Chicago White Sox set sights on winning World Series, but they have some trouble spots

At the start of this short, strange trip, general manager Rick Hahn wasn't quite sure what to expect when the White Sox were bogged down with a 10-11 record one third of the way through the season.

"We really had no idea how long this sort of intermediate stage of transition was going to take," Hahn said. "Had we conceivably continued to win at that same pace, come in around .500 at the end of the season, I don't think it would have been a great shock."

Last week, Hahn said the Sox have quickly shifted into a team capable of winning the World Series this year.

Starting pitcher Lucas Giolito, who helped the White Sox become the first American League team to clinch a playoff spot, agrees with his GM.

"If we don't win the World Series, then we've never really done what we came to do," Giolito said. "I thought that making the postseason was a good step in the right direction. But now that we're here, why not go out and win the whole thing?"

Can the White Sox win the World Series for the first time since 2005? Anything is possible, especially this year given all of the unknowns that have been in place since spring training was halted by COVID-19 midway through March.

But there are areas of concerns with five games left on the schedule:

Starting rotation

Giolito will start for the Sox in Game 1 of the opening round of the playoffs next Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.

It's a best-of-three series, and Dallas Keuchel gets the ball in Game 2. After that, there are decisions to make.

Dylan Cease has been the White Sox's No. 3 starter this season, but that's probably going to change. In 17⅔ September innings, Cease has issued 14 walks. The right-hander really struggled in his last outing, walking seven in 3 innings.

Dane Dunning (2-0, 3.19 ERA) has been a big surprise and is a definite candidate to pitch Game 3 of the playoffs, but he's a rookie who missed the entire 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

In his last start, at Cleveland on Monday, Dunning lasted just 4 innings and gave up 4 runs on 6 hits.

It didn't seem possible earlier this month, but Reynaldo Lopez is in a groove and looking like the favorite to follow Giolito and Keuchel.

Since returning from a demotion to Schaumburg on Sept. 10, Lopez has made 3 strong starts and allowed 4 earned runs over 15⅓ innings.

Luis Robert

A shoo-in for Rookie of the Year honors at the end of August, Robert is trying to survive a miserable September.

The 23-year-old center fielder was 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts against the Indians on Tuesday night and is hitless in his last 24 at-bats. Robert's batting average has plunged to .225.

"They're trying to keep him closed, trying to get him to stay to the opposite side of the field, stay in the middle of the diamond a little bit more," manager Rick Renteria said. "We're just trying to keep him confident. He's got a lot of talent, so we've just got to keep encouraging him and keep working."

Right stuff

The White Sox have been unbeatable against left-handed starting pitchers this season, going 13-0.

They've been a tick above average against right-handers and with the Indians their likely opponent in the first round of the playoffs, the Sox have reason to be worried.

Designated hitter

Edwin Encarnacion has 10 home runs this season, but he hasn't done much else and is batting .170.

When the playoffs start, Renteria has to consider using Yasmani Grandal, James McCann and Adam Engel at DH.