Home is supposed to be where the heart is; well, if that is true, I think the White Sox might need to check and see if their heart is still beating. After Thursday night’s loss to the Milwaukee Brewers 8-3, the White Sox home record is at 1-4.
The offense has let the South Side down, only scoring three runs over the last two games. The top five in the order went a combined 2-19 with 13 strikeouts, not a recipe for success. Luis Robert had his second game without a hit, but they were not all strikeouts like they were on Thursday. It was bound to happen at some point. Robert is human, but this was the first time in the majors where he looked outmatched and could not make the necessary adjustments he had been making all season.
Thursday night’s
Thursday night, the White Sox were failed by fielding which had been so good. Eloy Jimenez bungled a play in LF that allowed Yelich to score an in-park HR. The White Sox need Jimenez and all the unique things he can do with the bat, but White Sox fans should worry that Jimenez at LF might be a weakness. He has already missed games this season and last season because of his questionable fielding, and the White Sox cannot afford to lose his bat this year. Jimenez needs to spend more time practicing in the field before he ends up the new designated hitter.
The pitching was also off on Thursday. Gio Gonzalez had not made it through five innings this season, and Thursday was no different. He was only able to make it 4.1IP before Ricke Renteria pulled him. The White Sox signed Gonzalez during the offseason to bring some leadership and pitching depth to the White Sox. So far, all the White Sox have seen is a veteran pitcher who cannot get batters out, which is not what the White Sox need with all their pitching injuries.
Steve Cishek was another off-season signing that has not quite worked out the way the White Sox had hoped. Cishek was supposed to help solidify this bullpen, has proven himself to be the worst part. He was called up to start the 8th inning, the score 5-2. Cishek needed to throw some strikes and hold the score; he failed to do either. Only 11 of his 25 pitches were strikes; Cishek allowed 3ER and was pulled before completing the inning. Cishek’s ERA sits at a laughable 11.57. Need I say more.
The White Sox need to shake the last two games and get ready for the Cleveland Indians. Cleveland is coming in hot, riding a three-game winning streak. Cleveland’s pitching has been top-notch, better than what the Brewers had to offer, so the offense needs to find their mojo ASAP.
Dylan Cease will take the mound for his third time this season and will have a chance to avenge his bad performance (2.1IP 7H 4ER 0BB 1K 1L) the last time he faced Cleveland. Cease beware: Cleveland’s offense had been non-existent but exploded for 13 runs in Thursday night’s trouncing of the Cincinnati Reds. Cease will keep his winning ways going while Aaron Civale is looking to keep Cleveland’s streak going when this series starts on Friday night.