After three straight 100-loss seasons, the Chicago White Sox can clinch a spot in the American League playoffs on Wednesday night.
The White Sox (81-76) carry a magic number of two to earn a playoff berth as they try for a series victory against the host Kansas City Royals (67-90).
“Every night here on out, it’s playoff atmosphere baseball,” White Sox outfielder Randal Grichuk said.
Grichuk went 4-for-5 with a three-run home run and finished a triple shy of the cycle as Chicago outslugged Kansas City 14-11 in Tuesday’s series opener.
Chase Meidroth went deep as part of a 3-for-4, five-RBI showing, and Brenton Doyle and Munetaka Murakami also homered. The White Sox improved to 9-0 this season when they hit at least four home runs.
Chicago remained one game behind the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians while staying three games clear of the White Sox’s nearest competitor — the Texas Rangers — for the third and final AL wild-card spot. A White Sox win, plus a Rangers loss to the New York Mets on Wednesday, would clinch at least a wild-card spot for Chicago.
White Sox starter Anthony Kay worked just four-plus innings on Tuesday, but the offense picked up the slack with 13 hits.
Grichuk paced the attack. He is batting .373 with five doubles, a triple, three home runs and 11 RBIs in September.
“I feel good. Mechanically, I feel good. Mentally, I’m in a good spot,” Grichuk said. “Hopefully, it can continue. This is when you want to be at your best, obviously. Playing meaningful games in September trying to get to October.”
Kansas City has lost five straight games and eight of nine but is coming off its best offensive output in nearly a month.
Tuesday marked the first time the Royals scored double-digit runs since a 13-2 victory at Toronto on Aug. 27.
Vinnie Pasquantino belted a ninth-inning grand slam to punctuate a 3-for-5, five-RBI night. Bobby Witt Jr. added three hits and Jac Caglianone had two.
Kansas City on Wednesday will turn to right-hander Seth Lugo (7-9, 5.06 ERA), an 11-year veteran who is aiming to avoid his first career season with double-digit losses.
Lugo has worked five innings in each of his first three September starts. He took the 6-2 loss at Houston on Thursday, giving up four runs and eight hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
The Astros hit four solo home runs against Lugo, who has surrendered multiple long balls in a game six times this season.
“It sounds kind of strange, but I think his stuff was pretty crisp,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said after that game. “He just missed on a couple, and they got him on first pitches.”
Lugo pitched effectively against the host White Sox on April 9 but lost 2-0 after allowing two runs (one earned) and four hits in 6 1/3 innings. He also was the losing pitcher in a 6-5 game in Chicago on May 13, giving up five runs on eight hits and two walks in five innings.
In eight career starts against the White Sox, including seven starts, Lugo is 3-2 with a 2.14 ERA over 46 1/3 innings.
Left-hander Bryan Hudson (5-4, 3.03 ERA) will serve as the opener for Chicago on Wednesday ahead of right-hander Erick Fedde (8-9, 3.90), who has worked 10 innings over two starts against the Royals this season, going 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA. The loss came on April 11, 2-0.
Fedde is 1-2 with a 2.84 ERA in five career starts vs. Kansas City covering 25 1/3 innings. He took a no-decision against the visiting Detroit Tigers on Thursday, permitting one run and four hits in 4 2/3 innings with two walks and six strikeouts in a 3-1 win.
–Field Level Media
