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MLB

White Sox choose Sean Burke to start ALDS Game 5 without an opener

Will Venable confirms Burke will open the deciding game against Cleveland on Saturday.

Chicago White Sox players and staff gather on the field.
White Sox players and staff in the photograph accompanying MLB.com’s Game 5 pitching report. Capture date not established. · Credit: MLB.com; photographer not identified in the source record

Sean Burke will start for the Chicago White Sox in Saturday’s decisive American League Division Series game against the Cleveland Guardians, manager Will Venable confirmed Friday. Chicago will not use an opener ahead of him.

Burke entered Game 2 in relief and allowed one run on one hit over 5⅓ innings. He struck out six, walked one and threw 83 pitches as Chicago won 4–3.

He did not pitch in Thursday’s 9–5 Game 4 loss. Chicago used seven pitchers that night, including Erick Fedde, who worked 3⅔ innings and threw 61 pitches.

Cleveland won the last two games to tie the series 2–2 after Chicago took the first two. The Guardians will start Gavin Williams, who recorded the final three outs Thursday on 18 pitches.

Game 5 begins at 6 p.m. Mountain Time at Progressive Field. The winner advances to the AL Championship Series against Tampa Bay, with Game 1 scheduled for Monday.

Sources and notes

  1. https://www.mlb.com/news/white-sox-pitching-plans-2026-alds-game-5