# Why David Sandlin looks ready to stick

> David Sandlin returned with a smarter pitch mix, giving the White Sox real reason to keep him in the rotation.
- Title: Why David Sandlin looks ready to stick · Chicago Sun-Times
- Summary: David Sandlin returned with a smarter pitch mix, giving the White Sox real reason to keep him in the rotation. Sandlin’s path to staying in the majors is no…
- Keywords: white sox, mlb, pitching, david sandlin, prospects, news, local, David, Sandlin, looks, ready, stick
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/09/15/a-new-and-improved-david-sandlin-should-have-staying-power-in-white-sox-rotation-noah-schultz-colson-montgomery-will-venable-brian-bannister-jose-urquidy
- Published: 2026-09-16T00:10:50.853+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: white sox, mlb, pitching, david sandlin, prospects, news, local
## A rotation opening
The White Sox had gone 22 games without a starter finishing six innings, so Sandlin’s 5⅔ strong frames arrived at the right time.

> he’s earned another opportunity, for sure
## Sandlin made his case
He did not allow an earned run against the Cardinals and carried a perfect game into the sixth inning in his first start back.
## More than one start
The performance mattered because it came with a changed arsenal. Sandlin looked less like a thrower and more like a pitcher with answers.
## Velocity was not enough
Earlier in Chicago, his high-90s fastball got hit and left-handed batters exposed the holes in his approach.
## A Triple-A reset
After the All-Star break, Sandlin and Brian Bannister worked on using his sweeper earlier against lefties, especially as a backdoor strike.

> We really hammered that home.
## Changing hitters' posture
The new sweeper plan makes lefties lean over the plate. That opens the inside lane for Sandlin to attack later in the count.

> then I can take a shot inside
## The cutter changed too
Sandlin also tightened his cutter, making it harder and shorter so it mirrors his fastball better out of the hand.
## Fastball as finish
His fastball is no longer the whole plan. It now works best after hitters have been slowed down by the rest of his seven-pitch mix.
## Schultz gets the call
The Sox designated Jose Urquidy for assignment and promoted Noah Schultz, who had a 1.66 ERA over his last five minor league starts.
## A new relief role
Schultz is expected to work as a multi-inning weapon, likely covering at least one trip through the order when matchups line up.

> Kind of a multi-inning weapon.
## Schultz wants in
The Oswego native is happier joining a major league playoff race than staying in a Triple-A rotation, and he says he will take any role.

> whatever I can to help contribute
## Montgomery sits
Colson Montgomery sat against a lefty despite better season numbers versus left-handers. Venable framed him as more neutral than reverse-split.

> It’s about other things for him.
## The slump matters
The larger concern is Montgomery’s September slide. He entered Tuesday batting .109 with a 43.6% strikeout rate for the month.
## Key takeaway

Sandlin’s path to staying in the majors is no longer just velocity. It is sequencing, shape, and using his fastball as the final blow.