White Sox still trying to prove they're legitimate contenders
Major-league baseball's traditional nonwaiver trade deadline is July 31.
The key date falls on a Sunday this season, so it has been pushed back a day to Aug. 1.
That's good news for the Chicago White Sox, who are going to need as much time as possible to determine if they are contenders or also-rans.
Heading into the second half of the season with a West Coast game against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night, the Sox rightly view themselves as contenders.
They are tied for third in the AL Central, 7 games behind the first-place Cleveland Indians. The White Sox are only 4½ games out of a wild-card spot.
"We have the right guys in the right spots," said ace starting pitcher Chris Sale, who leads the major leagues with 14 wins. "Just pick up where we left off and keep grinding."
Looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008, the Sox opened the season as the best team in the league with 23 wins in the first 33 games, but they followed up with 23 losses in the next 33 games.
The White Sox got back on track with 12 wins in 19 games heading into the all-star break, and here are five keys in the second half:
Starting line:
In their last 5 combined starts, Miguel Gonzalez and James Shields have been excellent, allowing 7 earned runs in 34⅓ innings.
Sale and Jose Quintana are all-stars at the top of the rotation, and strong starting pitching typically gets teams to the playoffs.
Carlos Rodon is the key to the starting five. The 23-year-old lefty opens the second half on the disabled list with a sprained left wrist, and he needs to pitch better when he returns later this month.
"It hasn't been what I wanted, that's for sure," said Rodon, who was 2-7 with a 4.50 ERA in the first half. "Hopefully, I only miss 1 start, get healthy and come back better."
Roster additions:
General manager Rick Hahn is likely to add an outside player or two if the White Sox are still in the race at the end of the month.
Before the deadline, the Sox are going to get designated hitter Justin Morneau, whom they signed in early June. Morneau is on a rehab assignment and just about fully recovered from December elbow surgery.
Center fielder Austin Jackson (knee) also is due back in the near future. He has been sidelined for more than a month.
Zach Putnam is hoping to avoid elbow surgery and return to the White Sox's bullpen. He hasn't pitched since June 20.
Resplendent rookie:
The Sox initially were planning to give top prospect Tim Anderson a full season at Class AAA Charlotte.
The 23-year-old shortstop had other ideas, and he joined the White Sox in early June and immediately showed he was ready for the majors.
"He has the talent to stick here," manager Robin Ventura said. "He has the talent to do some special things."
Not only has Anderson shown strong defensive skills at a demanding position, he has posted a .304/.310/.488 slash line with 4 home runs and 10 RBI in 28 games.
Heart of the matter:
The White Sox's offense is better than last season, but not by much.
Entering the second half, the Sox rank 12th in the league with 368 runs scored. Last year they were last in the AL with 622.
Jose Abreu got off to a slow start, and once Abreu got going Todd Frazier tailed off.
Abreu has reached base safely in 31 of his last 33 games, and Frazier is batting .317 with 4 home runs and 8 RBI in his last 11 games.
The White Sox's starting rotation is the key to a playoff push, but the White Sox need to produce more runs, and it all starts with Abreu and Frazier in the middle of the order.
What a relief:
The Sox's bullpen was overworked throughout April and into May, and there was a predictable drop-off.
With Sale, Quintana, Gonzalez and Shields all showing an ability to pitch deeper into games, key relievers Zack Duke, Nate Jones and closer David Robertson should benefit from getting needed rest.
The White Sox also could get a boost from top pitching prospect Carson Fulmer. The No. 8 overall pick in the 2015 draft, Fulmer has been starting at Class AA Birmingham.
Shaking off some early-season struggles, the right-hander has shown steady improvement, and Fulmer really looked good in Sunday's All-Star Futures game while striking out two in a perfect inning of relief.
The Sox still view Fulmer as a future starter, but they like to ease their best young pitchers into the majors through the bullpen.
Scouting report
White Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim
TV: Comcast SportsNet today and Saturday; WGN Sunday
Radio: WLS 890-AM
Pitching matchups: The White Sox's Miguel Gonzalez (2-4) vs. Hector Santiago (6-4) today at 9:05 p.m.; James Shields (4-10) vs. Matt Shoemaker (4-9) Saturday at 8:05 p.m.; TBA vs. Jered Weaver (7-7) Sunday at 2:35 p.m.
At a glance: The Sox hit the all-star break with their first winning record (45-43) since 2012. Before dropping two of three games to the lowly Braves to end the first half, the White Sox won five straight series. In his first 28 major-league games, shortstop Tim Anderson has delivered multiple hits 14 times. Gonzalez was sharp in his last two starts, allowing 2 earned runs on 8 hits in 14 innings. The Sox and Angels split a four-game series at U.S. Cellular Field in April. Los Angeles (37-52) is last in the AL West. Mike Trout leads the Angels with a .322 batting average, 18 home runs and a .425 on-base percentage. L.A. Is 16-26 at home.
Next: Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field, Monday-Wednesday
- Scot Gregor