The Chicago White Sox have been in the same division as the team formerly known as the Cleveland Indians for a long time. They have had some decent battles but mostly have seen Cleveland be the better team. Now, the White Sox are clearly the better team and showed it in 2021.
In 2022, they will still be division rivals but Cleveland will have a new mascot. From 2022 forward, they will be known as the Cleveland Guardians. It is a very interesting name choice and it will be one that Cleveland hopes brings them success both on and off the field.
Major League Baseball has locked out the players due to a need for a new collective bargaining agreement. We can only hope that baseball is played as a result of the dispute. If there is labor peace but the time we reach the regular season and baseball is played, the White Sox will take on the Guardians for the first time ever.
They play them in spring training but that doesn’t sound. Their first game against them that counts leads off a four-game series on Monday, April 18th, 2022. It will be played at Progressive Field in Cleveland which should be a very fun series.
The White Sox will be playing the Cleveland Guardians for the first time in 2022.
The Guardians come to Chicago for the first time ever on Monday, May 9th, 2022. It will be very interesting to see this team with a new name as they have been using their former name for such a long time now.
Cleveland might have a pretty good team in 2022. However, on paper, they are the third-best team in the division. If the Minnesota Twins bounce back, they could end up being the fourth-best team. The White Sox won the division over them (Cleveland finished in second) by a wide margin.
The Detroit Tigers even came close to passing Cleveland as they were great in the second half. If the season was 172 games, they just might have. Their offense is very weak right now and needs to improve or they are going nowhere anytime soon.
They have been a pitching factory for a very long time. They produce great pitchers like nobody else in the division and it has been incredible to watch. As long as they keep doing that, they will have a chance to be an annoying division rival but the offense is very unimpressive.
It is cool to see them moving forward with a new name. It will be fun to see the White Sox battle the Guardians for the first time ever in 2022. The Sox should be a better team by far but they will certainly play some entertaining games as they are still rivals.