How White Sox starter Sean Burke has pitched against Guardians in 2026

Chicago White Sox pitcher Sean Burke. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

How White Sox starter Sean Burke has pitched against Guardians in 2026

By Alan Rubenstein | Last updated Oct 9, 2026 9:41 PM ET

The Chicago White Sox will start ace Sean Burke on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians in a decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series. The road team won the first four games of the ALDS between the Guardians and the White Sox. After winning the first two games in Cleveland, the White Sox failed to close out the series at home.

Burke went 11-7 with a 3.34 earned run average, a 1.195 WHIP and 185 strikeouts in 172.1 innings during the 2026 regular season. The White Sox won Game 2 4-3 at Cleveland with Burke pitching 5.1 innings, allowing one hit and one walk awhile striking out six Guardians.

Burke had two wins, no losses, a 1.04 ERA, a 1.154 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 17.1 innings against the Guardians in 2026. Cleveland had a .262 batting average, .304 on-base percentage, .431 slugging percentage and .735 OPS against Burke during the 2026 regular season.

Several core players for Cleveland hit well against Burke during the 2026 regular season. Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges was the Guardians' top hitter against Burke with more than two at-bats. Hedges had a .571/.625/1.143 slash line with a 1.768 OPS in seven at-bats with one walk against Burke in 2026.

Sean Burke gets the start pic.twitter.com/pTyJDhIhkB
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) October 9, 2026

Other Cleveland hitters with success against Sean Burke

Cleveland outfielder Stephen Kwan had a .308/.438/.615 slash line with a 1.052 OPS in 2026 against Burke. Jo Adell and Brayan Rocchio had identical .286 batting averages and on-base percentages against Burke in 2026. Rocchio had a .357 slugging percentage and a .643 OPS against Burke in 2026.

Adell had a .286 slugging percentage and a .571 OPS versus Burke in 2026. Patrick Bailey or Hedges will be the catcher for Cleveland in Game 5. Adell, Bailey, Kwan and Rocchio have played in the first four games of the ALDS. Travis Bazzana struggled against Burke with a .111/.111/.222 slash line and a .333 OPS.

Burke's performance in Game 2 of the ALDS was the best by the White Sox in the series. The White Sox are going to need another big performance by Burke after the bullpen cost the Pale Hose in losses in Games 3 and 4.

Alan Rubenstein

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