Sean

Burke

The White Sox will return from the break with their top three starters going. This will also set up Erick Fedde for a two-start week against Texas and Houston the following week.

Burke was dominant here from the get-go. He was perfect through the first 13 batters and when Jacob Wilson finally singled in the fifth, he was immediately erased by a double play. His fastball was the star of the show, forcing 10 of his 16 total swings-and-misses and sitting at 96 mph, more than a full tick above its season average. That pitch was so lethal that Burke used it more so as his put-away pitch while mixing his slider, knuckle-curve, and sinker more so early in counts. He had it all going on and ended the first half on a heater not giving up more than two runs in any of his last five starts. Altogether, he’ll head into the All-Star break with a stellar 3.41 ERA, 115 strikeouts, and 33 walks through 105 2/3 innings.

Burke held the Guardians scoreless through four innings before giving up a solo homer to Austin Hedges in the fifth. He completed one more frame, ending his day with just the one run, tossing 66 of 95 pitches for strikes and collecting a career-high 11 strikeouts. The 26-year-old right-hander will take a 3.56 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 106/33 K/BB ratio across 98 2/3 innings into a start against the Athletics in Chicago on Friday.

Burke has recorded at least six strikeouts in seven consecutive outings dating back to May 26. He’s also allowed three earned runs or fewer in six of those outings. The 26-year-old righty boasts a solid 3.69 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 95/33 K/BB ratio across 92 2/3 innings for the upstart White Sox this season, emerging as a viable back-end fantasy rotation starter in the process. He’ll wrap up a two-start week with a road tilt against the Guardians on Saturday.

Burke gave up six hits, walked one and struck out six. He improved to 5-4 with the win. Burke has a 3.71 ERA, but his xFIP is 4.19. He’s been excellent over his last two starts, though, with 14 strike outs, two walks and two runs in 13 2/3 innings. Burke is lined up to face the Orioles on the road next week.

Burke punched out eight hitters in the contest while issuing one walk. He entered in the second inning after Bryan Hudson got the first five outs as an opener for the White Sox. Burke served up a solo homer to Ryan McMahon in the third inning, but that would be the only run that they could muster against him the rest of the way. The 26-year-old got 20 swings and misses on 88 offerings in the game, posting an elite CSW of 39 percent. Now 4-4 on the season, he’ll look to replicate this fine performance as he brings a 3.89 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 81/29 K/BB ratio (81 innings) into Tuesday’s divisional showdown against the Guardians.

It’s the second straight outing in which he’s walked five and the fifth time in his last seven starts that Burke has failed to last five innings. His rotation spot probably isn’t in jeopardy yet, but he’s going to need to do better next week against the Tigers. While his overall 4.15 ERA isn’t bad, he’s at 5.82 since May 8.

After the Braves and White Sox were postponed yesterday, the White Sox opted to bump back the entire rotation a day. Kay will go tonight and Sean Burke will go on Saturday. Neither is a recommended option against the Dodgers.

Following opener Brandon Eisert – which Burke has rarely done this season – he did not have a great outing here. His strikeout stuff was working and each his fastball and slider forced at least four swings-and-misses, but there was either too much nibbling or he was just too focused on hunting those strikeouts. His five walks were his most in any start this season, including two in a row in the sixth inning to set-up a Phillies’ rally. Still, there are reasons to be encouraged by his season as a whole with a 3.88 ERA and a 67 to 23 strikeout to walk ratio across 69 2/3 in total. He’s scheduled to face the Dodgers and Yankees in his next two starts, so he’ll have his work cut out for him.

The 26-year-old right-hander racked up six strikeouts on the afternoon while issuing a pair of walks. The lone run that scored against him came on an RBI double by Spencer Torkelson in the opening inning. Burke settled in from there and blanked the Tigers the rest of the way. He got 14 swings and misses on 93 offerings on the afternoon, posting a solid CSW of 30 percent. Now 2-3 on the season, he’ll carry a 3.72 ERA and 1.13 WHIP into Saturday’s showdown against the Phillies in Philadelphia.