Tomoyuki Sugano on Sat, Sep 26, 2026

Sugano allows 4 runs over 6.2 innings as platoon split bites again

In today's start against the White Sox, Sugano worked 6.2 innings, allowing 6 hits and 4 earned runs while striking out 5 and walking none. The workload itself was solid, but four earned runs keeps his outing in line with his season ERA of 5.37 rather than representing a step forward — not the kind of quality start that typically leads to a win.

The clearest signal in the underlying numbers is his platoon split. Against right-handed batters this season he has allowed a .290 average with an .806 OPS, but against lefties the average dips slightly to .265 while the OPS jumps to .863, with 23 home runs allowed compared to just 10 against righties. That gap points to a real power-suppression problem specifically against left-handed hitters, and given that the White Sox lineup features several lefty bats, today's four runs likely reflect that same vulnerability. Looking at his last ten starts, the volatility is stark: a strong 5.0-inning, 1-run, 5-strikeout effort against Seattle on September 21 sits alongside blowups like the 6-run outing versus San Diego on September 15 and another 6-run outing against Atlanta on August 29. His zero-walk performance today is a genuine positive for his command, but the fact that a strong K/BB ratio isn't translating into fewer runs allowed remains the core issue.

Unico's take: command isn't the problem here, so solving the left-handed power issue is the clearest path back toward a full-season ERA in the 4s.