KANSAS CITY -- Grant Taylor began doing starting pitching math when he opened for the 2026 White Sox three times in four games from April 3-6.
“We made a couple of jokes that I was on pace for 50 starts or something like that,” Taylor told MLB.com prior to Chicago’s 2-0 loss to Kansas City on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium. “I don’t think I’ll quite get there, but it would be interesting to see if we continue to do openers, how many do I get to do.”
Make it four starts for the hard-throwing right-hander, who will open for the White Sox once again in Sunday afternoon’s series finale, placing him No. 1 on the team in starts made. It’s an interesting situation for Taylor, who also has made three high-leverage relief appearances, including 1 1/3 scoreless frames over the sixth and seventh innings during Thursday’s win.
Even at the young age of 23, with a small level of Major League service time beginning on June 10 of last season, Taylor already fosters a pragmatic approach regarding the changing of roles.
“Pitching in the big leagues is fun in whatever capacity, in whatever inning. I really enjoy both,” Taylor said. “I really enjoy the routine of opening and starting and how the anticipation builds into excitement or whatever.
“But it’s fun to come into a winning ballgame and put up a zero and help out late in the game. That’s always enjoyable.”
Taylor’s pitching mates have been putting up zeros for the better part of these three games against the Royals, with all three finals being of the 2-0 ilk. The White Sox offense has been quieted in Kansas City, being shut out in each of the last two games and going 20 innings without a run. Chicago has not sent more than four hitters to the plate in any of those 20 innings, either.
Kris Bubic did the job on Friday night for the Royals, with the help of two relievers. Michael Wacha stopped the White Sox cold over eight innings Saturday, with Lucas Erceg picking up his fifth save of the year and second straight. It’s a team-wide White Sox slump for the most part during April, as they have scored three runs or less over their last seven games, posting a 2-5 mark during that run.
“I think it's just one of those stretches,” said left fielder Andrew Benintendi, who had one of the White Sox four hits Saturday. “You look up at the board and see a bunch of people hitting in the .100s, so it's maybe a little bit of panic there for a lot of us. But it's a long season. The sample size is still so small that it takes a bloop here, a bloop there and all of a sudden you get going.”
“Just battling and believing in each and every one of us,” said third baseman Tanner Murray, who picked up his first career hit with a single in the fifth. “We know what everyone is capable of and we know we’ll come through on the other side. Every team goes through it. Ours just happened in the last couple of games. We have all the confidence in the world in each other and we’re going to break through with it.”
Erick Fedde fell to 0-3 overall, despite giving up a first-pitch home run to Maikel Garcia and nothing more over five innings. His 3.38 ERA shows the veteran certainly is pitching better than that record.
Jonathan Cannon is set to follow Taylor on Sunday as the bulk man, taking the place of Duncan Davitt on the roster before the finale. It’s good preparation for Taylor, who has talked a few times about ultimately wanting to be a starting pitcher.
His opener routine leaves him feeling at home. But Taylor feels just as much at home as a late-inning presence.
“When my name is called upon, I’ll go and pitch in that role. I feel comfortable in both. We’ll see where it takes us,” Taylor said. “I try to keep the same mindset no matter what I’m doing on the mound. Attack hitters, get in the zone early, finish them as quickly as you can. That’s the name of pitching and any inning as a starter or reliever is getting in the zone early, getting to two strikes early, getting your punchouts when they are there.
“As a starter, the quicker you get outs, the less innings, the less pitches you throw and the deeper you go in the game. In the bullpen role, the less pitches, the more you are available for tomorrow and the day after. The more innings you get over the course of the season.”