Kopech didn't factor into the decision in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Royals, allowing two runs and four walks while striking out three across five innings.

EDGE Analysis

Kopech has yet to factor into a decision this season, but his 1.42 ERA and .095 WHIP show that he's pitching extremely well. He has a strand rate of 83.3 percent and has yet to allow a home run over 19 innings pitched. The wins will come eventually for Kopech, provided he can receive some run support.

Kopech struck out seven in five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and walking one in a 2-1 loss Friday in Minnesota. He did not factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Kopech never had a runner get past second base as he scattered three hits and a walk. He left the game leading 1-0 and in line to record his first win of the season but the bullpen was unable to hold the slim lead. The 26-year-old has allowed one run or less in each of his three starts and is sporting a 0.64 ERA. With 83 pitches Friday, Kopech has increased his pitch count in each appearance and could secure his first win soon if he continues with a similar workload.

Kopech allowed one run (none earned) on one hit and two walks while striking out five across five innings Saturday against the Rays. He did not factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Kopech walked the first batter he faced, who then came around to score after Kopech was let down by some poor defense. That accounted for the only run the right-hander allowed, and he dominated from there by inducing seven flyball outs and 13 swinging strikes on 75 total pitches. While he's walked multiple hitters in each of his first two outings this season, Kopech has allowed only one earned run with an 8:4 K:BB across nine total frames.

Kopech allowed one run on two hits and two walks over four innings in Sunday's win over the Tigers. He struck out three and did not factor in the decision.

EDGE Analysis

Kopech coughed up an RBI triple to Victor Reyes in the second inning but kept the Tigers off the board otherwise. He started in four of his 44 appearances last season and never threw more than five innings in a single outing. The White Sox look to finally be stretching him out as a full-time starter after he missed the entire 2019 and 2020 seasons. Kopech is lined up to face the Rays at home next week.

Kopech is scheduled to start the White Sox's third game of the season Sunday in Detroit, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

An illness suffered during the offseason set Kopech back in his buildup program and initially looked like something that could derail his bid for the Opening Day rotation, but the right-hander has since erased any concerns about his availability by tossing two innings in his Cactus League debut Thursday. Before taking the hill for his regular-season debut this weekend, Kopech will make one final spring tuneup outing Tuesday against the Padres. He's scheduled to cover three frames in that start, so expect Kopech to be limited to around four or five innings Sunday. The White Sox could consider deploying Kopech as part of a tandem this weekend with either Vince Velasquez or Reynaldo Lopez.

Kopech threw two innings while allowing one earned run in Thursday's Cactus League matchup against the Reds, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kopech was behind in his preparation for the regular season due to an illness that he suffered from over the winter. However, he was strong in his spring debut, as he was hitting between 95 and 98 mph with his fastball and also consistently threw his curveball for strikes. "The plan today was no more than what I did," Kopech said after the outing. "But I said when I came out [of the game] that I felt like I was good to go for another [inning]." It remains to be seen whether the right-hander will be ready to start the season in the rotation, though this is a positive step in that direction.

Kopech (not injury related) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Reds, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The White Sox plan to have Kopech work two innings before giving way to Vince Velasquez, who is expected to cover two frames of his own. Kopech, Velasquez and Reynaldo Lopez are among the candidates for the No. 5 spot in the White Sox rotation, but Kopech is the presumptive frontrunner for the job if he's able to get fully stretched out for starting duty before camp closes. Kopech's spring debut was delayed after he battled an illness over the winter, which affected his preparation before he reported to camp. The right-hander has seemingly steered clear of any setbacks since then, but even if he dazzles in Friday's outing and another potential exhibition appearance next week, he could face a workload restriction to begin the regular season. Additionally, the White Sox won't require a fifth starter until April 16 against the Rays, so it's possible that Kopech gets stretched out in the bullpen during the first week of the season before slotting into the rotation.

Kopech (not injury related) is throwing a bullpen session Wednesday and is scheduled for two innings of live batting practice Friday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kopech is behind schedule in spring training due to an illness that affected his buildup program over the winter, but he's progressing toward game action. The 25-year-old primarily pitched out of the bullpen last season in his first MLB action since 2018 and had a 3.50 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 103:24 K:BB over 69.1 innings. The White Sox figure to be cautious again this season given his lack of innings over the past couple years, but he's expected to work as a starter, or at least a primary pitcher in 2021. Whenever he's ready to go, Kopech figures to be on a rigid pitch count for his initial appearances.

General manager Rick Hahn said Monday that Kopech is behind the White Sox's other starting candidates to begin big-league spring training after an illness earlier in the winter slowed down the right-hander's buildup program, aVinnie Duber of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

EDGE Analysis

Because Kopech missed the entirety of the 2019 and 2020 seasons and tossed only 69.1 regular-season innings in 2021 while working primarily out of the bullpen, the White Sox were already planning to take a cautious approach with his workload heading into 2022. The time Kopech missed during the offseason while battling the illness looks as though it'll prompt even more caution, but Hahn indicated that the White Sox are still expecting the 25-year-old to be ready to go for Opening Day. If he is in fact able to nail down the No. 5 spot in Chicago's rotation, Kopech will almost certainly be on strict pitch counts in his initial outings, and perhaps even serve as more of a tandem starter with another pitcher. While that would be less than ideal for his chances of factoring into decisions, Kopech should remain a strong source of strikeouts and ratios on whatever innings he provides.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said earlier this month that Kopech will compete for a spot in the rotation in spring training, Vinnie Duber of NBC Sports Chicago reports. "Obviously, we had Kopech probably deeper into his professional development entering the '21 season than [Garrett] Crochet was, but we were able to find a way to use him in the bullpen but still get him the occasional start, get him stretched out some and put him in a decent position entering this season to be in the rotation," Hahn said.

EDGE Analysis

Like Kopech, Crochet is another prospect who came through the farm system as a starter, but he worked out of the bullpen in 2021 as the organization aimed to manage his innings. While the White Sox have yet to decide whether Crochet will audition for a starting role in 2022 or continue to work in a high-leverage role out of the bullpen, Kopech will at least get the chance to stake his claim to a starting role. Given that Kopech in three years older than Crochet and had an encouraging 2021 campaign as a multi-inning reliever after having not pitched in either of the previous two seasons, the White Sox likely won't be as restrictive with the 25-year-old righty's development moving forward. Kopech built up to 69.1 innings across 44 appearances -- including four spot starts -- last season, finishing with a 3.50 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and a 103:24 K:BB. Reynaldo Lopez looks like Kopech's top challenger for a back-end rotation spot, though it's possible Crochet or an offseason pickup could also make a claim for a starting role.