The Chicago White Sox might finally be turning a corner. After three straight seasons of 100-plus losses, this team is showing some serious fight. They've won eight of their last 12 games and are sitting just 1.5 games behind first-place Cleveland in the AL Central. Could a .500 record—or even a playoff push—actually be in reach?
A big reason for the turnaround? Some fresh faces are making an impact. Young hitters are stepping up, and the team may have found the best free-agent bargain of the offseason in Munetaka Murakami. The slugger is crushing the ball, ranking third in all of baseball in home runs. Sure, he's hitting just .180 at home, but his power is undeniable. Meanwhile, infielder Chase Meidroth has been on fire lately, batting .321 over his last 14 games.
The pitching staff isn't quite as dominant, but there's reason to be excited. Top prospect Noah Schultz—all 6'10" of him—has joined the big league rotation. His 95.6 mph fastball and a slider that opponents are hitting just .111 against? That's a nasty combination. He already tossed six shutout innings in his last start. And Hagen Smith, another elite arm, shouldn't be far behind.
This weekend, the White Sox host the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field. The Royals come in at 19-22, while Chicago sits at 19-21. Both teams are scrapping to climb the standings. The White Sox are scoring 4.28 runs per game (15th in MLB) and allowing 4.62 (21st). The Royals are scoring 4.12 (23rd) and allowing 4.46 (17th).
Some interesting storylines to watch: Andrew Benintendi's strikeout rate has spiked to 32.8 percent—seventh-highest in the league. Colson Montgomery is pulling the ball at a 53 percent clip, eighth-most in baseball. Journeyman catcher Drew Romo has already delivered a two-homer game and a three-walk performance in just nine games with the Sox. And former Royals outfielder Randal Grichuk? He's homered twice in six games since joining Chicago.
On the mound, Erick Fedde takes the ball for the White Sox. He's been solid at home with a 2.41 ERA this season, though he gave up three homers in his last outing. He has a 2.66 ERA in four career starts against the Royals. Royals catcher Salvador Perez has had success against him, going 4-for-8 with two walks. For Kansas City, Stephen Kolek has been a model of consistency—he has a Quality Start in all six of his career outings.
So, is this White Sox team actually good now? They're not quite there yet, but they're certainly feisty. And with young talent finally arriving, the future is looking a whole lot brighter on the South Side.