A strong start to the month of June for the Chicago White Sox was followed up by yet another slump. Despite a healthier roster in the worst division in baseball, the White Sox pitching staff continues to hold them back. Their team ERA stands at 4.56, which is ranked 24th in Major League Baseball. Their 719 team strikeouts lead the AL, but their 300 team walks are the second most, behind only the Oakland Athletics. Chicago needs to work closer toward a .500 record before it’s too late, and it starts with the pitching staff.
Woes Continue for White Sox Pitching Staff
The Starting Rotation
A rotation consisting of Michael Kopech, Lucas Giolito, Mike Clevinger, Dylan Cease, and Lance Lynn sounded really nice to begin the season. While it might look formidable on paper, this rotation has been anything but good. Giolito holds the best ERA amongst the five starters at 3.54. His ERA is much improved thanks to one earned run over 13 innings in recent starts against the Miami Marlins and New York Yankees.
A no-hit performance from Lucas Giolito tonight at Yankee Stadium ?
Absolute dominance. pic.twitter.com/yVfEPK6lyp
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) June 7, 2023
Even though Giolito, Clevinger, and Kopech have recently lowered their ERA, they still have some work to do. Dylan Cease needs to get back to Cy Young-caliber form, and as for Lance Lynn, well, there’s almost no hope. A 6.51 ERA has highlighted the 36-year-old’s season so far. 102 strikeouts and 33 walks make for a 3.1 K/BB ratio, which is quite the dip from his 6.5 K/BB last season. The final year of Lynn’s contract is a 2024 club option, and the White Sox just might end up saying goodbye if he doesn’t pick it up this season.
The Bullpen
According to FanGraphs, the White Sox bullpen ERA stands at an abysmal 4.75. Relief pitching for the White Sox has been very unreliable all season. One positive note is that they do have a deep, talented pen with plenty of options to turn to. This might be the only thing saving them from having an ERA over five. Aaron Bummer, Jimmy Lambert, and Reynaldo Lopez have all more than doubled their ERA from last season. Liam Hendriks is still knocking the rust off, while Joe Kelly has steadily recovered from his atrocious April performances. Keynan Middleton and Gregory Santos have both been pleasant surprises, with ERAs under three. If not for them, the White Sox bullpen ERA would be hovering around 5.50.
The Road Ahead
After losing eight of their last 11 games, the White Sox will look to bounce back against the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels in upcoming series matchups. Over their last 11 games, Chicago has allowed 5.3 runs per game on average. Their average runs scored per game over that span is 3.4. Moving forward, both numbers will need to be improved. The AL Central is essentially a joke at this point, as the division-leading Minnesota Twins stand a game under .500. The White Sox still have a good chance to win the division if they can diminish this ugly repetitious cycle.
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn has spoken about the upcoming August 1st trade deadline with little to no clarity. It’s hard to tell what he may or may not try to achieve, as he calls the deadline “quiet”. With all the talent the White Sox have, he might be better off just staying put this year. It’s not totally fair to judge this team based on their performance this year, as pretty much every player has had multiple stints on the injured list. However, if the White Sox don’t improve by the end of the season, many moves should be made to salvage the remaining talent.
Photo Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned: Michael Kopech, Lucas Giolito, Mike Clevinger, Dylan Cease, Lance Lynn, Aaron Bummer, Jimmy Lambert, Reynaldo Lopez, Liam Hendriks, Joe Kelly, Keynan Middleton, Gregory Santos
