After Thursday’s postponed game against Cleveland, the White Sox had a 15-14 record, but the team had just started to get hot.
The Sox had won seven of eight games as they looked ahead to a four-game set with the best team in the American League, the Yankees.
The series against New York stood as a significant early-season test for the White Sox. They had split the two games against the Guardians after sweeping the Red Sox in a three-game set.
Here are some statistical tidbits to consider as the home showdown with the Yankees loomed.
Chicago White Sox Trends and Stats Worthy Of The Spotlight
- The White Sox won all five games on their most recent road trip. It was the seventh time in franchise history that the Sox went unbeaten on a road trip of five or more games. Chicago bounced back after losing seven of its first 10 road games.
- Fans of the White Sox have been staying tuned until late in games to see if the team wins or loses. In their last nine games, seven of which have been wins, each game has been decided by three runs or less. The last time the White Sox had a game decided by more than three runs was when they beat the Royals 4-0 on April 30.
- The starting pitching has been at the forefront of any recent success. The Chicago starters have a 2.21 ERA with a 2.05 ERA and 90 strikeouts in the last 15 games. Overall, the pitching staff ranks first in the American League in K/9 rate (9.9), is second in strikeouts (154), and third in ERA (3.21).
- Luis Robert continues to show signs that he is headed for a major breakout year. He entered the Yankees series on a nine-game hitting streak, and he hit .405 with four homers and six RBIs during that span. In the 10 games since he returned from a groin strain, Robert has a slash line of .366/.422/.537.
Photo: Getty ImagesTim Anderson has homered twice from the leadoff spot so far this season. His 15 career leadoff homers are now the second-most in team history. He needs six more to surpass the all-time team leader, another favorite White Sox infielder from the past. Ray Durham tops the all-time leadoff homer list for the franchise with 20. Anderson has hit 14 leadoff homers since 2017, the third-most in baseball during that span.
- Anderson has 16 hits in his last 42 at-bats in 10 games, with two home runs, six RBIs, and seven runs scored. He is hitting .529 vs. left-handed pitchers and .533 at home. He is also tied for second in the American League in multi-hit games (11). His .324 batting average since 2019 is the best in the Majors. Anderson continues to be singularly worth the price of admission, but he and Roberts have become quite an exciting all-around pairing. The top of the batting order will be truly intimidating once Yoan Moncada and Jose Abreu start displaying their better form.
- The Sox need to fare better against the Yankees than they have against their own division. So far this season, Chicago has lost 10 of 14 games against American League Central opponents. They have lost nine of their last 11 games against divisional opponents. In the past two seasons, the Sox were 69-47 against the A.L. Central. They will need to improve significantly against their most familiar rivals if the White Sox want to ultimately repeat as division champions.
- Chicago can feel more comfortable vs. New York at home than it would on the road. The White Sox are 61-35 at Guaranteed Rate Field since the start of the 2021 season. That is the second-best home record in the American League during that span. The White Sox may have their collective confidence dented if they cannot at least split with the Yankees at home. Pitching will be a big key in the series. The Sox have a 3.45 home ERA since the start of the 2021 season.
- New York has dominated Chicago in recent matchups. The White Sox lost six of seven games against the Yankees last season. The Sox have dropped seven of their last eight against the Yankees and 16 of 26 overall.
- The White Sox are tentatively scheduled to face Yankees left-hander Jordan Montgomery in the final matchup of the four-game set. Chicago has continued to fare well against lefties so far this season. The Sox have a .762 OPS vs. left-handers, which is third-best in MLB. The trend extends back to the beginning of the 2019 season. During that span, Chicago ranks second in batting average (.274) and on-base percentage (.340) against left-handed pitchers.
- Chicago is not getting many free passes, but the batters have not been an easy out, either. The White Sox have drawn the fewest walks in the American League with 65, but they also have the second-fewest strikeouts, with 205.
The White Sox need to start delivering more often in potential scoring situations.
Chicago is hitting just .191 with runners in scoring position over its last 17 games.
Statistical Sources: White Sox Media Relations Featured Image: Getty Images
