The Chicago White Sox were off on Monday after a long road trip to the west coast. On that trip, they went 5-2. Unfortunately, the Cleveland Guardians kept pace so they are still 3.0 games ahead of the White Sox in the American League Central standings.
It is going to be a hard race to the finish line for both of these teams. The Minnesota Twins are also involved but they are a couple of games behind the White Sox in third place. Going into the final weeks of the season, there is a lot to be figured out.
The White Sox start this week with a record of 72-69. As mentioned already, they are three games out of first place with 21 games remaining. That is not the ideal spot to be in but they have a chance to do something special over these final three weeks.
The tragic number (better known as the elimination number) is 20. Any win by the Cleveland Guardians or loss by the Chicago White Sox will lower the number by one. Clearly, it is going to be close if both teams keep playing as they have been for the last few weeks.
The Chicago White Sox are in a battle for first place as the season comes to an end.
The White Sox have four games remaining on the schedule against Cleveland. Of course, these games are huge because each one will be worth two on the elimination number if the White Sox loses. However, every win will get them a game closer to first place.
A home series against the Colorado Rockies will start the week for the White Sox following the off-day on Monday. They will play two games against them before taking on the Guardians in a makeup game (rainout) on Thursday.
Following that one rainout makeup, the White Sox will have a series against the lowly Detroit Tigers. This is another chance for the White Sox to do some damage in the division and hope for some help from the teams going up against the Guardians.
Coming into the 2022 season, nobody would have thought the White Sox would be in this situation but that’s the way it is. It is up to them to avoid being eliminated and get into the playoffs as hot as possible.