The Chicago White Sox didn’t exactly hand out a pitching clinic Tuesday night. They did, however, keep themselves squarely in the AL Central race with a wild 14-11 win over Kansas City, a game that turned into a 25-run shootout and still ended with Chicago on top.
Randal Grichuk led the offensive charge with four hits, and Chase Meidroth added three more. The White Sox also launched four home runs, piling up enough offense to survive a night when the Royals kept answering back.
That result pushed Chicago to 81-76 with five games left. Cleveland stayed a step ahead at 82-75 after beating Boston 3-2, so the Guardians still hold the better record. But the gap is small enough that every night now feels like it matters twice.
For the White Sox, the bigger story is what this win says about where they are in the chase. A game like this can go sideways fast, especially when the other team scores 11.
Chicago didn’t let it become a damaging loss. The offense kept coming, and that was enough.
None of that erases the obvious issue on the mound. Giving up double-digit runs is still a red flag, no matter how loud the bats get.
But this stage of the season isn’t about style points. It’s about stacking wins and forcing the team ahead of you to keep responding.
Cleveland has done that so far. Tuesday’s win over Boston was its sixth in a row, and the Guardians remain in control of their own path.
If they keep finishing strong, the White Sox may run out of runway. If they slip even once, Chicago is close enough to make it matter.
That’s what gives the final week its edge. The White Sox are still in Kansas City, and the Guardians are still in Boston, but the two races are connected anyway. Every result can shift the pressure.
Chicago’s offense has made this a far more compelling finish than anyone might have expected. The pitching, though, is a reminder that this push is fragile. Tuesday was messy, but it was also the kind of win teams need when the standings are this tight.
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Guardians Moved Within Reach Of October After A Win That Got Tense
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Tim Herrin, Craig Yoho, Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith each had a hand in protecting the lead, keeping Cleveland in control even as the game tightened down the stretch. The win leaves the Guardians with a magic number of two to clinch a playoff spot, and depending on how the other results break, it could shrink to one before long. [Read more 🡒]
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Vogts Late-Game Guardians Move Is Becoming A Real October Weapon
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Against the Red Sox, that move paid off in a big way, as Genao made a crucial defensive play that helped close out the win and trim Clevelands magic number to clinch a postseason berth. The contrast between the two young infielders has become part of the clubs late-game equation, with Genao offering the steadier glove right now while Bazzana continues to work through the challenges of his first full season. For a team trying to lock down October, those small swaps can carry outsized weight. [Read more 🡒]