HOUSTON, TEXAS – JUNE 20: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Chicago White Sox delivers in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on June 20, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
The Chicago White Sox are destined for the postseason, holding a seemingly insurmountable advantage in the AL Central. However, there are clear weaknesses on their roster.
Come the playoffs, teams must submit a 26-man roster, which restricts the typical 40-man roster during the regular season. It means several recognizable players will not participate in postseason baseball, which can be a tough pill to swallow for some.
Of course, this is all barring injury, given players can be replaced on the roster if they get hurt.
MLB postseason roster rules
The following is from MLB.com:
Teams submit a 26-man roster (it was 25, prior to 2020) prior to each round of the postseason comprised of postseason-eligible players. A club may request permission from the Commissioner’s Office to replace a player who is injured during the course of a series, but that player is then ineligible for the rest of that round and the subsequent round, if there is one. A pitcher may be replaced only by another pitcher, and a position player only by another position player.
Teams carry extra players throughout the postseason in the event of injuries, and those players, as well as players on the injured list, can be in the dugout during games, within reason.
White Sox postseason roster: Dallas Keuchel might not make cut
Keuchel is a case of what have you done for me lately, and his ERA is above six in his last ten starts. Overall, it’s been a season to forget for Keuchel, and despite his veteran stats on this team, assuming Lance Lynn, Carlos Rodon and Lucas Giolito stay healthy, surely the White Sox can find a better option if they need a fourth start in the playoffs.
Heck, a bullpen game might be a better option than Keuchel at this point.