Two postseason answers came into focus for the White Sox farm system on Friday, and they landed on opposite sides of the ledger.
The good news: Greensboro punched its ticket to the South Atlantic League Championship Series after a late push carried it past Frederick, 7-5. That sets up the latest edition of the Battle of I-40, with the Winston-Salem Dash and the Grasshoppers meeting for the title.
Winston-Salem will host Game 1 on Sunday. The series then shifts to Greensboro for Games 2 and 3, if needed, on Tuesday and Wednesday. The ballparks are only 34 minutes apart, so the usual travel-day logistics barely apply here.
The bad news: Birmingham’s season ended with two games still left on the schedule after Knoxville outlasted the Barons, 8-7.
Caleb Bonemer provided one of the loudest swings of the day, launching his 37th home run of the season and finishing 1-for-3 with a walk. MLB Pipeline called it a “NO-DOUBTER 💪” and noted that the White Sox No. 2 prospect became the fifth minor leaguer to reach 37 homers this year.
Samuel Zavala did plenty of damage as well, going deep, doubling, walking, striking out and driving in four runs.
Colby Shelton went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout, and Ryan Burrowes finished 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
On the mound for Birmingham, Lucas Gordon was hit for five runs, all earned, in 2.2 innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out two. Pierce George followed with two scoreless innings, giving up two hits and two walks without a strikeout.
Charlotte edged Buffalo, 2-1, behind a strong outing from Shane Murphy. He worked seven innings, allowed five hits and one run, issued no walks and struck out five. He threw 57 of his 86 pitches for strikes.
Junior Pérez went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout in the win.
In Other News...
White Sox Rotation Plan May Hinge On One Risky Trade Target
The White Sox are still sorting out how aggressive they want to be in rebuilding the top of their rotation, and one name already hanging over the discussion is Spencer Strider. Atlanta reportedly considered putting him into trade talks for Jacob deGrom at the deadline, a reminder of just how highly the Braves value him despite the injury baggage that has piled up around his arm and side in recent seasons.
For Chicago, the appeal is obvious: Strider brings the kind of upside that can change a staff if he is right. The problem is just as obvious, too, because any team eyeing him has to weigh that ceiling against the risk, the cost, and the reality that the White Sox may need more than one move to turn their rotation into something dependable. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Fans May Have A New Rate Field Headache Soon
A planned Amtrak maintenance facility in Bridgeport is drawing fresh scrutiny, and the timing is hard to ignore for White Sox fans who already know how messy the area around Rate Field can get. U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley said after a recent meeting with Amtrak that he agrees the rail company needs the facility, but he opposes putting it in a residential neighborhood.
Amtrak has told Chicagos Real Estate and Land Use Division that it plans to lean on federal statutory exemptions to move ahead without local zoning approval, while still working with the city on design and construction feedback. The project is expected to begin in early 2027, which could mean extra traffic and parking strain around the ballpark during the 2027 and 2028 MLB seasons, exactly the sort of headache Sox supporters would rather not add to a trip to the game. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Suddenly Face A September Problem Fans Feared
A rain delay did little to change the mood for the White Sox on Friday night, when a 7-3 loss to the Cardinals extended their skid to four straight and tightened the race in the American League Central. Chicago entered the night with a cushion that looked a lot safer earlier in the week, but the latest setback left the club looking up at a far slimmer margin as September pressure starts to settle in.
Colson Montgomery and Davis Martin both stressed the need to stay locked in and handle the moment without letting the noise spill onto the field, a sensible message for a team trying to hold its footing this late in the season. The White Sox have still done enough to control their own path, but with the margins shrinking and every game carrying more weight, the next few nights will say plenty about how well they can answer the challenge. [Read more 🡒]