White Sox's fade continues with 5-3 loss to Tigers
The list of White Sox players exceeding expectations this year is not long.
Dylan Cease. Johnny Cueto. You can probably throw Andrew Vaughn in there and that would be about it.
As they play out the season after being swept by the first-place Guardians earlier this week, Lucas Giolito is on the much lengthier list of players that didn't come close to meeting expectations.
From 2019-21, Giolito was 29-21 with a 3.47 ERA, 5 complete games and a no-hitter. The 28-year-old righty averaged 11.07 strikeouts per 9 innings over the last three seasons and he finished seventh in Cy Young Award voting two straight years before dropping to 11th in 2021.
Looking to remain a top-end starter this season, Giolito was sharp in April but noticeably slipped the next four months.
Like the White Sox, Giolito has been better in September but it's still going to be a year to forget.
"It's been a rough year for us," said Giolito, who is 10-9 with a 5.05 ERA. "It's been a rough year for me, obviously. Just try to finish it on a good note. I think that we've got a lot of motivation, at least myself, for these last two starts and an important offseason before next season."
In Friday night's 5-3 loss to the Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field, Giolito gave up 3 runs on 6 hits and a walk through the first two innings before settling down.
The Sox (76-75) have lost four in a row and have fallen 8 games behind the Guardians in the AL Central.
"We came into the (Cleveland) series focused, ready to go," Giolito said. "It just didn't go our way. Heartbreaking losses, but that's just the way it goes. You move on and play for each other, play hard through the end of the season."
Is he surprised the Sox are still hovering around the .500 mark?
"I wouldn't say it's shocking," Giolito said. "We've had a whole season of just not putting things together. Tonight, another tough loss late."
Giolito pitched 6 innings and gave up 3 runs on 6 hits to go with 9 strikeouts.
Tim Anderson and Luis Robert didn't play against Detroit and are still trying to get back on the field before the season ends.
Anderson has been on the injured list since early August with a finger injury. It's now looking like the shortstop will go on a rehab assignment with Class AAA Charlotte if he is able to return.
"I think he can do it, but we'll see what happens," acting manager Miguel Cairo said. "We've got to make sure he's 100 percent but of course I'd like to see him lead off and be with our team and finish the season."
Robert has sat out 18 of the last 24 games with a sore left wrist.
"He's got some pain," Cairo said of the center fielder. "If he gets a couple days off, he feels better. As soon as he gets two or three at-bats, he starts feeling the pain again. I don't want him to get hurt and aggravate it. It's not fair, I don't think it's fair for him."