Here are four takeaways from the weekend series at Guaranteed Rate Field in which the Chicago White Sox won two of three against the Boston Red Sox.
1. The series provided a taste of what’s ahead in the postseason.
The White Sox got a taste of October with three one-run games — and all three were different.
They built a four-run lead Friday and held on for a 4-3 victory. They fell behind by five Saturday, took the lead and then lost 9-8 in 10 innings. And they got a walk-off home run by Leury García on Sunday for a 2-1 victory.
“It was a really outstanding experience to play against the Red Sox because they’re really fighting hard for a (playoff) spot and we wanted to match that kind of intensity,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said Sunday. “It’s what we have to do every game from here to the end if we want to get better. Keep stressing it because it’s true. We’ll get better if we just keep putting pressure on ourselves.”
With Sunday’s win, the magic number for clinching the American League Central is nine.
Not that the players are doing any scoreboard watching.
“Did they play today?” Lance Lynn said with a smile when asked Sunday if he’s following the second-place Cleveland Indians.
When informed they lost, he said, “That works for us then.”
2. Carlos Rodón and Lance Lynn looked sharp in their returns.
Two important members of the rotation returned for the White Sox during the series, and both impressed.
Rodón allowed one run on three hits and struck out seven in five innings during Friday’s 4-3 victory. It was his first start since Sept. 1 as he dealt with what he described as “a little (shoulder) soreness. Just tired and trying to get that arm back going. Nothing worrisome.”
The White Sox reinstated Lynn from the injured list Friday, and he started Sunday. The right-hander, who was placed on the IL on Aug. 29 with right knee inflammation, struck out nine and allowed two hits in five scoreless innings.
More aid is on the way with Lucas Giolito in line to pitch Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels.
“I look back because we had that long period where we didn’t have position players that we needed, but we had our pitching, starters and relievers,” La Russa said. “And then, the irony of baseball, we get as healthy as we can be and we lose three starters for a time. We weathered the storm, basically played .500 here and there.
“But getting Carlos back, having Lynn back now and then Lucas on Tuesday, the only thing about it is starting Tuesday we’re going to play 14 games in 13 days, so get your rest (with Monday’s day off) because we’re going to be tested.”
3. The White Sox have interesting questions ahead for their lineup.
The White Sox are on the verge of getting another offensive boost Tuesday with the likely return of Tim Anderson. The shortstop has been on the injured list since Aug. 29 with a left hamstring strain.
“First of all, he’s as good a shortstop as there is in major-league baseball, whether it’s defense or offense, his whole game,” La Russa said before Sunday’s game. “We’ve been really fortunate. Leury has been outstanding. When Danny (Mendick) plays, he makes all the plays. No disrespect to them, but Tim is one of the best out there.”
When Anderson does return, the White Sox will have to decide where to slot Luis Robert in the lineup. Robert went 6-for-13 against the Red Sox, including an RBI single Sunday. He led off in all three games with Yoán Moncada batting second.
“Luis has been outstanding (hitting) first, he’s been outstanding second,” La Russa said. “Right now Moncada is really handling that second spot, Tim first, so putting (Robert) down, but he won’t be far down. He’s too much on his game.
“You may see him in the second spot and move Yoán. I don’t know. Point is, Robert has been so impressive this year. There’s a decision there — again, too many good players.”
4. Michael Kopech took 2 steps forward.
The Sox will need Kopech on back-to-back nights in October. So it was a good sign to see him utilized in that fashion in the first two games of the series.
Kopech pitched two-thirds of an inning Friday, striking out two before allowing a walk and a single.
He was overpowering Saturday, striking out five in 2? innings.
“The more he throws, the better he gets, especially when he’s out there on back-to-back outings or he’s throwing multiple innings,” Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal said Saturday. “He’s been used to throwing a lot of innings during a year since he was a starter. And now he’s kind of taken over the role as a reliever. I think the more he gets to throw the ball, the better feel he gets, and we can go from there. But the ball was definitely jumping.”
It was his third time working on consecutive days. Kopech saw positives from both outings.
“The one from (Friday) night, I felt pretty good too, but I just didn’t execute some pitches,” he said. “(Saturday) I was able to go out there and have the same amount of aggressiveness and attack hitters, but I was able to execute some of my secondary stuff a little bit better and it played well.”
Before Saturday, Kopech had allowed 11 runs in 11? innings during his previous 11 outings.
“I was in somewhat of a rut there,” he said. “It was more self-inflicted than anything. I don’t think my stuff is necessarily bad. It was just kind of getting in my own way. Trying to do too much. And sometimes a little bit of bad luck.
“That happens in baseball. You can’t really control that. But I feel like I was able to take two steps forward (Saturday), and that’s a good sign.”
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