Building Blocks: Smith and Martin Establish Themselves As Core Pieces Of White Sox Rotation

After early questions about durability, Shane Smith and Davis Martin are battling for who can throw the most innings for the White Sox this season.  

Smith only managed to make it through the sixth inning four times in his first 15 starts, with the team managing his workload midway through the season, while Martin suffered a forearm injury that landed him on the IL for over a month.

Now in the final month of the season, both pitchers have surpassed 130 innings, with Martin holding a slight edge at 132.3 innings compared to Smith’s 131.

Martin was tagged for a loss on Saturday, after the offense managed to push across one run on eight hits. However, he still showcased his durability after the injury scare early in the year. 

The 28-year-old right-hander allowed just two runs in five innings with three strikeouts and a walk, and could have gone even deeper in the game if not for a dropped third strike in the first inning that forced him to throw an extra 14 pitches. 

He has now thrown at least five innings in all but one start since returning from the IL in late July and has not allowed more than three earned runs in a game since August 5th. 

While Martin hasn’t generated many whiffs, he has produced a ground ball rate of 45% which has helped him keep opposing hitters at bay. His new kick change has also emerged as the best weapon of his arsenal, with nearly 33 inches of vertical drop. 

Had Martin not missed time, he would likely be over 150 innings this season. As things currently stand, he has a career high in innings. 

Meanwhile, Smith is coming off an impressive performance against Tampa Bay on September 11, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings, striking out four batters, and allowing only four hits.

Following that start White Sox rookie Chase Meidroth heaped praise on the team's lone All-Star representative. 

“He throws a lot of strikes. Every time he’s on the mound, we should win,” Meidroth told reporters. “ He’s a No. 1 in this league. He’s really good.”

Since August 1, Smith has allowed 14 earned runs across 44.1 innings, while punching out 41 hitters and giving up just 16 free passes. His last start against the Rays also marked the 17th time this season he has allowed four hits or fewer. 

Of his 26 starts this season, seven have been scoreless. 

The Rule 5 pick out of Milwaukee has emerged as the ace of the rotation and has carved out a role as a potential cornerstone of the rotation. He has posted a 3.78 ERA during his first year as a starter while also throwing more innings than he ever has in his professional career. 

Even with several arms waiting in the wings, both Martin and Smith have proven to be arms the White Sox can trust.