The 2026 Chicago White Sox team came very close to doing something special in the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians. But they failed to capitalize on three opportunities to seal their ticket to the American League Championship Series for the first time in 21 years. Yet, they have transformed the narrative on the South Side and now have something to build on. Reaching this year's postseason following three consecutive 100+ loss seasons is a big achievement.
Beating the Houston Astros in the Wild Card Series means the team is moving in the right direction and could become an AL powerhouse in 2027. However, to sustain the White Sox's momentum, General Manager Chris Getz and manager Will Venable must critically assess what the team needs ahead of the 2027 season (if there will be a next season, given the looming Major League Baseball lockout).
Nov 8, 2024; Chicago, Ill, USA; New Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable (R) poses for a photo with general manager Chris Getz (R) during a press conference at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
The 2026 core players have laid the foundation of youth and team unity, but a lack of experience showed in key games, particularly against the Guardians at home. It must be noted that part of the reason the 2026 White Sox rebuild fumbled in the ALDS was that the team gave prospects starting jobs before they were earned. That's something Venable and Getz have to do differently this year, as they must know that it's a long season and opportunities will come for every player to prove themselves.
The breakout of young pitchers for the White Sox was critical for its Cinderella run in this year's postseason. Sean Burke established himself as a legitimate big-game starter for the South Siders. Posting a solid 3.34 ERA in a career-high 172⅓ innings this year. With 185 strikeouts this season, a 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings rate, and a 2.98 K/BB ratio. In the postseason, he allowed just nine hits in over 14 innings. Left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith made his MLB debut on August 9, posting a 1.29 ERA in 18 games.
Grant Taylor and Jordan Hicks were the best relievers for Venable, while Anthony Kay and Noah Schultz were primary starting pitchers, and Sean Newcomb was a bulk reliever. Luis Castillo was brought in at the trade deadline to help stabilize the rotation, but he struggled heavily, posting a porous 7.54 ERA. The Sox relied on the bullpen heavily as they posted 41 saves throughout the season but struggled to maintain a high Called Strikes + Whiff percentage (CSW %) as it hovered around 28.2% overall on fastballs on two strikes, which made them highly competitive in generating non-contact strikes.
However, the Sox can't build a formidable roster on too many young arms. For the White Sox to build on 2026 success, they will need to get more than one experienced top-of-the-rotation starter via free agency or trade. They have to particularly target pitchers with a proven fastball record, who are known for keeping the barrel rate below 6.5%. Adding front-line starters will move Burke and Smith to secondary and tertiary rotation slots where they can dominate and be less under pressure. Also, getting dynamic relief arms with a CSW% above 30% will effectively reload the bullpen staff.
It is no secret that most of the White Sox hitters go for power when at-bat, which causes most of their swing-and-misses. The team was struck out 1,494 times during the regular season and had a non-contact rate of 24.2%, ranking them near the bottom of MLB in terms of contact at the plate. During the best-of-five series against the Guardians, Cleveland's relief corps easily struck out the Sox players with 95-99 mph. Colson Montgomery and Munetaka Murakami amassed a combined 423 strikeouts this season, with their K rates spiking to 35.6% and 34.5%, the worst in the league.
Oct 10, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) reacts after striking out during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game five of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Nonetheless, Murakami hit 35 home runs and Montgomery 31 during the regular season. The franchise doesn't need to strip its young hitters of their power; rather, they need to urgently seek to increase their contact rate, and that's where the hitting coach Derek Shomon has a lot of work to do this winter. Although there are rumors that Murakami might get a personal hitting coach to help him out before 2027, the franchise coaching staff needs to do more to help the Japanese slugger and Montgomery.
Besides that, the Sox top prospects like Caleb Bonemer and Roch Cholowsky can be inserted in the upper third of Venable's lineup in 2027, serving to lengthen innings and protect power hitters ( Miguel Vargas , Montgomery and Murakami) from strikeouts. There has to be a strategy to set traps for pitchers known for tossing in sequence after 2/3 of an inning.
Main Photo Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
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