Chicago White Sox pitcher Michael Fedde threw a wild pitch that sparked a 5-2 loss at Wrigley Field on May 17, 2026, as the Cubs rallied behind Kyle Busch’s solo homer and two RBI. The defeat drops the Sox to a sub-.500 record in a division race that shows no signs of easing.
Michael Fedde, a 31-year-old right-hander who signed with the White Sox as a free agent during the 2024 offseason after four seasons with the Washington Nationals, lasted just 0.1 innings, delivering three pitches before the errant throw allowed the go-ahead run. The numbers reveal that his outing was the shortest start by a Sox pitcher this season, and the loss added another blemish to his 4.85 ERA. While the defense recorded zero errors, the offense could not recover after the early deficit.
Fedde’s struggles this season represent a concerning trend for a White Sox rotation that entered 2026 with playoff aspirations. After posting a respectable 3.97 ERA with Washington in 2025, the veteran has failed to replicate that success in Chicago’s rotation. His velocity has dipped slightly to 92.4 mph on his fastball, and his command—once his strongest asset—has wavered considerably. The wild pitch to Busch in the fourth inning marked his third directly contributed run allowed in just 43.2 innings of work this season.
Chicago’s recent offensive woes extend beyond this game; the lineup has logged a .242 team batting average over the past ten contests, a steep decline from its season-long .267 mark. Veteran third-baseman Gavin Sheets, who earned the starting job this spring after a strong showing in Cactus League play, entered the May 17 game with a .285 average but went hitless, adding pressure to a bench that has struggled to supply timely hits. By contrast, Cubs right-hander Jordan Wicks, the 25-year-old lefty who was Chicago’s first-round pick in 2021, delivered six shutout innings, his third quality start of the season, according to ESPN. The disparity highlights why the Sox have slipped in the AL Central, falling two games behind Detroit.
The White Sox-Cubs rivalry—known as the Chicago Series—carries added weight in 2026, as both teams entered the season with legitimate postseason aspirations. The Cubs, rebuilt under president Jed Hoyer and manager Craig Counsell, have surged to a 28-22 record, positioning themselves firmly in the National League Central race. For the White Sox, losing the crosstown battle stings particularly given the AL Central remains remarkably competitive, with four teams within three games of first place as of May 17.
Why did the White Sox’s bats go silent?
The Sox managed only two hits and failed to string together a run after the third inning, illustrating a lingering timing issue that has plagued the lineup all season. Their on-base percentage sat below .250, and they left five runners stranded, a stark contrast to the Cubs’ opportunistic baserunning.
Advanced metrics paint an alarming picture. The White Sox’s wRC+ (weighted runs created plus) dipped below league average for the fourth straight game, suggesting fundamental flaws in approach rather than simple bad luck. Their chase rate—percentage of pitches outside the zone that hitters swung at—has climbed to 32.4%, well above the MLB average of 28.1%, indicating growing frustration at the plate.
Sheets, the 28-year-old son of former MLB pitcher Neal Sheets, represents one of the team’s few consistent offensive threats. His .285 average entering May 17 ranked third among AL third basemen with minimum 150 plate appearances. Yet his o-fer on Saturday underscores the broader issue: even when individual players perform, the cumulative lineup construction has failed to create sustained pressure on opposing pitchers.
Key details from the May 17 game
Kyle Busch’s fourth-inning blast lifted Chicago’s rivals, and his two RBI accounted for the bulk of the scoring. Busch, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in a December 2025 trade that sent minor league pitcher Luis Rodriguez to Wisconsin, has proven exactly the right-handed power bat the Cubs craved. His fourth-inning homer—the first of the night for either team—broke a 0-0 tie and set the tone for Chicago’s North Side victory.
Fedde’s wild pitch came in the same frame, giving the Cubs a crucial lead that Chicago never erased. The sequence exemplified the kind of self-inflicted wound that has haunted the Sox all season. According to Baseball Reference, Chicago’s pitching staff has allowed 34 unearned runs this season, tied for seventh-most in the American League.
The Sox’s bullpen recorded three innings of shutout work, as relievers JP Feyereisen, Aaron Bummer, and Kendall Graveman combined to allow just one hit while striking out four. The bullpen’s effectiveness—Chicago’s pen ranks ninth in MLB with a 3.41 ERA—makes the early deficit even more frustrating, as the foundation for a comeback existed.
Impact and what’s next for the White Sox
With the loss, Chicago slides further behind division leader Detroit, intensifying pressure on the front office to address offensive consistency. General manager Rick Hahn, entering the final year of his contract extension, faces difficult decisions as the July trade deadline approaches.
Analysts note that the Sox’s wRC+ dipped below league average for the fourth straight game, suggesting a need for lineup tweaks before the July trade deadline. Should the White Sox fall further out of contention, veteran assets like Sheets, first baseman Andrew Vaughn, and closer Liam Hendriks could become attractive trade chips for rebuilding teams.
If the team can spark its bats, the remaining schedule still offers a path to the postseason; otherwise, Chicago may settle for a mid-season rebuild. The upcoming stretch offers opportunities: 12 of the next 18 games come against teams currently below .500, including a crucial four-game set against the Minnesota Twins beginning May 22.
Key developments
- Busch’s homer was the first of the night for the Cubs, breaking a 0-10 tie and marking his fourth home run of the season.
- Fedde’s 0.1-inning outing featured three pitches, the fewest throws recorded by a Sox starter this season.
- Chicago’s defense logged zero errors, the first clean-fielding effort since the series opener two weeks ago.
- White Sox manager Pedro Grifol, entering his third season at the helm after being hired from the Kansas City Royals coaching staff, elected to leave Fedde in after the wild pitch, a decision called “premature” by analysts at The Athletic.
- The White Sox turned three double plays in the loss, matching their season-high for a single game and demonstrating that defensive execution, at least, remains solid.
- Chicago’s team ERA of 4.12 ranks 18th in MLB, suggesting the rotation—beyond Fedde’s struggles—needs upgrading.
Grifol’s decision to stick with Fedde through the wild pitch sequence raises questions about his in-game management philosophy. With the bullpen fully rested and multiple high-leverage options available, some analysts argued the manager should have pulled his starter at the first sign of trouble. The decision mirrors a pattern this season: Grifol has shown loyalty to struggling starters, sometimes to the team’s detriment.
How did the White Sox perform defensively in the loss?
The team recorded zero errors and turned three double plays, matching their season-high for errorless fielding, according to the official box score. First baseman Andrew Vaughn made two stellar picks, including a barehanded grab in the fifth inning that drew applause from the sparse White Sox contingent in the sold-out crowd of 41,268.
What is Michael Fedde’s ERA after the May 17 outing?
Fedde’s earned run average rose to 4.85 following the wild-pitch appearance, up from 4.33 two starts earlier. The spike represents a concerning trend: in his last three starts, Fedde has allowed 14 earned runs in 14.2 innings, good for an 8.59 ERA in that span.
When do the White Sox next face a division rival?
Chicago returns to league play against the Minnesota Twins on May 22, offering a chance to climb the AL Central standings. The four-game set at Target Field represents a crucial opportunity: Minnesota enters May 20 at 24-26, just two games ahead of the White Sox in the standings.
Which Cubs pitcher earned the win and how did he perform?
Cubs right-hander Jordan Wicks secured the win, delivering six innings of two-run ball while striking out five, a line that boosted his season ERA to 3.12. Wicks, who entered 2026 as Chicago’s No. 3 prospect according to Baseball America, has exceeded expectations, positioning himself for a potential All-Star selection.
