It is official. The White Sox have dropped below the .500 line. Pathetic is the most polite description of how the White Sox looked on Monday night against the Detroit Tigers. The final score was 5-1, which does not adequately relay how bad the White Sox played tonight. The White Sox came into Detroit after losing their past two games to Cleveland. However, the offense did have a glimmer of confidence after the offense was able to make three hits on Shane Bieber, the best pitcher this season. But the Tigers crushed that confidence slowly and methodically. They were riding high after a series sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and they were intent on keeping it rolling.
The White Sox offense has now scored a whopping total of 11 runs in the past 6 games. That is an average of fewer than two runs per game. The White Sox advertised themselves as having a five-run offense. Right now, they cannot even muster a two-run game. Playing like this is not going to get the White Sox into the playoffs, let alone the World Series.
The injuries have been up. Jose Abreu and Leury Garcia left Monday’s game early because of injuries and will be re-evaluated on Tuesday. Losing two more players will be rough. Tim Anderson might be back Tuesday to help the offense, but the rest of the line up still has to hit. No excuses.
The Cleveland Indians do have arms for days, so it makes sense that the White Sox would have a weak offensive series against them. What does not make sense is the White Sox not being able to hit against two pitchers that give up runs like candy on Halloween.
Michael Fulmer, the starting pitcher for the Tigers, had an ERA of 13.5, and the relief pitcher, Derek Norris, had an ERA of 10.8. The White Sox got nothing from either of these pitchers. Unacceptable for any team, but for this White Sox team who was supposed to score runs at ease, it is shameful.
The White Sox 8-9 start, is at the feet of this awful offense. This offense needs to start going, or the White Sox will be in real trouble. The long-awaited season where the White Sox rebuild comes together is slowly slipping away. After Monday’s night game, the White Sox are in fourth place in the division, only one game above last-place, the Kansas City Royals.
The ember of hope was Danny Mendick, who went 3-4 and scored the lone run for the White Sox. Mendick has played well for the White Sox at second base since Nick Madrigal was pulled with a shoulder injury. More and more, Mendick looks like he should be a vital part of this team.
Dallas Kuechel had his worst start of the season(6IP 6H 3ER 2BB 4K 1L) and has his second straight loss. He gave up less than three runs in both games.
The Tigers have now won four in a row and are tied atop the division with the Minnesota Twins. The White Sox will send out Gio Gonzalez on Tuesday, hoping to get at least five innings out of their starter, while the Detroit Tigers will be pitching their great reliever Tyler Alexander. The White Sox will need to score tomorrow as Gonzalez sports a 7.71ERA on the season, and the Tigers offense scored five-plus runs in three of the last four games. This game is as big of a must-win that a game can get for the White Sox. Early this season, the White Sox answered the call the last time the season looked bleak. The White Sox have no time to sulk about this start or injuries; they need to suck it up, play baseball with energy, and win in the next two games against these Tigers.