The Chicago White Sox trail the Cleveland Guardians by 4.0 games in the AL Central Division. The Minnesota Twins tried to gift wrap the division for the Guardians by losing seven out of eight games against them in September but the White Sox still have a chance.
With three games ahead starting on Tuesday, the division is still very much up for grabs. The White Sox will have a legit shot at winning it if they sweep them but they really do need to take it game by game.
If they do sweep them they are going to then have the tie-breaker as the winner of the season series. This is a great chance for the White Sox to get back on top of the division and finish strong after a mostly disappointing season.
Starting pitching is going to be the key for both teams in this one. Whoever’s starters show up and pitch the best is going to take the series. Each team is loaded with talent in that department. These are the pitching matchups in each game:
Game One – Dylan Cease vs Aaron Civale
The Chicago White Sox have their ace available for game one of this series.
The Chicago White Sox have a distinct pitching advantage in the first game of this series as Dylan Cease is going to face Aaron Civale. This is a case where both teams are trotting out a good pitcher but the White Sox have the guy in Cy Young contention here.
Civale is 2-6 with an ERA of 5.40. That is not good at all but the 2022 White Sox have often struggled with good pitchers having tough years. Cease could dominate but the Guardians have hitters that can hit the best pitchers so don’t chalk this up as a win or a loss.
On paper, the White Sox should win this one but both Cease and the hitters need to be at their best in order to take the win.