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Sox's 'No-Rotation' Strategy: Postseason Gamble?
3 Oct
Summary
- White Sox manager Will Venable will use reliever Hagen Smith as an opener for Game 1.
- The team has used openers a league-leading 32 times this season.
- This approach contrasts sharply with the 2005 World Series team's starting pitching dominance.
The Chicago White Sox are adopting a highly unconventional "no-rotation" strategy for their 2026 postseason run. Manager Will Venable announced that reliever Hagen Smith will start Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, acting as an "opener." This is a tactic the team has relied on heavily, leading the league with 32 such appearances this season.
Venable indicated that Sean Burke might start Game 2, with other bullpen pieces potentially filling starter roles as needed. This "bullpen-first" approach contrasts dramatically with the 2005 White Sox, whose starting pitchers dominated their World Series championship run, delivering multiple complete games. Pitching plans for subsequent games remain fluid, focusing on leveraging arms strategically across potential off-days.
This unconventional method mirrors Venable's in-season strategy, driven by a lack of dominant starting pitching depth at the season's outset. While some critics, including former manager Ozzie Guillén, have expressed skepticism, General Manager Chris Getz stated the team optimized its available resources. If successful, this strategy could redefine postseason baseball and bring another championship to Chicago.
