The Other Chicago

With the Cubs rained out Monday night, the other Chicago team kept up its winning ways as the White Sox defeated the Rangers 8-4 in twelve innings. At 23-10, the White Sox hold a commanding six-game lead in the AL Central and are 3 1/2 games better than any other team in the AL. The team acquired Todd Frazier to supply power, and he’s done that well. His two home runs Monday night, including a grand slam in the top of the 12th for the game winning runs gives him 10 home runs for the season. He is all or nothing, however, as his .215/.290/.477 slash line shows. Fourteen of his 28 hits have gone for extra bases, so if he’s not hitting for power, he’s not doing much else.

That’s okay, however, since pitching is carrying the team. The starters are among the best in the AL, as you can see in the Game Score report. Things are very close among the White Sox, Rays, and Blue Jays starters. The White Sox starters beat the Rays in going deep into games, and they beat the Blue Jays in allowing fewer negative events.

What ultimately trumps the other two teams, however, is the White Sox shutdown bullpen. They own a 1.98 ERA in 95 1/3 innings, having allowed just three home runs on the season. The combination means the White Sox are allowing 3.06 runs per game, the best by far in the league. With a some pop from players like Frazier and a few others getting on base, the Sox do not need to generate much offense to win.

So far, it’s a great season to be a Chicago fan.

from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/1T8yZFY