After contentious discussions, the MLB lockout is over and teams have begun their spring training schedules. Opening Day has been pushed to April 14, which gives teams some extra time to finalize their rosters and rotations. In this series, TGH will be summarizing each team’s 2021 season and predicting their Opening Day pitching rotation. Here is the projected Chicago White Sox Pitching Rotation for 2022.
The White Sox won the AL Central for the first time since 2008 last season. Due to the pretty uncompetitive nature of their division, they were the first team in the entire MLB to earn a playoff berth. This was their first season under Tony La Russa, who unretired to take the reins of the team.
In the playoffs, the White Sox lost to the eventual AL World Series representative Houston Astros. They lost three games to one in the five-game American League Divisional Series. Here is a look at a potential rotation that can propel the White Sox back to the playoffs.
Lance Lynn is the White Sox’s new ace. He pitched 157 innings and put up a great ERA of just 2.69. In his 28 starts, he managed to go 11-6 in the win-loss column. All of those stats were good enough for an All Star selection and to finish third in Cy Young voting. He should be at the top of their rotation and the Opening Day starter.
Giolito actually pitched more innings than Lynn in 2021. He posted an ERA of 3.53 over 178 innings pitched, and started 31 games. He won the same amount of games as Lynn, at 11. He also managed to strike out 201 batters last year, earning him the second spot in the rotation.
Next in the rotation should be Cease, who put up similar numbers to Giolito. He pitched 165 innings, posting an ERA of 3.91 and fanning 226 batters in the process. He also started a career-high 32 games in 2021. If someone like Cease earns the third spot in a rotation, then a team is set up very well.
As unthinkable as it might be, Cy Young winner, two-time All Star and World Series champion Dallas Keuchel is actually fourth in this White Sox rotation. His numbers took a dip last year, as his ERA rose to 5.28 in 162 innings. That means he has to fall behind Cease in 2022.
Kopech, who opted out of the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, will be entering his third season in the MLB. He earned a lower ERA than Cease and Keuchel, at 3.50 over just 69.1 innings. But due to his inexperience, he should land at the bottom of this stacked rotation.
Featured image courtesy of Ron Vesely/Getty Images
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