The Chicago White Sox’s week swung from frustrating to electric, and the power rankings reflected that mixed bag.
At home against the Boston Red Sox, Chicago couldn’t get much going and ended up on the wrong side of a three-game sweep. Boston has been surging lately, and that run continued in Chicago as the Red Sox stretched their winning streak to nine games.
Then came Friday, and the White Sox finally had something to celebrate. Munetaka Murakami returned from the IL, though he wasn’t the headline act in the 14-1 win over the Athletics.
That belonged to Tristan Peters, the offseason pickup from the Tampa Bay Rays, who turned in a night for the record books by hitting for the cycle. He became the seventh player in franchise history to do it.
Chicago kept rolling from there and finished off a three-game sweep of the A’s, giving the club a 3-3 week overall. Even with the strong finish, Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller moved the White Sox down one spot, from No. 8 to No. 9, in his latest power rankings.
“The White Sox ended up stuck in the middle of two teams heading in polar opposite directions, contributing to both the nine-game winning streak of the Red Sox and the nine-game losing streak of the Athletics. Though he didn't homer, Munetaka Murakami returned for the latter, more encouraging series, which began with a 14-1 win fueled by Tristan Peters hitting for the cycle. If you've been waiting for this team to fade, here's hoping you haven't been holding your breath.”
With Murakami back, the White Sox could be a different club in the second half. They may need that boost, too, with the Cleveland Guardians pressing close in the division standings.
In Other News...
White Sox Just Made A Franchise Bet On Roch Cholowsky
The White Sox used the top pick in the MLB Draft on Roch Cholowsky, making the UCLA infielder the centerpiece of their latest attempt to build something more lasting. It is the kind of choice that says as much about where the franchise wants to go as where it is right now, with Chicago still trying to climb back into contention while leaning on a growing group of young players already on the roster.
Cholowsky arrives with the profile of a future shortstop and a bat the White Sox believe can become a real middle-of-the-order force. The path from draft night to the South Side is still ahead of him, but the organizations bet is clear: if this rebuild is going to turn, it may turn around a player who can anchor both the defense and the offense for years to come. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Hicks Is Suddenly At The Center Of A White Sox Question
At the All-Star break, the White Sox can look up and see themselves tied for first place in the AL Central, but the bullpen remains one of the clearest reasons there is still work to do. Seranthony Dominguez has been part of the inconsistency, and with the deadline approaching, Chicago is expected to keep checking the market for relief help as it tries to protect a division lead that has come with some uneven late-inning work.
Jordan Hicks has quickly become a central part of that conversation. The veteran right-hander, acquired over the winter, has looked like a stabilizing force since his return in late June, and if the White Sox decide the trade market does not offer the right fit, Hicks may end up carrying even more of the load alongside prospect Tanner McDougal on the right side. For a club trying to turn a surprising first-half position into something more lasting, that is a lot to ask of a bullpen still searching for certainty. [Read more 🡒]