The White Sox optioned Burke to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday.
Burke has posted a disappointing 4.28 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 117.2 innings this season and had failed to go five frames in four of his last five outings. The White Sox remain hopeful that Burke will be a long-term fixture in their rotation, but the righty will attempt to work on his issues in a less pressurized environment for now. Martin Perez will likely slide into Chicago's rotation in Burke's place.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Takes 10th loss of 2025
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Burke (4-10) took the loss against the Royals on Saturday, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out three across 3.2 innings.
Burke wasn't able to make it out of the fourth inning after running his pitch count up to 85 (54 strikes) while generating just five whiffs. It's the second game in a row in which he hasn't made it out of the fourth inning, and the 25-year-old right-hander has failed to make it through the fifth frame in four of his last five starts. Burke now sits at a 4.28 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 117.2 innings this season, with his 10 losses and 54 walks ranking third and sixth most, respectively, in the American League. He'll look to earn his first win since June 25 in his next start, tentatively slated for next weekend at home against the Twins.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Fans seven in loss
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Burke (4-9) took the loss in Saturday's game against the Guardians, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out seven across 3.1 innings.
Burke's outing was highlighted by him striking out the side in the second inning, but he ran up his pitch count to 88 (55 strikes) despite not making it out of the fourth and wasn't able to get enough run support to avoid the loss. Burke has struck out at least five batters in eight of his last nine starts, and over that span he has a 3.53 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across 43.1 innings. He'll look to get back into the win column in his next start, which is lined up for next weekend on the road against Kansas City.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Falls apart late
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Burke didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Angels, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over five-plus innings. He struck out seven.
Burke blanked the Halos through five innings, but he got into trouble immediately in the sixth inning. He allowed a solo homer to Zach Neto and then allowed a single, double and single to consecutive batters. Burke was pulled following the second single, but a runner he had put on scored later in the inning on a wild pitch. The 25-year-old hasn't completed more than five innings in five consecutive outings, but he's fanned more than six batters in back-to-back appearances. On the year, Burke has a 4.23 ERA and a 100:50 K:BB across 110.2 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Guardians next weekend.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Fans eight in bulk role
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Burke conceded two runs on five hits and one walk over 4.2 innings while not factoring into the decision in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Cubs. He struck out eight.
Burke followed rookie opener Grant Taylor in the series finale. The 25-year-old righty managed to generate a solid 14 whiffs out of 91 total pitches to notch a season-high eight punchouts. Burke, who has tossed 101 innings this season, is rapidly approaching his career high in innings pitched, as his previous best came in 2022 when he fired 108 frames across three minor-league levels. Accordingly, the White Sox will likely find creative ways to manage his usage going forward. The former Maryland Terrapin will carry a 4.17 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 93:48 K:BB into his next appearance -- whether Burke will start or follow an opener is unknown -- at the Angels next weekend.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: No longer starting Sunday
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Burke will not start Sunday's game against the Cubs, as Grant Taylor has been announced as the White Sox's opening pitcher for the contest, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
Burke had previously been deemed the probable starter, but the White Sox announced late Saturday that Taylor will begin the game on the mound for the series finale instead. It's not yet clear if Burke is dealing with any sort of issue, or if the White Sox simply prefer for him to pitch in bulk relief behind Taylor. That wouldn't be a decision without precedent, as Burke has worked three times as the primary pitcher behind an opener so far this season.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Unable to qualify for decision
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Burke did not factor into the decision in Monday's 8-3 win at Tampa Bay. He allowed two unearned runs on three hits and four walks over four innings with five strikeouts.
Thanks to his lineup plating eight runs off Rays starter Shane Baz, Burke appeared set to cruise to his fifth win of the season; however, the Chicago right-hander issued four free passes and ran up his pitch count to 89 through four frames. This marks the fourth time this season Burke has yielded four or more walks in an outing, as he now sports a 4.2 BB/9. Across 101 total innings, the 25-year-old has pitched to a 4.19 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 85:47 K:BB. Burke is currently scheduled to make his next start against the crosstown rival Cubs at home this weekend.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Settles for no-decision
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Burke did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over five innings against the Guardians. He struck out five.
Burke wasn't dominant but did well enough to keep the Guardians in check before turning things over to the bullpen. The right-hander now holds a 4.36 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across 97 innings in 19 appearances, including 16 starts, this season.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Fades late in eighth loss
Rotowire
Burke (4-8) took the loss Monday, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks over five-plus innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out two.
The right-hander allowed three runs over the first five innings before running into major trouble in the sixth inning, when Bo Bichette, Addison Barger and Alejandro Kirk helped break the game open and derail his final line. Burke has been used as a starter, swingman and bulk reliever this season, showing flashes in each role but struggling to find consistency. Through 18 appearances, he owns a 4.40 ERA and 1.42 WHIP across 92 innings.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Following opener Wednesday
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Burke will pitch in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Brandon Eisert in Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
The Dodgers typically have two left-handed hitters (Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman) in the top four spots in the order, so the White Sox will likely have the left-handed Eisert work the opening frame or two before turning the game over to the right-handed Burke. The 25-year-old has previously worked as a bulk reliever April 25 against the Athletics and May 30 against the Orioles, covering 11.1 innings between those appearances while striking out 11 and yielding six runs (five earned) on 10 hits and three walks.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Fans seven in fourth win
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Burke (4-7) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing two unearned runs on five hits and two walks over five innings during a 7-3 victory over the Diamondbacks. He struck out seven.
