A nine-day layoff did little to slow Sean Burke, who entered Sunday’s start against the Toronto Blue Jays as one of the hottest pitchers in baseball.
Burke was masterful once again against the Blue Jays, retiring the first 10 batters he faced and allowing just three baserunners over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. He needed only 98 pitches to navigate the outing, throwing 69 for strikes while striking out five and issuing just one walk.
That efficiency was fueled by Burke’s ability to get ahead early. He threw first-pitch strikes to 78% of the batters he faced, allowing him to dictate counts and keep a floundering Blue Jays offense on the defensive.
Burke’s latest gem wasn’t simply the product of Toronto’s recent offensive struggles either. Since June 18, the White Sox right-hander has surrendered just six earned runs across 38.1 innings while recording four quality starts in his last five appearances.
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That stretch includes 7.1 innings of one-run ball out of the bullpen against the Yankees, when he struck out eight, a quality start against the Guardians and a seven-inning, one-run performance with nine strikeouts against the Athletics.
While the White Sox’s rotation has largely unraveled away from Rate Field, Burke has thrived. Four of his last five quality starts have come on the road, where he owns a sparkling 2.50 ERA across 50.1 innings. The next-best road ERA among White Sox starters belongs to Davis Martin at 4.43, with Anthony Kay, Erick Fedde and Noah Schultz all checking in above 5.40.
Davis Martin has been considered the White Sox ace for much of the season, and while that title has been deserved, if the White Sox were playing a must-win game today, especially in the postseason, Burke is who should have the ball.
At home, on the road, out of the bullpen, it hasn’t mattered, Burke has continued to shove. The most noticeable thing about his recent stretch of dominance has been his confidence on the mound. A hostile environment in the Bronx, a critical divisional matchup in Cleveland, and a trip across the border to face the reigning American League champions have yet to faze him.
Burke is throwing all of his pitches with conviction and trusting his stuff, most notably his fastball. Burke has done an excellent job establishing his fastball early in games, which has allowed him to open up his offspeed pitches.
As a result, his strikeout rate is up, his walk rate is down, and opponents have struggled to consistently square him up.
He threw 31 fastballs among his 98 pitches Sunday, the most of any offering in his four-pitch mix, yet four of his five strikeouts came on offspeed pitches. His best weapon has been his 87 mph slider, which has produced a 32 percent whiff rate on the season.
There is a reason the White Sox gave Burke the Opening Day nod in 2025. He has the potential to be a frontline starter, and now he is finally showing it. At this point in the season, Burke is establishing himself as the White Sox’s most trusted starter.
It may have taken a year for the pieces to come together, but the 26-year-old has transformed into the kind of arm the White Sox envisioned when they handed him the ball on Opening Day a year ago, and the scary part is he may still have another level to reach.
