CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 16: Dylan Cease #84 of the Chicago White Sox delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 16, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
If the Chicago White Sox indeed rally in the standings to make the 2022 MLB postseason, they could well be a team that none of their American League counterparts will want to face in the opening round.
Entering Wednesday’s series finale against the Colorado Rockies at Guaranteed Rate Field, the Chicago White Sox had captured five of their last six games and 10 of their last 13 to pull within three games of the Cleveland Guardians in the race for the AL Central. FanGraphs lists their odds of making the postseason at 23.5 percent, up from the 13.3 percent that the Southsiders held at the start of September.
While the odds are still not in Chicago’s favor, there is no question that the White Sox are making a late push. That September momentum could well carry over into October, making the White Sox a potentially dangerous team in October.
White Sox: 3 reasons Chicago will be a dangerous out if they make the postseason
Reason 1: Reignited pitching
First, let’s start with the man at the front of the rotation. Dylan Cease is making his case for the American League Cy Young Award, leading all MLB pitchers, heading into Wednesday’s action, in opponent batting average (.184), while ranking second in ERA (2.06), third in strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched (11.44), and fourth in strikeouts (206).
Cease has been part of what has been a solid Chicago rotation in September. Since the start of the month, Chicago starting pitching has posted an overall 2.78 ERA and 1.036 WHIP, their lowest marks of the entire season.
Also, don’t overlook what Lance Lynn has been doing in recent starts. In his last seven starts, the veteran right-hander is 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA.
“He’s been pitching really well,” acting manager Miguel Cairo said of Lynn on Tuesday. “Everyone has been pitching good lately.”
That’s a very promising sign for a team trying to keep the momentum going toward the postseason.