White Sox series preview: It’s laundry day

The White Sox might not be as bad as last year, but they’re still pretty awful and the Royals need to take advantage

At this point last year, the White Sox were on their way to the history books in a bad way with a 15-47 record. As has been the refrain for them all season, they’re doing slightly better this year, but they’re still pretty awful. Still, you have to treat them as a real MLB opponent now, as they can win games, even against good teams. They are coming off a four-game split with the Detroit Tigers.

Kansas City Royals (33-30) vs Chicago White Sox (20-43) at Rate Field, Chicago, IL

Royals: 3.43 runs scored per game (27th in MLB), 3.48 runs allowed per game (4th)

White Sox: 3.44 runs scored per game (26th in MLB), 4.35 runs allowed per game (19th)

As the season comes to a conclusion later this year, if the Royals are still in contention, we can likely expect a repeat of last season’s nay-saying that will suggest the Royals’ record is only as good as it is because they got to play the White Sox so many times. But Detroit is only 5-2 against them, and the Twins are 4-2. The Astros, leading the AL West, are 1-2. Wins against the White Sox are expected but never guaranteed.

As you can see above, the White Sox offense is only slightly better than the Royals, but the Royals were also scoring .2 runs fewer before their offensive explosion against the Cardinals. Even though he isn’t hitting, yet, Jac Caglianone seems to be providing a much-needed spark for the Royals’ offense. KC can use that against the White Sox, as they actually have pitched much better this year than last, with only slightly below average runs allowed per game.

White Sox hitters

After a very hot start, Andrew Benintendi has cooled off. Edgar Quero has similarly cooled after his hot start. Luis Robert Jr. still hasn’t found his form, either.

Chase Meidroth, dropped popup aside, has been their best hitter by a large margin. The White Sox have enjoyed the return of Mike Tauchman, who has spent almost the entire season on the IL between two stints. Still, he’s 34 years old and has never been this good before, so it’s reasonable to wonder when he might cool off, too.

The White Sox are third-worst in baseball with only 48 home runs (9 more than the MLB-worst Royals).

Expected pitching matchups

Davis Martin has a pretty shiny 3.67 ERA, but also a 4.46 FIP and a 5.76 xERA. That feels unsustainable. Adrian Houser has an even better ERA, a still pretty good FIP and xERA, but his SIERA still thinks he’s been exceptionally lucky at 4.05. He’s also 32, and while he’s been a reasonable guy to stick in a rotation, he’s never been this good before. Shane Smith continues to be a revelation as a Rule 5 draft pick ala Brad Keller without doing anything terribly impressive or terribly wrong in his peripherals.

White Sox bullpen

The White Sox bullpen has been their downfall this season. Between all of their relievers (and you’ll note there are nine because the White Sox only have four true starters right now) they have only five saves. No player has more than one save. Cam Booser and Brandon Eisert have been a bit unlucky, but Steven Wilson has been pretty lucky, so it probably all evens out. The main point is that the White Sox don’t have a single reliever they feel they can rely on consistently. This bore out in the just-wrapped-up Tigers series as Eisert blew a tie game late and Bryse Wilson let the game get out of hand in both of the White Sox’s losses.

Most of you will expect and require the Royals to sweep this series, but as long as they take two out of three, they’ll be doing their jobs. Still with Jac in the lineup and as bad as the White Sox hitters have been, the Royals probably should sweep it.