The Chicago White Sox will come out of the All-Star break in first place. This much is a certainty.
Currently, there are two teams that have a legitimate chance of catching Chicago during the second half of the season. While the Kansas City Royals have played fair baseball during stretches this season, the Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers are the greatest threats to AL Central supremacy.
The Tigers are a dangerous team and feel as though they are lurking just beneath the surface, ready to explode at any moment. The reality is that they are currently in third place.
Sitting in second place are the Indians. This is the second year in a row the Indians have played extended periods of winning baseball. The Indians have a solid core and a good manager, so let’s not assume that they are going to just fade into that good night.
They have, however, been outscored this year by 32 runs, while the White Sox have outscored their opponents by 63 runs, which is third best in MLB. This disparity in runs should prevent them from advancing into the postseason. However, in baseball nothing can be taken for granted.
Breaking down the Sox and Indians position players going into Saturday’s action will give White Sox fans a realistic expectation of what the remainder of the season holds as the teams vie for an AL Central crown.
@suggestsmith