The Chicago White Sox are in an unenviable position, teetering on the brink of setting a grim new record for losses in a single MLB season. Currently tied with the infamous 1962 New York Mets at 120 losses, the White Sox find themselves confronting an unwelcome milestone without the mitigating context of being an expansion team, a justification the Mets possessed.
This disappointing season for the White Sox comes despite last year’s change in the MLB schedule format, which reduced the number of divisional games. With the new format, every team now faces every team from the opposing league on an annual basis. However, this adjustment has done little to help the White Sox's cause.
Swept Aside in Divisional Matches
Their performance in the American League Central has been particularly lackluster. In their most recent series, the Cleveland Guardians managed a 5-5 split with the White Sox before sweeping them in the end. The Guardians finished the season 8-5 against the White Sox, securing the AL Central title in the process.
The Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals have also enjoyed near-total dominance over the White Sox, both boasting 12-1 records against the beleaguered team. The Tigers, who are currently ahead of the Mariners and Red Sox in the wild-card race, have largely secured their spot thanks to a stellar 9-1 record against Chicago, while Kansas City and Minnesota's wins against the White Sox have been pivotal in their wild-card pursuits, with the Royals sitting in the No. 5 seed and the Twins in the No. 7 seed.
Interleague Struggles
Even in interleague play, the White Sox have found little solace. Every National League team, with the exception of the Chicago Cubs, played a three-game series against them this year. The Cubs and White Sox met in a four-game series, which saw the Cubs sweeping their cross-town rivals.
However, not all has been dire. The White Sox managed to win series against a few National League teams, including the Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Washington Nationals. Interestingly, the Braves found themselves at the receiving end of a rare White Sox series victory, losing 1-2 in a rain-affected encounter. Despite these victories, the overarching narrative of the White Sox's season has been one of consistent defeat.
Upcoming Matches and Future Prospects
The White Sox will close out their season with a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park this weekend. Given the Tigers' impressive 9-1 record against them this season, it doesn't bode well for the White Sox as they look to avoid setting a new record for losses. Meanwhile, the Twins will be facing the Baltimore Orioles in their final regular-season series, and the Royals will wrap up their season against the Braves.
As the White Sox's season draws to a close, the team faces the harsh reality of their performance. Unlike other struggling teams, the White Sox have no significant injuries or off-field distractions to blame. The organization is now looking at a complete rebuild and reimagining its strategy to avoid a repeat of such a dismal season.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the front office addresses the numerous issues plaguing the team. With a storied history and a passionate fanbase, the White Sox will undoubtedly be under pressure to turn things around swiftly. The next few months will be crucial as decisions made in the offseason could dictate whether this season will be seen as a temporary setback or the beginning of a prolonged slump.