The Chicago White Sox swept the defending AL East champion Toronto Blue Jays last week, briefly giving fans hope they’d climbed out of their early-season hole. That momentum didn’t last long.
Baltimore swept them right back, and while they managed to take two of four from Kansas City, the White Sox are back where they started – near the bottom of the league.
The offense continues to be the biggest culprit. Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery are doing their part, but they’re essentially carrying the entire lineup on their own. That’s not exactly a recipe for success.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter dropped the White Sox back down to the second-worst team in his latest power rankings, and the numbers tell you why:
“The White Sox are hitting a paltry .193/.278/.306 as a team and averaging just 3.1 runs per game. Colson Montgomery and Munetaka Murakami are the only regulars with an OPS above .700 and that duo has accounted for seven of the team’s 12 home runs.”
Those are brutal numbers. When you’re averaging three runs per game, you’re basically asking your pitching staff to throw shutouts every night.
Speaking of pitching – it’s not much better. The White Sox hold the fifth-worst ERA at 4.70, which means they’re getting hit on both sides of the ball.
Looking for Solutions
There might be some help on the way. Top pitching prospect Noah Schultz is expected to make his MLB debut Tuesday, which could provide a spark to the rotation.
But the offense remains the bigger concern. Someone else needs to step up alongside Murakami and Montgomery. Maybe it’s time to consider calling up outfielder Braden Montgomery, their top prospect who’s already launched three home runs in nine minor league games this season.
The White Sox showed they can compete when they swept Toronto. The question now is whether they can find enough consistent production to avoid spending the entire season in the basement.