The rookie right-hander tied his season high with seven strikeouts, a mark he set last Thursday against the Cardinals. Burke has given up two earned runs or fewer in eight of 10 starts since the beginning of May, posting a 3.33 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 48:26 K:BB over 54 innings during that span. He'll try to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to be a tough road matchup against the Dodgers next week.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Strikes out seven in no-decision
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Burke did not factor into the decision in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Cardinals, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over 5.1 innings.
While he was unable to finish the sixth inning, Burke reached 100 pitches for the first time in a start and recorded a season-high seven strikeouts. It was a solid rebound for the 25-year-old after surrendering seven earned runs in his previous outing, and he's now held opponents to two earned runs or fewer in seven of his past 10 starts. He'll carry a 4.50 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 61:35 K:BB across 76 innings into a tough matchup with the Diamondbacks next week.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Goes seven innings in no-decision
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Burke did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Tigers, allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts over seven innings.
Burke cruised through six innings before losing a 2-0 lead in the seventh. He threw a season-high seven frames and generated an impressive 15 whiffs on 96 pitches. The 25-year-old has now logged at least six innings in five of his past seven appearances, yielding more than two earned runs just once during that stretch. On the season, he owns a 4.03 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 50:32 K:BB across 67 innings and lines up for a road matchup with the Astros next week.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Takes tough-luck loss in relief
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Burke (3-6) took the loss against the Orioles on Friday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk with six strikeouts over six innings.
Burke pitched six innings in bulk relief and was effective outside of a two-run sixth frame. The 25-year-old turned in a solid May, allowing two earned runs or fewer in five of his six appearances while logging three quality starts. He'll take a 4.20 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 45:31 K:BB across 60 innings into a challenging home matchup against the Tigers next week.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Following opener
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Burke will follow opener Jared Shuster for Friday's game in Baltimore, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Friday's game is getting pushed up a few hours and will start at 4:30 p.m. due to a poor weather forecast later in the night. Burke has been stingy in May with a 2.67 ERA in 27 innings, but he has a 19:19 K:BB and 1.44 WHIP over that span. He is coming off his best outing of the year, as he picked up a win while striking out a season-high six in six innings of one-run ball against Texas.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Bullpen spoils strong start
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Burke allowed one run on four hits and three walks while striking out two in 6.1 innings Tuesday against the Royals. He did not factor into the decision.
Burke held the Royals scoreless and without an extra-base hit through five innings until Kyle Isbel took him deep to lead off the sixth. Burke finished the frame and exited in line for a win that was eventually squandered by the bullpen in the ninth inning. Burke has now posted back-to-back quality starts and has given up three runs or fewer while going at least five innings in four straight outings. He'll aim to close out a strong two-start week at home this weekend against the Marlins.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Struggles with loud contact in loss
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Burke (1-3) took the loss Tuesday against the Athletics after giving up five runs on six hits and two walks in 3.1 innings. He struck out two.
Burke struggled with his command Tuesday, serving up two home runs while allowing at least one run in each of his three full innings pitched. He was pulled after 69 pitches (44 strikes) in the fourth inning when the Athletics' lineup was set for its third time through the order. Burke won't be a recommended fantasy option in his next scheduled start in Boston, where he'll take a 7.56 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB over 16.2 innings (four starts) this year.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Gets Opening Day nod
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White Sox manager Will Venable confirmed over the weekend that Burke will start the team's season opener March 27 versus the Angels in Chicago, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Burke made just four appearances (three starts) for the White Sox at the tail end of the 2024 season, but he dazzled in those outings with a 1.42 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB in 19 innings. He's been shakier this spring in allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits and five walks over 10.2 innings, but with few appealing alternatives on hand, Burke was awarded the Opening Day assignment. The 25-year-old righty has shown bat-missing ability at every stop of his professional career, but the strikeout stuff has often been accompanied by walk rates north of 10 percent. Though Burke turned some heads during his brief taste of the big leagues in 2024, expect more volatility in his performance during his first season as a full-time starter in the majors.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Focused on durability
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Burke has worked with a physical therapist this offseason in the hopes of increasing the durability of his arm, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Burke had an impressive big-league debut to close out the 2024 season, maintaining a 22:7 K:BB across 19 innings while allowing only three earned runs. That puts him in prime position to grab a rotation spot for the White Sox to begin 2025. Durability will be one key to securing the role, as Burke has been forced to work through right shoulder soreness for the past two seasons. Burke reported that he has felt good this offseason and also worked on getting comfortable with a two-seam fastball to complement the rest of his repertoire, which includes a four-seamer, curveball, changeup and slider.
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White Sox's Sean Burke: Blanks Detroit for second win
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Burke (2-0) picked up the win Saturday, allowing two hits and three walks over five scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory over the Tigers. He struck out six.
The start of the game was delayed by over two hours due to rain, but Burke wasn't fazed by having to sit around in the clubhouse before taking the mound. The rookie right-hander tossed 84 pitches (49 strikes) in his final outing of the season, and in four September appearances with the big-league club, Burke put together an eye-popping 1.42 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB over 19 innings. The 2021 third-round pick could head into spring training next year as a favorite to secure a regular rotation spot with the White Sox.
