Anthony Kay opened Game 2 of the ALDS for the Chicago White Sox on Monday, giving the club another look at its starter-turned-reliever-turned-opener approach in a postseason series that continued to tilt their way.
Kay faced the Cleveland Guardians to start the game before being pulled in the first inning for Sean Newcomb. The White Sox continued to manage the matchup carefully from there, with Sean Burke taking the ball in the middle of the third inning.
How the White Sox managed Game 2
Burke handled the bulk of the game after that point, and by the time he was done he had allowed one hit over 5.1 innings while throwing 86 pitches. That gave Chicago enough length to keep the game under control as the White Sox worked through another playoff game with openers in place.
The setup was part of the larger postseason plan, and it worked again. The White Sox held on for a 4-3 victory and left Cleveland with a 2-0 series lead.
The Guardians were also dealing with a different kind of task on the other side, with Gavin Williams described as well-rested and regularly hitting triple digits on the radar gun. Even so, Chicago found a way to get through Game 2 and keep the momentum in its favor.
What it means for Chicago
For Kay, the outing was less about volume and more about setting the tone at the start of the game. For the White Sox, it was another example of a pitching plan built around flexibility rather than a traditional starter staying in for long stretches.
That kind of structure is not new for Chicago during this playoff run, and it also fits the club’s recent approach in other settings. The White Sox have leaned into this style before, including in matchups like White Sox Vs Blue Jays: Toronto opens second half as -135 home favorite with Spencer Miles vs. Anthony Kay.
There was even a light moment around Burke’s role, with Burke saying, "This is my life. I don’t have family, no girl, no kids. This is all I do." He later added, "I do, in fact, have a family, I just didn't have a family of my own." Kay also joked, "We're celibate for Sean!"
In the end, the result mattered more than the exact path to get there. Anthony Kay got Game 2 started, the White Sox got the pitching chain they wanted, and Chicago took a 2-0 series lead with the 4-3 win.
