Command issues pop up again for White Sox starter Sean Burke in a 7-3 loss to the Cubs in the City Series

Chicago Tribune

17-05-2025

Sean Burke walked a career-high five batters in his last outing on May 11 against the Miami Marlins.
The command issues popped up again for the Chicago White Sox right-hander in the City Series. Burke walked five in 4 2/3 innings during Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs in front of 40,134 at Wrigley Field.
'You can't go out there and walk five people and expect to have good results,' Burke said.
Burke allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts, exiting after 97 pitches.
'He was a little erratic today and we've seen it the last couple of starts from him,' manager Will Venable said. 'We've just got to get him back on track and competitive in the zone.
'For me it's fastball command specifically. I know that he's intentional about working on it and doing everything he can to get in the zone. We just have to continue to work and be better.'
Burke has issued 27 walks this season, the most in the majors through Saturday afternoon.
'I think just getting back in sync with my delivery,' Burke said. 'The last two weeks or so, my delivery has felt kind of out of whack. Just getting back consistent with that is the main thing I'm going to work on.
'I'm not striking out as many guys as I have in the past, really in my whole life. The big part of that is command wise, not getting ahead of guys like I normally do. I just have to be better with the walks.'
Two crucial walks came in a four-run second inning.
Game 2 photos: Cubs beat White Sox 7-3 in City Series at Wrigley FieldDansby Swanson led off the inning for the Cubs with a single. Burke walked Moisés Ballesteros on five pitches and Nico Hoerner on seven pitches — the last one appeared to be in the zone, according to MLB Statcast.
That loaded the bases for Miguel Amaya, who drove in two with a single to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead. Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a two-run single later in the inning, putting the Cubs ahead 4-1.
'Stuff was fine,' Burke said. 'It was just command, falling behind guys. I really don't even think they put too many good swings on the ball other than that Dansby Swanson home run (in the fifth). Make the work harder on myself just walking guys, it can't really happen.'
Burke surrendered the solo home run to Swanson with one out in the fifth, giving the Cubs a 5-3 lead.
The defense let Burke down later in the inning. With a runner on first and two outs, Amaya hit a grounder to Lenyn Sosa. The second baseman made a wild throw to first, extending the inning.
Vidal Bruján then hit a high fly to right that Joshua Palacios had a tough time tracking down. The ball bounced and went into the seats for a run-scoring ground-rule double.
'We've talked about (playing defense in windy conditions) — it happened (to the team) yesterday, it happened again today,' Venable said. 'It's part of playing here and it cost us again. Just one of those things where you've got to battle, do everything you can and hope you're able to make plays.'
The Sox came up short in that instance, with the Cubs taking advantage.
The Sox got home runs from Chase Meidroth — the first of his major-league career — and Tim Elko but have dropped two straight in the series and three in a row overall.
At 14-32, the Sox matched their worst 46-game start in franchise history — a mark shared with last year's club.
'These guys have had their backs up against the wall and taken their lumps and continued to come back the next day with a reset mindset and ready to compete,' Venable said. 'That's what I like about this group. We've seen it time and time again and I expect it to be the same thing tomorrow.'
The Sox placed the left-hander on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a sprained MCL in his left knee. Gilbert suffered the injury during the sixth inning of Friday's game against the Cubs.
He is 1-1 with a 4.85 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 13 appearances (three starts) this season. Gilbert began 2025 on the injured list with left knee bursitis.
'Similar but not as bad, is what I was told,' Venable said of Friday's setback.
In Saturday's corresponding move, the Sox recalled left-hander Jared Shuster from Triple-A Charlotte.