Haplessness Blues: Royals 6, White Sox 1

More games of one or fewer runs (28) than wins (27)

The White Sox are now 6-24-2 in series this season and have more games of one or fewer runs scored (28) than wins (27). They are averaging 2.15 runs per game. Only 11 teams in history played the first 100 games of a season and had a worse record than the 2024 White Sox.

Had enough? I mean, I can do this all day.

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Top Play

Not for a single second of this game did the win probability favor the White Sox. Of course, that’s what happens when you fall behind in the first inning. Michael Massey tripled in a run (had Bobby Witt Jr. not been thrown out at third base on a double steal, it was would have been two ribbies for Massey) for a game-high 10.5% WPA.

Top Performer

As was the case last night, aided by the hapless White Sox bats, the K.C. SP gets the win here. Brady Singer collected 24.5% WPA for his seven innings of five-hit ball. The Sox sure know how to spare opponents’ bullpens.

Hardest Hit

Tommy Pham doubled at 107.7 mph to lead off the eighth inning and got to third on a throwing error. Thus, when Andrew Benintendi predictably grounded out to follow, K.C. conceded what would stand as the only White Sox run of the game. A 13th possible shutout of the season turned instead into the 16th one-run output of the year.

Weakest Contact

Nicky Lopez got a rare start at shortstop and muffed the weakest tap of the game (Nick Loftin, 62.1 mph).

Luckiest Hit

Makiel García flew out to right field in the second inning, but because we have Tommy Pham playing defense out there, that ball became a double, with a .300 xBA.

Toughest Out

The one time rookie Brooks Baldwin didn’t strike out tonight, he flared a ball out to left field that was pocketed by Drew Waters; there was no ripped-off hit there, but the .490 xBA was the highest for an out on Saturday.

Longest Hit

Luis Robert Jr. doubled deep to right-center in the eighth — a homer in 26 MLB parks, but not tonight.

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Futility Watch

White Sox 2024 Record 27-73, worst 100-game start in White Sox history (6 1⁄2 games worse than the next-worst, 1948 White Sox), tied for 12th-worst start all-time, and a season-worst 46 games under .500
White Sox 2024 Run Differential -188, tied for 36th-worst 100-game start in MLB history and a White Sox season-worst
White Sox 2024 Season Record Pace 44-118 (.270)
Race to the Worst “Modern” 162-Game Record (2003 Tigers, 43-119) 1 game better
Race to the Worst “Modern” Record in a 162-Game Season (1962 Mets, 40-120) 3 games better
Race to the Most White Sox Losses (1970, 106) 12 games worse
Race to the Worst White Sox Record (1932, 52-109-1*) 8 1⁄2 games worse
Race to the Worst American League Record (1916 A’s, 38-124*) 6 games better
*record adjusted to a 162-game season

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Glossary

WPA win probability added measures contributions to the win
xBA expected batting average