The Chicago White Sox pitching staff needed all hands on deck when they arrived at Wrigley Field on Monday, and Luis Castillo’s early exit only magnified the problem.
Entering the series, White Sox starters had failed to reach the sixth inning in four consecutive games, a stretch that also included an opener against the Detroit Tigers on Friday, leaving several high-leverage arms unavailable in the series opener against the Cubs. That streak has now extended to seven consecutive games.
Castillo lasted just 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and putting even more pressure on an already taxed bullpen.
What followed was back-to-back bullpen days and two much-needed performances that helped Chicago salvage the series. Erick Fedde struck out five while tossing 4.2 scoreless innings Tuesday, before José Urquidy delivered six scoreless innings Wednesday to help the White Sox avoid a sweep with a 3-0 victory.
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But even with Fedde and Urquidy’s valiant efforts, this is a problem that isn’t going away anytime soon, and one that could ultimately cost the White Sox as they gear up for a postseason run in October.
Will Venable has constantly relied on openers throughout the season to prop up a weak back end of the rotation. The strategy has allowed the White Sox to tread water despite their lack of starting-pitching depth. In the 21 games that Venable has turned to an opener out of the bullpen instead of a traditional starter, the White Sox have posted a 12-9 record.
Wednesday was the latest example of that opener strategy. Sean Newcomb got the game started with two scoreless innings before handing the ball to José Urquidy, who dominated over the next six frames, striking out eight while allowing just two hits.
It was a lot to ask of a pitcher who entered the game with an 8.10 ERA this season and had spent most of the year in the minors after being released by the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was also a strategy that could have quickly backfired if the 31-year-old Mexican right-hander hadn’t exceeded expectations.
Urquidy also benefited from some timely defensive help. Braden Montgomery fired a strike from right field to erase Tyrone Taylor, who had led off the sixth with a double, after Taylor made an ill-advised attempt to tag up. The following inning, Sam Antonacci leaped into the vines in left field to rob Alex Bregman of extra bases, further helping Urquidy navigate his dominant outing.
The issue isn’t necessarily the opener strategy itself; it’s the lack of length from the rest of the rotation that is putting an increasing strain on a bullpen that otherwise looks built for October. White Sox starters have completed at least five innings in just 63 games this season, the fewest in MLB.
When the White Sox turn to an opener, their relievers are often asked to cover seven-plus innings, while arms such as Grant Taylor, Jordan Hicks, Bryan Hudson and Sean Newcomb are unavailable in the games that follow after working as openers. That leaves Venable with fewer of his most trusted arms when he needs them most.
The impact is reflected in the results: when a Chicago starter makes it through the fifth inning, the White Sox have a .714 winning percentage, the best mark in MLB. The bullpen may be built for October, but the rotation’s inability to consistently provide length is making it increasingly difficult to get those relievers there in the best possible position.
It’s one of the reasons the White Sox would have been wise to add another starter at the trade deadline. Castillo was acquired in large part because of his track record as a workhorse, but he has failed to make it through the fifth inning in two of his first three starts in a White Sox uniform.
Davis Martin’s recent struggles certainly haven’t helped either. The White Sox went 6-1 in Martin’s first seven starts, with the 29-year-old pitching at least six innings in five of those outings. Over his last 10 starts, however, he has reached the sixth inning just twice while averaging only 4.1 innings per start.
The most frustrating part is that the White Sox have repeatedly shown they can hang with anyone in MLB. They play strong defense, have gotten excellent work from the bullpen, can generate plenty of power, and have developed a knack for coming from behind late in games.
But if Chicago wants to make a legitimate run in October, its rotation has to start giving Venable more length; otherwise, the bullpen, which has been one of the team’s biggest strengths, may end up being its biggest casualty.
