The White Sox hit three home runs en route to a comfortable 9-0 win over the Minnesota Twins this afternoon, but the offense is not the main headline. The dominant starting pitching performance from the South Siders is again the main story and has put them in rarefied air in MLB history.
White Sox Starting Rotation Joins Exclusive Company
Following yesterday's game, the White Sox were one of only five teams in MLB history to have their starting pitchers pitch at least five innings, allow less than four hits, and give up zero earned runs in each of their first three games of the season. They joined the 1976 Brewers, 2013 Giants, 2018 Twins, and 2019 Blue Jays in this prestigious club.
Another Dominant Starting Pitching Performance This Afternoon
Offseason free agent signing Martín Perez kept that streak going today. He was excellent in his White Sox debut, pitching six no-hit innings while tying his career high with nine strikeouts. White Sox starting pitchers have now gone 23 innings without allowing an earned run to begin the season.
With Perez's impressive performance this afternoon, the 2025 White Sox have joined another select group. They are just the fifth team in MLB history whose starting pitchers did not allow an earned run in each of their first four games of the season, joining the 1914 Red Sox. 1976 Brewers, 2013 Giants, and 2019 Blue Jays. The White Sox starting rotation hasn't just been good by 2025 MLB standards; they have gotten off to one of the best starts of any rotation in MLB history.
Historically Good Start
The starting rotation was the strength of last year's squad, but that team featured an entire season of Garrett Crochet and half a season of Erick Fedde, neither of which are on the team anymore. That has not stopped the White Sox current starting rotation from putting on a show. Sean Burke, Jonathan Cannon, Davis Martin, and the aforementioned Martín Perez have done a historically good job at preventing runs in their first turn through the rotation. They have given up just 11 hits in those 23 innings while combining for 19 strikeouts.
White Sox Pitching Lab Cannot Be Denied
The accomplishments of the White Sox starting rotation are even more impressive when you consider the circumstances. The team had several pitchers go down to Tommy John surgery in the spring, including Drew Thorpe, a projected member of the Opening Day rotation. Also worth noting is that the organization's top three pitching prospects, Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith, and Grant Taylor, haven't even reached the majors yet. What looks like a patchwork starting rotation on paper has delivered incredible results so far. White Sox director of pitching Brian Bannister and pitching coach Ethan Katz deserve credit for getting the most out of their pitchers and maximizing their talents.
Rule 5 pick and spring training Shane Smith gets the ball tomorrow night in his big league debut. He is coming off a fantastic spring in which he went from a relative unknown to being part of the White Sox starting rotation. Smith will look to keep the good vibes going and preserve the team's historic start to the season.
