Sean Burke vs. Hunter Brown: How starters match up in White Sox-Astros Game 2

Game 2 between the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros should unfold significantly differently than Game 1. Chicago and Houston are using traditional starters in Game 2 after bullpen games in Game 1. Sean Burke is starting Game 2 for Chicago, and Hunter Brown is Houston's starter.

Burke and Brown are the aces for their respective teams. Burke threw a high of 172.1 innings among all pitchers in the Astros-White Sox series, with 11 wins, seven losses, a 3.34 earned run average, a 1.195 WHIP and 185 strikeouts. Brown went 6-4 with a 3.19 ERA, a 1.267 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 107.1 innings.

Chicago and Houston need Burke and Brown to pitch as many innings as possible in Game 2. The White Sox used five pitchers on Tuesday in their 6-3 win and Houston used eight. Chicago closer Grant Taylor pitched 2.1 innings on Tuesday and is almost certainly out for Game 2. Houston closer Josh Hader pitched an inning and should be ready for Game 2.

Brown had two wins and no losses with a 1.38 ERA in 13.0 innings, a 0.769 WHIP and 14 strikeouts against the White Sox in 2026. Burke has one win and one loss in two starts with a 1.54 ERA in 11.2 innings, a 0.857 WHIP and 16 strikeouts against Houston in 2026.