Grant

Taylor

Taylor just threw 2 1/3 innings and 35 pitches in a save Thursday, but since this is late September in a pennant race, he was right back out there again today. He’s now thrown seven innings and 123 pitches over the last eight days, so he’ll certainly be down on Sunday. Bryan Hudson will be a candidate for a save then.

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.

Taylor allowed a hit, but kept the runner at bay while picking up his sixth save of the campaign and lowering his ERA to 2.28. He’s looked the part in 2026 and should get the bulk of chances down the stretch, and it would be a pretty big surprise if Taylor wasn’t the full-time closer in Chicago for the foreseeable future.

The White Sox’s bullpen deployment is going to make fantasy managers pull their hair out. It seemed like the flame-throwing Grant Taylor had finally ascended to closing duties after being called upon in a save opportunity in four of his past five outings. Then, he entered this game in the seventh inning with a two-run lead and the top of the Rangers’ order coming up. He struck out five of the six batters he faced in two quick innings and handed the ball to Hudson for the save. It seems like this bullpen will continue to be a headache despite Taylor clearly being the best pitcher to roster in it.