Chicago left Rate Field with its American League Division Series tied after Cleveland turned a close game into a 9-5 Game 4 win Thursday night. The White Sox now head to Progressive Field for Saturday’s winner-take-all Game 5, with right-hander Sean Burke held back and positioned to take a major share of the work.
The result
The White Sox had two chances to finish the series at home, but their pitching plans unraveled in consecutive games. Cleveland’s six-run sixth inning on Thursday broke open Game 4, with Chicago using seven pitchers and closer Grant Taylor taking the hardest hit.
The loss followed Wednesday’s 9-3 defeat, another game in which the White Sox could not limit traffic. Chicago issued 10 walks in that one, then handed Cleveland seven more walks and a hit batter in Game 4. Three of those extra baserunners scored.
Still, the club found one useful development during the Game 4 loss: Burke was not used. He had been outstanding after entering Game 2 in the third inning, allowing one run on one hit across 5 1/3 innings. Burke struck out six and retired 13 straight hitters during that appearance. Manager Will Venable said the White Sox had not yet settled on whether Burke would start Saturday or work as the bulk arm behind an opener.
“We have to look at where the other pitchers stand, then put together the plan,” Venable said.
Veteran right-hander Erick Fedde did his part to keep Chicago within reach Thursday, covering 3 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs on three hits and a walk, though an inherited runner crossed in the fifth after Jordan Hicks surrendered a two-run homer to José Ramírez following a Steven Kwan single. Fedde threw 61 pitches, making him unlikely to be available for the deciding game.
“He came right after the zone, and his pitches were working,” catcher Kyle Teel said of Fedde. “We have to stay with our strengths. On the pitching side, that means trusting what you do best.”
Rookie left-hander Hagen Smith opened Game 4 and struggled to establish the strike zone, walking three in the first inning. It was his second straight day pitching and his third appearance of the series. After 27 pitches, Chicago may be limited to using him only briefly, if at all, on Saturday.
Taylor’s rough outing was the larger concern. He arrived Thursday with 7 2/3 scoreless postseason innings, 11 strikeouts and one walk, having already logged a four-inning save in Game 1 and a four-out save in Game 2. Cleveland, however, had seen plenty of him. Taylor faced the Guardians six times in the regular season and posted a 9.44 ERA in 6 2/3 innings against them.
Taylor did not believe fatigue or familiarity was the deciding factor. He pointed instead to execution, particularly the two walks he issued, and said he intends to be ready.
“I’ll be ready for whatever they need,” Taylor said. “If they ask for nine innings, I’m in. Over the next couple days, I’ll do everything I can to get myself prepared and lay it on the line.”
Chicago did get a small measure of relief from Cleveland’s Game 4 usage. Guardians closer Cade Smith threw 31 pitches, while Gavin Williams needed 18 pitches to finish the ninth. Williams remains a possible Game 5 starter.
“There were little positives,” Venable said. “Getting Cade into the game for two hitters, then getting Gavin in there too, mattered.”
The rotation next
Burke is the central figure for Chicago entering Saturday night. Whether he takes the mound for the first pitch or follows an opener, his Game 2 showing gave the White Sox a clear reason to preserve him for this spot.
The Friday off day should also refresh most of Chicago’s high-leverage relievers, with Fedde the notable exception after his 61-pitch outing. Taylor has made clear he expects to be in the mix despite Thursday’s difficult sixth inning.
The series has earned its final-game finish. Chicago took the regular-season series 7-6, and the clubs were separated by only one run in total scoring across those 13 games. Now the division rivals meet once more, Saturday at 8 p.m. ET in Cleveland, with the ALDS on the line.
“With how much we’ve gone back and forth with them, it makes sense that it comes down to this,” Venable said. “We want to win the series any way we can, wherever it has to happen.”
