The White Sox’ 4.53 bullpen ERA entering Sunday might not be impressive, but at least the relievers have been eating up a lot of innings.
Despite not having defined roles, some pitchers have emerged as trustworthy. It has been all hands on deck as the Sox navigate abbreviated outings from their young starters and veteran Martin Perez’s season-ending forearm strain.
Left-hander Cam Booser has a 3.38 ERA. Right-hander Jordan Leasure had allowed three earned runs in his previous seven appearances before allowing two runs (one earned) Sunday, and lefty Jared Shuster has been a nice weapon.
“We’ve got a good group down there,” Leasure said. “We can help us win games, try to put the team in a good position. But we’re just going in there, attacking guys and doing what we do best.”
The Sox have needed the bullpen to step up in quality and quantity. Sox starters had thrown the fourth-fewest innings in the majors (125⅓). Conversely, the bullpen had thrown the fourth-most (105⅓). Perez’s injury only exacerbated the Sox’ already-thin depth, but the bullpen has given them just enough production to survive this short-handed stretch.
Camaraderie and trust among the relievers and coaching staff have allowed a group that was once perceived as a weakness to become a dependable part of the team.
Righty Bryse Wilson knows a thing or two about good bullpens. He spent 2023 and 2024 with the Brewers, who had the second-lowest bullpen ERA in the majors in that span (3.39).
He said what allowed them to succeed wasn’t anything related to on-the-field work, but working to build bonds.
“Everybody got along and did stuff away from the field during road trips,” Wilson said. “Whether it’s just dinners or hanging out, I see a lot of that so far from this bullpen.”
At the root of this collaborative environment is pitching coach Ethan Katz and bullpen coach Matt Wise. Relievers note that Katz is generally positive and can disseminate information in digestible ways. Starter Sean Burke told the Sun-Times that Katz has been receptive to ideas he has brought to him about pitch sequences. Katz has fostered a working environment with his pitchers more akin to a partnership.
“He brings a very calm spirit,” Leasure said. “And he’s so knowledgeable, so it’s like whatever questions you have about pitch times or mechanics or pitch sequencing, he has this calm about it. He makes you feel like it’s all gonna work out.”
When the Sox’ bullpen runs into trouble, it’s often because of the group’s penchant for not throwing strikes.
The Sox were 13th in the majors in walk rate (10.4%). Leasure said the group has made strides attacking the zone, but it can always improve. He said the shift is a testament to Katz’s leadership.
Leasure said he enjoys the confidence that Katz brings to each game. He said Katz “makes you feel like you can trust yourself.” The relievers appreciate that Katz handles each of them differently, which Wilson said is uncommon in the majors.
“He’s just hands-on with every individual, catering to every individual’s needs more so than just one structured plan,” Wilson said. “Just how they’re able to do that, stay on their toes and devote so much time to each individual person has been awesome.”