The White Sox smoked the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night to the tune of 14-0, moving their record to 29-16. The White Sox only need to win seven of the remaining games to make the playoffs. This game was meant to be an offensive battle; pitchers on both sides had an 8+ERA. Instead, the White Sox pitchers held a shut out while the offense racked up the runs.
Without a doubt, 1B Jose Abreu is having an MVP year, and Saturday night’s game (4-4 5R 7RBI 2HR) might have just sealed the deal for him. Abreu led the American League in RBI’s last season but was glossed over because the White Sox were terrible. Now that this team is first-place, I hope Abreu gets his due and gets the MVP.
SS Tim Anderson just keeps hitting in his chase for a second consecutive batting title. Anderson went 4-5 2R 1RBI in the game, and he leads the league in four-game hits this season. His batting average is at .358, tied for number one in the league. Anderson has looked better this season. He is more patient at the plate and has demonstrated a better understanding of the strike zone.
SP Reynaldo Lopez (5IP 3H 0ER 1BB 2K 1W 75PC) looked his best on Saturday night against the Tigers, earning his first victory of this season. Lopez came in with an ERA of over eight, but the good outing has lowered to 5.52 now for the season after this. This is the Lopez that all White Sox fans were hoping to see this year. It looks like he got his confidence back, pitching without pause or shake offs. Lopez has earned another start, or at least a spot in the bullpen.
The White Sox look for the sweep on Sunday afternoon and will have another young pitcher making his debut. Jonathan Stiever, 23, hasn’t pitched A ball yet, but is the overall number six in the White Sox farm system. The Tigers will run out their best SP Spencer Turnbull to hold off the sweep, but if the White Sox offense is going like it was on Saturday night, it won’t matter who is out there, and the White Sox will run their win streak to four.