Anthony Kay’s Comeback and Jordan Leasure’s Injury

Anthony Kay has shown resilience and determination after a challenging start to this baseball season. The Chicago White Sox starter remained confident, stating, “I’m here to do a job and they know I’m capable of doing it.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining confidence, making necessary adjustments, and achieving positive results on the mound.

Kay’s recent statistics reflect his improvements: he boasts a 3-0 record with a 1.98 ERA and 24 strikeouts in his last five starts. Scheduled to pitch against the Detroit Tigers at Rate Field, his recent performances include a strong showing against the Kansas City Royals on May 14, 2026.

Manager Will Venable praised Kay’s ability to adapt, noting his experience pitching in Japan during the 2024 and 2025 seasons contributed to his adaptability. Venable appreciated seeing Kay’s hard work translate into better performances after a difficult start.

Overall, Kay holds a 4-1 record with a 3.96 ERA, 39 strikeouts, and 23 walks in 52 1/3 innings. Initially, he struggled with a 6.12 ERA in his first six outings but has since improved significantly, allowing six earned runs in his last 27 innings.

Kay credited his progress to constructive discussions with pitching coach Zach Bove, focusing on early pitch counts and improving his ball control. “A lot of pitches weren’t in the zone,” Kay explained. “We needed to work on sequencing to get in better pitcher counts, like 0-1 or 1-2. That was probably the biggest thing for me.”

Having played for teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, and New York Mets, Kay signed a two-year deal with the White Sox. His early season experiences have reinforced his belief in his pitching abilities at the major league level. He enjoys camaraderie with teammates, often lightheartedly challenging his fellow starters to outperform themselves.

“There was some doubt if I could do it in the big leagues,” Kay admitted. “The last month I’ve shown that I’m capable of belonging here and being a good pitcher here.”

Meanwhile, reliever Jordan Leasure was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right flexor strain. Leasure described feeling discomfort during his warm-up and appearance against the Minnesota Twins, admitting reluctance to remove himself from the game earlier. However, he decided to get checked out after experiencing significant elbow soreness.

Leasure’s season includes a 6.27 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings across 18 appearances. Manager Venable mentioned Leasure’s recurring elbow soreness would necessitate a break of eight to ten weeks to heal this flexor strain. This injury comes after Leasure was recently recalled from Triple-A Charlotte, where he had been optioned on May 7, then returned to the major league squad on May 23.

As a response to Leasure’s injury, the White Sox recalled reliever Tyler Gilbert from Triple-A Charlotte, ensuring the bullpen remains bolstered in Leasure’s absence.