White Sox Finalize Opening Day Rotation, Naming Shane Smith as Game 1 Starter

The announcement follows Mike Vasil’s season-ending surgery, bullpen reshuffling, and Triple-A options.

Overview

Manager Will Venable set the order as Shane Smith, Sean Burke, Anthony Kay, Davis Martin, then Erick Fedde for Games 1 through 5.
Right-hander Mike Vasil will undergo Tommy John surgery, ending his season and removing him from the rotation competition.
Left-hander Sean Newcomb will work out of the bullpen, while Jonathan Cannon will open at Triple-A Charlotte after being optioned.
Anthony Kay returned from NPB on a two-year, $12 million deal and delivered a strong spring with 15 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings and a 95.4 mph fastball.
Erick Fedde joined on a one-year, $1.5 million contract after a down 2025, and the rotation is viewed as thin on paper in MLB Trade Rumors’ assessment.