With Opening Day less than three weeks away, several Major League teams have already named their first starter of the 2026 season. The Chicago White Sox, however, are still keeping that decision open as their rotation competition continues during spring training.
Chicago will begin its season on March 26 against the Milwaukee Brewers, and while the projected starting rotation appears mostly set, the club has yet to officially announce who will take the mound for the opener.
The White Sox have delivered a few surprises with their Opening Day choices in recent seasons, so another unexpected decision cannot be ruled out. Still, some candidates clearly stand out as the most likely options.
Here’s a ranking of the top five pitchers who could start the 2026 season opener for Chicago.
1. Shane Smith
Sep 11, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Shane Smith (64) delivers against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
If there is a clear favorite for the assignment, it’s Shane Smith.
The right-hander was the White Sox’s lone All-Star in 2025 and delivered an impressive rookie campaign after joining the team through the Rule 5 Draft in 2024. Smith finished his first full season with a 3.81 ERA across 146.1 innings, establishing himself as the most reliable starter on the roster.
Heading into 2026, Smith is expected to carry an even heavier workload. Given his strong performance last season, he appears to be the logical choice to lead the rotation.
An Opening Day start would also carry extra significance. Chicago’s opener will take place in Milwaukee, the organization that originally signed Smith before the White Sox selected him in the Rule 5 Draft.
2. Davis Martin
Davis Martin could also be in consideration.
Although he made his MLB debut in 2022, Martin has already experienced several ups and downs in his career. He missed the entire 2023 season following Tommy John surgery, returned late in 2024, and finally completed his first full big league campaign in 2025.
Last season he posted a 4.10 ERA while providing steady innings for the White Sox rotation.
While he may not be the frontrunner for the Opening Day nod, Martin’s reliability could still make him a strong candidate if the team prioritizes consistency at the top of the rotation.
3. Anthony Kay
Left-hander Anthony Kay is one of the most intriguing pitchers on Chicago’s roster.
The White Sox signed him to a two-year deal this offseason after he spent time pitching overseas. Early spring training appearances have shown encouraging signs, including a fastball that has touched 97 mph.
Kay’s ability to miss bats and his strong spring could put him in the Opening Day conversation.
However, because he may be the only left-handed starter in the rotation, the White Sox could choose to slot him later in the series to break up their right-handed pitchers.
4. Erick Fedde
Veteran right-hander Erick Fedde returns to the White Sox after a challenging stretch away from the organization.
Fedde pitched for three different teams in 2025 and struggled enough to eventually move into a bullpen role. He was even left off the Milwaukee Brewers’ postseason roster.
Now back with Chicago, the 33-year-old is hoping to rediscover the form that made him effective in 2024 with the White Sox.
His spring training performance has been promising so far, with five scoreless innings early in camp. While that has helped his case, the team may prefer to see more sustained success before giving him the Opening Day spotlight.
5. Sean Burke
Sean Burke, who started Opening Day for Chicago last season, appears to be the longest shot among the top candidates.
Burke struggled with inconsistency in 2025 and was eventually demoted to the minor leagues before returning later in the year.
Although he showed improvement during parts of the season, Burke still faces significant competition for a spot in the rotation. His spring training outings have been mixed, including one start where he ran into early trouble.
Because his rotation spot is not fully secure, another Opening Day start would be a surprise.
Other possible candidates
While the five pitchers above appear to be the most realistic options, several other arms could still enter the conversation depending on how the rest of spring training unfolds.
Additional possibilities include Sean Newcomb, Chris Murphy, and Mike Vasil, all of whom are competing for rotation roles.
With nearly three weeks remaining before the season begins, the White Sox still have time to evaluate their pitchers before making a final decision.
But if current trends hold, Shane Smith appears to be the strongest candidate to take the ball when Chicago opens its 2026 season in Milwaukee.
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