The White Sox lost two road series this past week. One against the leaders of the American League, New York Yankees, and the other against a team at the bottom of the league, the Detroit Tigers. The argument could be made that the Yankees are simply the better team, but the same can't be said for the Tigers, especially since the Sox didn't just lose — they got swept.
The Sox proved that they can play with the big dogs after winning back-to-back series against the National League leading LA Dodgers and Atlanta Braves. The difference between these series wins and losses? It further emphasized the White Sox aren't able to win on the road, and it screams they're not playoff ready.
The Sox have been hot at home, but that success hasn't translated to the road yet. The last time they won a road series was on May 1-3 against the San Diego Padres. Chicago is 25-12 at home and 15-25 away from Rate Field.
White Sox addressing road flaws will determine their playoff fate
As it stands, the White Sox are in the playoff picture. They're fighting for the AL Central crown, which will definitely help them in the home field advantage department with the lagging AL West.
The Sox have a series record of 3-9-1 on the road. Out of their losses and one tie, they have played four of those teams at home and won all of those series. Contrast that with a 9-3 record in series in Chicago.
Their biggest issue on the road has been their pitching. At home, the staff owns a 3.41 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. When they're away, they have a 5.39 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. Pitching being an issue is no surprise for the Sox, but this contrast is too drastic to ignore.
And the fact of the matter is that the White Sox aren't in a position to get the top seed in the American League and enjoy home field advantage throughout the postseason. They could get it for one series, but that won't be enough, especially when they're facing the best pitching in the most hostile environments against more experienced teams.
The Sox now return home for two series, meaning they will be in their comfort zone. A series win against the Guardians is especially crucial for control of the AL Central, but what will matter is how they follow that up. Keep an eye on the series vs the Baltimore Orioles from June 29-July 1, almost two months from the last time they won on the road. From here on out, changing this aspect of their play will be crucial in defining their future success.
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