The White Sox 2026 season is nearing its end. Whether the team, who enters Thursday with a two-game lead in the AL Central, will make the playoffs or not, remains to be seen. But regardless, the season is winding down. With 18 games to play and an off-day two days prior, White Sox manager Will Venable made the decision to sit star third baseman Miguel Vargas for Wednesday’s game. Immediately after the lineup was posted, many speculated that Vargas was hurt because a routine day off at this stage made little sense. But Venable shut down those rumors before the game.
Venable on Vargas' night off: "Just trying to get through this stretch, so most likely will be the last off day for Miguel Vargas. I think this is 13 or 14 in a row that we’re getting going, so you’re just trying to get through here and put everyone in the best spot."
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) September 9, 2026
As has been the case most of the season, the expectation was that Vargas would pinch hit somewhere down the line, and he did so. Vargas pinch hit for the left-handed hitting Andrew Benintendi against Pirates lefty Gregory Soto in the sixth, and he struck out. But with the game on the line one inning later, the White Sox seemed to have Vargas up exactly when they needed him. Righty Camilo Doval came into the game staked to a 4-0 lead and walked Braden Montgomery. After a strikeout of Tristan Peters, Chase Meidroth worked a ten-pitch at bat before reaching on an infield single. A Kyle Teel walk then loaded the bases for Sam Antonacci, who followed with an infield single of his own to plate the White Sox’ first run.
That brought Miguel Vargas to the plate with the bases loaded and one out, trailing by three, and the Pirates brought in Yohan Ramirez to work out of the jam. On a 1-2 count, Vargas rolled over a sinker off the play away and grounded into an inning-ending double play, crushing the White Sox rally. The White Sox would go on to strand the bases loaded again in the eighth and drop the game 4-2.
The White Sox would be wise to roll with their best nine from here on out
It’s hard to tell what would’ve happened had Andrew Benintendi stayed in the game and took that plate appearance, but it’s an incredibly ironic ending after the questionable decision to sit Vargas. It’s easy to say in hindsight that sitting Vargas was the right decision, but it’s reasonable to recognize that sometimes a bad process yields good results. Miguel Vargas hasn’t been perfect by any means, but he’s been the best hitter on the White Sox all season long, and there’s nobody else I’d want up in that situation.
As the White Sox cling to a two-game lead with 17 to play, I don’t expect to see many more routine off-day for the White Sox starting position players. Will Venable needs to do everything he can to make sure his best nine are in the lineup every night, especially considering the questionable state of the starting rotation. The White Sox are going to live and die by their young lineup for the season’s final few weeks, and they should at least do it by putting their best foot forward every night.
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