When the Boston Red Sox cut Sean Newcomb loose, the question was whether the Hartford alum's MLB story was winding down. The Chicago White Sox had a different answer — and now he's one of the more talked-about arms in the American League postseason.
Newcomb appeared in multiple games of Chicago's ALDS matchup against the Cleveland Guardians, pitching in both Game 2 and Game 3 as the White Sox looked to close out a potential sweep.
Game 2: A Costly Error, Then a Recovery
His Game 2 outing was a study in postseason chaos. Coming in as a reliever after opener Anthony Kay was pulled in the first inning, Newcomb found himself immediately in trouble — walking Jo Adell intentionally before a high-chopper off Nathaniel Lowe's bat found its way back to him. His throw to first went wildly off mark, an error that allowed two runs to score and handed the Guardians their first lead of the entire series. It was a brutal moment in a game Cleveland desperately needed.
But Newcomb didn't unravel. He struck out the next two batters to limit further damage, finishing the day with 2.0 innings pitched, 3 strikeouts, and a 6.00 ERA for the game — a mixed bag that nonetheless showed the resilience that's kept him in a major league bullpen.
Game 3: The Start
The bigger story came Wednesday, October 7, when the White Sox handed Newcomb the ball as their Game 3 starter — a role that raised eyebrows given his journeyman reliever status heading into October. With the White Sox one win away from advancing and Cleveland countering with rookie Daniel Espino, the matchup carried real stakes.
Newcomb delivered 2.0 innings, struck out one, and posted a 3.60 ERA in the outing. It was hardly a shutdown performance, but in the context of a White Sox staff that has leaned heavily on openers and multi-arm approaches throughout this run — a strategy one writer compared to a "cheap knock-off" of the Dodgers' all-starter bullpen model — Newcomb's ability to eat innings and compete in a pressure situation mattered.
The Bigger Picture
The Red Sox angle is hard to ignore. Boston's decision to move on from Newcomb is now being scrutinized openly, as the left-hander finds himself in the national spotlight while Boston watches from home. For Hartford fans, the timing is everything — this is a former Hawk pitching in October baseball, starting playoff games, and making noise when it counts.
Nick Dombkowski, the other active Hartford alum in MLB, remains with the Pittsburgh Pirates and had no reported activity during this period.
All eyes stay on Newcomb as the White Sox push for an ALDS victory. The Red Sox will have plenty of time this offseason to wonder what might have been.
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