The playoffs are well within reach for the Chicago White Sox entering the final week of the regular season.
Chicago (80-76) heads into Tuesday’s series opener against the host Kansas City Royals trailing the Cleveland Guardians by one game for the American League Central lead.
The White Sox also began Monday with a three-game lead on the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros for the final AL wild-card spot. The Blue Jays were scheduled to play in Baltimore against the Orioles on Monday night.
“We’re just taking it one step at a time,” Chicago second baseman Chase Meidroth said. “We win the last six games, we’re in a good spot.”
Chicago endured a rain delay of nearly four hours on Sunday before rolling past the visiting Detroit Tigers 8-1 to take three of four in the weekend series. The much-needed rebound effort followed a shaky 2-7 stretch that included a series loss in Cleveland.
Sam Antonacci had two hits and two RBIs for the White Sox on Sunday while Braden Montgomery added two hits and an RBI.
Outfielder Tristan Peters didn’t bat in the game but took swings during the delay, two days after suffering a left shoulder/rib contusion upon crashing into the wall in pursuit of a fly ball.
Peters pinch-ran and scored in the eighth and played defense in the top of the ninth.
“Encouraged by my swings (Sunday),” Peters said. “I felt way better than I was expecting to.”
Kansas City (67-89) returns to Kauffman Stadium for a six-game homestand against the White Sox and Guardians.
Although the Royals are skidding after a 2-7 trip through Boston, Houston and Pittsburgh, manager Matt Quatraro is confident his players can rise to the challenge during the final week.
“I’m really excited for these last six games because they’re going to be very important,” Quatraro said. “It’s always good to play in meaningful games.”
Kansas City has lost four straight for the first time since Aug. 9-12.
Vinnie Pasquantino blasted a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the seventh inning Sunday but Nate Pearson surrendered a two-run blast of his own in the eighth. The Pirates held on for a 4-3 victory that secured a series sweep.
Pasquantino delivered his first pinch homer in only his seventh career pinch-hitting appearance.
“You never feel totally prepared when you come in and pinch-hit in the middle of the game,” he said, “but I felt good.”
Tuesday’s pitching matchup pits a pair of left-handers as Chicago’s Anthony Kay faces Daniel Lynch IV of Kansas City.
Kay (9-9, 4.41 ERA) is seeking his first victory since Aug. 8. He took a no-decision at Cleveland on Wednesday after allowing two runs and two hits in four innings with two walks and three strikeouts.
Kay is 2-1 with a 2.93 ERA in three starts against the Royals this season with 12 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings.
Lynch (6-5, 3.29) will make his ninth straight start after shifting to the rotation. He has worked five innings in each of his three September starts and is coming off Wednesday’s victory at Houston, when he pitched five scoreless innings with two hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
In four appearances against Chicago this season covering three innings, Lynch is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA and three strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
