Sean Burke DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Chicago White Sox right-handed pitcher Sean Burke will get the starting nod on Opening Day against the Los Angeles Angels. The 25-year-old made his MLB debut late in the 2024 campaign and has already moved to the top of the rotation. During his brief 19-inning taste of the majors, Burke posted a 1.42 ERA with a strong 1.00 WHIP. He tallied 22 punchouts and held a modest 9.2 percent walk rate. He also generated a high 40.4 percent hard-hit rate with an 8.5 percent barrel rate, which suggests he may face some regression during the 2025 campaign. At the Triple-A level, the 25-year-old held a 4.61 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP across 64 1/3 innings. Across this stint, the Maryland product tallied 86 strikeouts and served up 36 walks. He should be viewed as a high-risk play in DFS and should only be started in deeper AL-only formats.

Chicago White Sox pitcher Sean Burke will open the regular season in the starting rotation, according to manager Will Venable. The right-hander appears to have impressed the organization enough in camp to open the season with the big league club. Burke posted a 1.42 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 22/7 K/BB ratio across four games (three starts) with the White Sox last season. The 25-year-old is a former third-round pick of the organization from 2021. His numbers in the minor leagues isn't great, but it appears the organization believes he's ready to make an impact on the South Side. Fantasy managers can go ahead and use a wait-and-see approach with Burke.

ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that the Chicago White Sox, who set an MLB record for most losses in a single season in 2024, ended last season believing that pitching prospect Sean Burke would be part of their starting rotation in 2025. The 25-year-old right-hander, who stands at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds has also looked good in spring training, using a high-octane fastball and what can be a devastating curveball. In two Cactus League starts, he's allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out three in five innings. Passan believes Burke will be able to hold his own while the White Sox wait for top pitching prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith. Burke is Chicago's No. 13 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and impressed in his small sample size to close 2024. Shoulder issues in the past put his durability in question, but Burke's four-pitch mix make him intriguing in AL-only leagues.