Anthony Kay’s Impressive Turnaround and Jordan Leasure’s Injury Update

Anthony Kay’s self-assurance did not falter even after his rough start this baseball season. ‘I’m here to do a job and they know I’m capable of doing it,’ the Chicago White Sox pitcher stated on Thursday. He emphasized the importance of maintaining confidence, continually building on positive performances, and making necessary adjustments. ‘Thankfully we made some good ones to get right on the mound and put together some good results,’ he added.

The left-handed pitcher boasts a record of 3-0 with a 1.98 ERA, a .227 opponents’ average, and 24 strikeouts in his recent five starts. Kay will face the Detroit Tigers at Rate Field this Saturday.

Kay’s manager, Will Venable, acknowledged the changes Kay made. ‘He’s adapted successfully, having pitched overseas in Japan during 2024 and 2025, and he’s used to making adjustments,’ Venable said. ‘It’s rewarding to see his hard work bringing positive outcomes after a challenging start.’

Overall, Kay has achieved a 4-1 record with a 3.96 ERA, striking out 39 while walking 23 in 52 1/3 innings. He has hit 10 batters this season. During his initial six outings, he allowed 17 earned runs with a 6.12 ERA in 25 innings. In the past five starts, he gave up only six runs in 27 innings.

Kay credited pitching coach Zach Bove for offering vital insights into his early pitch selection. ‘A lot of pitches weren’t in the zone,’ Kay noted. ‘We worked on sequencing to help me get into better pitcher counts.’ This approach has been beneficial for Kay, who has prior experience with the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, and New York Mets before signing a two-year deal with the Sox.

Looking back on his recent performance, Kay reflected on establishing his capability in the league. ‘There was doubt if I could do it in the big leagues,’ Kay admitted. ‘I’ve shown this past month that I belong here and can perform well at this level.’

Kay also enjoys creating camaraderie with his teammates, often joking after their strong performances. ‘Just try to keep things light,’ he said. ‘I’ll say, ‘You go six innings, why didn’t you go seven?’ It’s about keeping them humble and ensuring everyone’s improving daily.’

In another team update, reliever Jordan Leasure was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right flexor strain. ‘Warming up on Thursday, I didn’t feel great,’ Leasure mentioned. ‘In the game’s seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins, it felt worse, and I knew I had to report it, although I’d rather push through pain.’

Leasure has a 6.27 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings across 18 appearances this year. He was sent to Triple-A Charlotte on May 7 and recalled on May 23. ‘His elbow soreness has persisted through the year, and now there’s a flexor strain. We’ll shut him down for eight to 10 weeks to hopefully restore him to full strength,’ Venable explained.

To fill his spot, the Sox recalled reliever Tyler Gilbert from Charlotte.