The Chicago White Sox is one of the best teams in Major League Baseball after the pre-All-Star portion of the 2021 schedule. Going into the break, they are 54-35 after sweeping the Baltimore Orioles. They have won 7 of their last 10 games and lead the American League Central Division by 8.0 games. To say things are going well on the southside would be putting it lightly because they are legit World Series contenders.
The White Sox are in first place despite lots of adversity in the first half.
When we say World Series contenders, that does come with a disclaimer. They have had terrible injury luck this season. Players like Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert, Nick Madrigal, and Adam Engel have all spent a lot of time on the Injured List.
Madrigal is out for the season, Jimenez is currently on his rehab stint, Robert will be back later in the season, and Engel is back healthy. Yasmani Grandal is now out for a minimum of 4 weeks as well. For the exception of Madrigal, all of the rest coming back would be a huge boost to the already first-place team.
There are even a few smaller injuries that the team has dealt with. Players like Michael Kopech, Tim Anderson, Lance Lynn, Evan Marshall, and Aaron Bummer have all or are currently on the short-term Injured List. Even players like Yoan Moncada and Jose Abreu have dealt with little injuries that kept them out for a couple of games at a time without IL stints. It is hard to think of a team in the history of the sport that has dealt with more injuries to such consequential players.
So how have the White Sox done this well with that many great players out for long stretches? There are two answers. The easiest one is their “next man up” mentality. They brought in guys like Brian Goodwin, Billy Hamilton, and Yermin Mercedes at different points who have all had their great moments so far. Without guys like that contributing, it would have been hard to win.
The other obvious answer is pitching. Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, Carlos Rodon, Dallas Keuchel, and Dylan Cease have formed one of the best starting rotations in all of baseball. Rodon and Lynn will be at the All-Star Game because they were so good. The bullpen has had its shaky moments at times but they have gotten the job done overall. Liam Hendriks has been such a good closer that he is going to the All-Star Game as well.
One piece in the bullpen worth mentioning is Kopech. Outside of his little injury stint, he has been so amazing. He is the best pitcher in the organization. He is a superweapon in the bullpen right now but he should be a starter in short order.
With the team’s only position playing All-Star in Tim Anderson leading the way, the White Sox have been as good as advertised despite the unexpected injury trouble. Tony La Russa takes a lot of heat at times but nobody can deny what he has done with his ballclub so far this season. If they are able to get healthy they will go on a deep run later in the fall. Hopefully, they can continue to play well once the second half begins!
