Why the Chicago White Sox Bullpen Collapse vs. Cleveland in Game Four Was Inevitable
· Yahoo Sports
Given how familiar the Cleveland Guardians’ hitters are with the Chicago White Sox bullpen from the regular season and the first three games of the division series, Game four was expected to be a challenge. The South Siders were walking on frayed ropes up until the sixth inning on Thursday night when it snapped, and the Guardians scored six runs, ensuring the Sox had no chance of clinching their first playoff series at home since 1906. Ultimately, Cleveland won the game 9-5, meaning the White Sox will have to travel back to Cleveland on Saturday to try and extend their season.
However, it is pretty concerning that the White Sox could not finish up the best-of-five series against the Guardians earlier, as their bullpen has become overburdened and may have run out of gas. The Sox relief corps had a 1.04 ERA in 26 playoff innings, and after taking a 2-0 lead in the ALDS, they looked formidable. But in Games Three and Four, they have recorded a staggering 9.00 ERA. The Sox manager, Will Venable, approached this postseason not to adhere to managing their traditional pitching staff; rather, it was about maximizing his bullpen, but that may cost the team heading into Game five, with the Guardians having the momentum.
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The White Sox are revealing their Postseason inexperience and cracking under pressure according to @45PedroMartinez 😳 https://t.co/XeCWIqDa0R
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) October 9, 2026
What Led to White Sox Bullpen Collapse?
Going into Game Four on Thursday night, the reality was that the White Sox bullpen was already taxed, and even before the first pitch there were concerns that the Guardians’ batters had seen Venable pitchers too much in the ALDS already. Hagen Smith, who started in Game One, started Game Four having pitched 2/3 of an inning in Game 3. Grant Taylor pitched four innings in Game One, then tossed in 1 1/3 innings in Game Two and then came on in the sixth inning, allowing four runs in Game Four. Taylor and Jordan Hicks have been Venable’s best arms in the bullpen, both of whom he’d prefer to use in the last third of a game.
No matter when they are called up, they are the guys who deliver for the team. But on Thursday, Hicks gave up a home run to Jose Ramirez while Taylor threw just 18 pitches and allowed four runs without recording an out. Hicks and Taylor have pitched a combined 13 innings this postseason, but Anthony Kay, a starting pitcher, has pitched 2 1/3 innings. With Taylor throwing 85 pitches this postseason, when he came to the mound on Thursday, his four-seam fastball didn’t carry the same power, and the break on his curveball wasn’t as knee-jerking when a hitter has seen it a second or third time.
Oct 8, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) celebrates as he rounds the bases on his two-run home run hit off Chicago White Sox pitcher Jordan Hicks (44) during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox in game four of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesAlso, Chicago’s bullpen has regressed under pressure. Throughout the regular season, the relievers stranded inherited or allowed base runners at an above-average rate (71.8%), but in Games Three and Four of the ALDS they regressed to 55% and 61%, respectively. Between the two games, the pitchers gave up 17 free passes. And that’s really hard to overcome, even when the White Sox offense recorded eight hits in Game Four. Fatigue will play a major role in Game Five, and if Chicago goes through, they will have to be extraordinary against the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Championship Series.
White Sox Slim Hope Going Into Game Five
The good news for the White Sox is that the Guardians bullpen has also been taxed. Cleveland’s Gavin Williams, the starting pitcher for Game Five, was called upon in the ninth inning in Game Four, and though he had three strikeouts, he threw 18 pitches. Meanwhile, Venable didn’t call Sean Burke in Game Three and Game Four, so he will be fresh for Saturday. Burke going four or five solid innings, as he did in Game 2, will be a big relief for the team as he’s their most reliable pitcher.
For Game 5, Sean Burke figures to pitch a lot. If you open with anyone, Newcomb is the only valid choice, but starting Burke is fine too. Don’t want to see anyone else to start the game.
— Patrick Nolan (@SoxMach_pnoles) October 9, 2026
Also, the White Sox will have a day off to rest the beleaguered pitching staff, at least a little, and regroup the offense. Sean Newcomb, who opened Game Three, will be available on Saturday. Noah Schultz was unused on Thursday night, having pitched multiple innings on Wednesday.
The other reason to be optimistic about Game Five is that the White Sox have already established that they are an odds-defying team. They have made it to the second round of the postseason after posting three consecutive 100-loss campaigns. And it is not surprising that they are going five games against the Guardians. The White Sox lost the AL Central division to the Guardians by one game but defeated them 7-6 in the regular season with a run differential of +1, which is as close to what they are having in the ALDS.
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