The Chicago White Sox have started their winning streak by defeating the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Friday, bringing their overall record to 3-4.
Dallas Kuechel followed up his strong season-opening performance with another solid outing on Friday night against the Royals. Although Kuechel (5.1IP 7H 2ER 1BB 2K 1W) did not look as dominating as he did against the Twins, he still pitched well enough to earn his second victory of the season. Despite a few shaky pitches, Kuechel allowed the offense to take the lead against the Royals.
Tim Anderson, the only White Sox player to have more than one hit, led the game with a double and followed it up with a single in his next at-bat. Unfortunately, Anderson injured himself trying to make a play in the bottom of the fifth inning and had to leave the game. Hopefully, taking Anderson out of the game was more of a precaution because if Anderson needs to stay out for any length of time, his shoes will be hard to fill. A few options for the White Sox would be infielder Nick Madrigal, Luery Garcia, or Danny Mendick, who can all fill in at shortstop. What they will not be able to fill as quickly is the leadership position that Anderson has taken up this season.
Nick Madrigal got his feet wet at 2B for the White Sox. He was not able to do much at the plate (0-3 0R 0RBI 0BB), but he was able to force his way on base when Aldaberto Mondesi made an error in the top of the 7th. And when Luery Garcia hit a line drive, the White Sox seized the opportunity to test out Madrigal’s wheels, sent him home. But Madrigal was gunned down by longtime Royal Alex Gordon, one of the best fielding left-fielder in the game. Even though Madrigal does not have any batting stats to speak of, I am hoping that they use this newly acquired speed in games to come.
Luis Robert came into Friday night’s contest riding a 6-game hitting streak to start his White Sox career, but it came to an end against the Royals. This will not be the last hitting streak we will see from Robert, especially if they keep moving him up in the lineup. Robert has proven that this stage is not too big for him, and should continue to climb up the order as the season goes on.
Adam Engel, who has had a refreshing .400 start the season, supplied all the offense the White Sox needed. Engel has been one of the biggest surprises to start the season and should help the White Sox with extra depth as the season continues. Engel has always provided defensive depth but was an offensive liability. This season, Engel is proving he can handle the stick to start the 2020 campaign.
Overall, the offense needs to step their game up and take advantage of the Royals’ weak pitching, especially with the incredible support the White Sox bullpen has been providing. It is early in the season, but if the season ended right now, the White Sox MVP would go to the bullpen with their scoreless innings streak of 16.2 innings. The pen has thus far been the most consistent part of the White Sox team, and Friday night was no exception. They ended the game with 3.2IP 1H 0ER 0BB 5K 1SV, allowing one baserunner. White Sox closer, Alex Colome, who had not seen much action, finally got his first save of the season.
The White Sox look to keep up their winning streak on Saturday with Gio Gonzalez taking on Ronald Bolanos. This series can easily be the jump-start the White Sox need to build the momentum toward dominating the AL Central, but Gonzalez must show a vast improvement on the mound or the White Sox winning streak might be short-lived.