’s very little fantasy appeal; even with the ability to miss bats.

Taylor allowed one hit but also struck out two en route to his sixth save of the season. The 23-year-old has been a starter for much of his minor league career, but was moved into the bullpen this season and has posted a 4.91 ERA and 54/15 K/BB ratio in 36 2/3 innings. He has electric stuff, and it remains to be seen if the White Sox will move him back into the rotation, as they did a few years ago with Garrett Crochet. If Taylor were to get a chance at the rotation in 2026, he could have serious fantasy appeal.

Taylor made it look easy in this one, getting Ramon Laureano on a swinging third strike, Gavin Sheets on a fly ball to second base and Ryan O’Hearn on a swinging third strike to end it. He needed just 12 pitches (10 strikes) to dispatch of the Padres in order. For the season, the 23-year-old right-hander now holds a 5.35 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and a 49/15 K/BB ratio over 33 2/3 innings of work while converting five of his first six save chances.