White Sox's Sean Burke: Stuck with loss as primary pitcher
Rotowire
Burke (1-4) took the loss Friday as the White Sox were downed 6-5 by the A's, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks over 5.1 innings of relief. He struck out five.
Entering the game to begin the second inning behind opener Tyler Gilbert, Burke kept the A's off the board for three frames before the wheels began to fall off. The 25-year-old righty tossed 86 pitches (49 strikes) before getting the hook as he lost his fourth straight decision, a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 7.71 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 17:11 K:BB over 21 innings. Burke will try to get back in the win column in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next week against the Brewers.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Working behind opener Friday
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Burke is expected to serve as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Tyler Gilbert in Friday's game against the Athletics in Sacramento, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
The White Sox's Opening Day starter began the season on a high note, holding the Angels scoreless over six innings en route to a win. Things have gone south for the young right-hander ever since, with Burke going 0-3 with an 8.62 ERA, 1.91 WHIP and 12:9 K:BB in 15.2 innings over his subsequent four outings. White Sox manager Will Venable will deploy Burke behind an opener in the hopes that the arrangement yields better results, and working in relief should give Burke a better chance of securing a win than if he were to be used as a traditional starter.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Struggles with loud contact in loss
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Burke (1-3) took the loss Tuesday against the Athletics after giving up five runs on six hits and two walks in 3.1 innings. He struck out two.
Burke struggled with his command Tuesday, serving up two home runs while allowing at least one run in each of his three full innings pitched. He was pulled after 69 pitches (44 strikes) in the fourth inning when the Athletics' lineup was set for its third time through the order. Burke won't be a recommended fantasy option in his next scheduled start in Boston, where he'll take a 7.56 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB over 16.2 innings (four starts) this year.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Gets Opening Day nod
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White Sox manager Will Venable confirmed over the weekend that Burke will start the team's season opener March 27 versus the Angels in Chicago, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Burke made just four appearances (three starts) for the White Sox at the tail end of the 2024 season, but he dazzled in those outings with a 1.42 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB in 19 innings. He's been shakier this spring in allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits and five walks over 10.2 innings, but with few appealing alternatives on hand, Burke was awarded the Opening Day assignment. The 25-year-old righty has shown bat-missing ability at every stop of his professional career, but the strikeout stuff has often been accompanied by walk rates north of 10 percent. Though Burke turned some heads during his brief taste of the big leagues in 2024, expect more volatility in his performance during his first season as a full-time starter in the majors.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Focused on durability
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Burke has worked with a physical therapist this offseason in the hopes of increasing the durability of his arm, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Burke had an impressive big-league debut to close out the 2024 season, maintaining a 22:7 K:BB across 19 innings while allowing only three earned runs. That puts him in prime position to grab a rotation spot for the White Sox to begin 2025. Durability will be one key to securing the role, as Burke has been forced to work through right shoulder soreness for the past two seasons. Burke reported that he has felt good this offseason and also worked on getting comfortable with a two-seam fastball to complement the rest of his repertoire, which includes a four-seamer, curveball, changeup and slider.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Blanks Detroit for second win
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Burke (2-0) picked up the win Saturday, allowing two hits and three walks over five scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory over the Tigers. He struck out six.
The start of the game was delayed by over two hours due to rain, but Burke wasn't fazed by having to sit around in the clubhouse before taking the mound. The rookie right-hander tossed 84 pitches (49 strikes) in his final outing of the season, and in four September appearances with the big-league club, Burke put together an eye-popping 1.42 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB over 19 innings. The 2021 third-round pick could head into spring training next year as a favorite to secure a regular rotation spot with the White Sox.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Impressive against San Diego
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Burke did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Padres, allowing one run on two hits and a walk while striking out eight over six innings.
Burke held his own against a tough Padres lineup with his only mistake being a solo home run by Jurickson Profar in the third inning. Burke generated 15 whiffs on the afternoon and has 16 strikeouts through his first 14 MLB innings. The right-hander should have one more start before the season concludes, which tentatively lines up to come over the weekend against the Tigers.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Nabs another start
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Burke is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Padres in San Diego.
The rookie right-hander will receive a second turn through the White Sox rotation after he impressed in his first MLB start this past Sunday, holding the Athletics to two runs and striking out five over five innings en route to grabbing the win. For his second start, Burke will get a tough test against a Padres lineup that has produced a 117 wRC+ against right-handed pitching this season.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Notches first win
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Burke (1-0) yielded two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings Sunday, striking out five and earning a win against the Athletics.
Burke sprinkled a few baserunners over four shutout frames before Brent Rooker drilled a two-run shot in the fifth inning. Burke picked up his first career win in his second MLB appearance. He forced 15 whiffs, including seven with the slider. Burke has registered a 2.25 ERA and an 8:3 K:BB through eight MLB frames. He's in line for a weekend start in San Diego.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Start confirmed for Sunday
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Burke is listed as the White Sox's probable starting pitcher for Sunday's game against the Athletics in Chicago.
He'll fill the vacant fifth spot in the White Sox rotation after Nick Nastrini was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte earlier this week. Burke was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move and made his MLB debut out of the bullpen Tuesday against Cleveland, striking out three while allowing an unearned run on three hits and one walk over three innings. He was a full-time starter for Charlotte prior to his promotion, pitching to a 4.62 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 86:36 K:BB in 64.1 innings.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Roughed up in debut
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Burke (shoulder) returned from Triple-A Charlotte's 7-day injured list Tuesday and worked 1.2 innings that day in a 5-4 loss to Louisville, giving up five earned runs on one hit and four walks while striking out two. Charlotte placed him on the temporary inactive list Wednesday.
Burke's season debut was delayed after he experienced shoulder soreness coming out of spring training, and he probably could have benefited from a longer wait before making his debut, given how poorly it went. He needed 43 pitches just to record five outs and threw only 19 strikes in the outing. The White Sox haven't indicated that Burke suffered any setbacks with the shoulder in the start, but the fact that he's back off the active roster again suggests that he likely won't be cleared to take the hill the next time his turn comes up in the Charlotte rotation.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Out with sore shoulder
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Burke is on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Charlotte due to shoulder soreness and is expected back sometime this month, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.
Chicago's rotation depth is pretty mediocre, so Burke could in theory be called upon sometime this summer, even if he isn't a finished product. The 23-year-old righty made two starts and gave up nine earned runs in seven innings at Triple-A last year after making 19 starts with a 4.81 ERA at Double-A.
