The Chicago White Sox were hoping they would wake up Sunday with a chance to do the unthinkable: win the American League Central division two years after losing a record 121 games.
But their 9-5 loss on Saturday to the Colorado Rockies, combined with the Cleveland Guardians’ 11-5 win over the Kansas City Royals, left the White Sox as the third wild card in the AL.
When the White Sox conclude their three-game series with the Rockies on Sunday in Chicago, the game instead will serve as a final tuneup for the playoffs as well as the celebration of a season no one saw coming after three consecutive 100-loss seasons.
“Obviously don’t get the division, which is disappointing,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “But at the same time it doesn’t take away from the fact that we’re just so proud of the group and we’re in a great spot. Obviously going into the playoffs. We’ll get through (Sunday’s) game, put our best foot forward and try and win that game and then roll into the playoffs.”
The playoffs begin Tuesday, and the White Sox will play somewhere in Texas. The opponent is still to be determined on Sunday, but it will be the winner of the AL West — either the Houston Astros or Texas Rangers.
“We want to win the division, of course, but that’s not in our hands anymore,” third baseman Miguel Vargas said. “Now we have to focus on the next thing.”
In the rubber game of the current series, Anthony Kay (9-9, 4.53 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for Chicago while Colorado will counter with Kyle Freeland (4-11, 6.48) in a matchup of left-handers.
The White Sox (83-78) will finish above .500 for the first time since they won the division with a 93-69 record in 2021.
It is also the last time they reached the playoffs.
Kay, who has never faced the Rockies (58-103), may be scratched if Venable decides to save him for the best-of-three wild-card series.
Freeland’s most recent outing came with plenty of emotion for the Denver native. He allowed five runs in three innings on Tuesday in a 7-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in what was possibly his final home game at Coors Field, and Sunday could be his last in a Colorado uniform.
The 33-year-old Freeland, whose career began in the Rockies’ home opener in 2017, has the most starts (256) and innings pitched (1,391 2/3) in club history and is a free agent after this season.
He is the longest-tenured player on the roster and the Rockies’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award for the fifth consecutive season. The honor goes to the player who best represents the game through community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions on and off the field.
“This guy’s meant so much to our organization over the years, and the ultimate pro,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “…The things that he’s done for this community and our baseball team over the years and the winning years are priceless. And I just want to thank him publicly for that.”
Freeland is making his fifth career start against the White Sox, and is 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA in those outings, including a 1-0 record and 1.35 ERA in two road starts.
While Freeland battles, it is likely rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield will not play. Rumfield’s RBI single in the first inning on Saturday night pushed his average to .300 — technically .2998 — and he was taken out before the bottom of the first.
“Super happy for TJ. That’s an awesome rookie season,” teammate Hunter Goodman said.
Goodman, who has 41 home runs after hitting two Saturday night, became the first National League catcher to hit 40 or more homers in a season since Javy Lopez did it for the Atlanta Braves in 2003.
–Field Level Media
