Runaway division leaders just starting tough stretch
Consider this portion of the August schedule a potential postseason appetizer for theWhite Sox.
The team has embarked on a test of 14 games in 15 days, all against playoff contenders. It started Thursday in a cornfield in Iowa. It will end Aug. 26 in Canada.
Starter Dallas Keuchel made note of the schedule in mid-June.
“We’re going to have a tough stretch in August,” Keuchel said June 15. “We’re playing a lot of
great teams.”
The Sox couldn’t have scripted a better beginning, beating the New York Yankees 9-8 in the Field of Dreams game Thursday at Dyersville, Iowa. Sox shortstop Tim Anderson capped the memorable night with a game-ending two-run homer in the ninth.
“Baseball really hit a grand slam,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said before Saturday’s game against the Yankees at Guaranteed Rate Field. La Russa missed Thursday’s game, attending his brother-in-law’s funeral.
“It turned out to be a game that you think would have been
scripted on a Hollywood movie lot or something — it was amazing,” he said. “Talking to the guys today, they were overwhelmed with the excitement (and) energy that was at the park.”
After suffering two walk-off losses to the Yankees while getting swept in a three-game series May 21-23 in New York, the Sox turned the tables Thursday.
The Sox are runaway leaders in the American League Central, entering Saturday with an 11-game edge. But much has been made of their record against teams above .500, which was 16-19 entering Saturday.
In addition to being swept by the Yankees, the Sox dropped all four against the Astros from June 17-20 in Houston.
But the Sox had success against the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays, two teams they will see again during this stretch, and took two of three from the Astros in the first series after the All-Star break at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The Yankees (63-52) have been affected by COVID-19, with new addition Anthony Rizzo among the players with a recent positive test. But they are still within striking distance of an AL wild-card spot, sitting 2 ½ games behind the Boston Red Sox.
The White Sox-Yankees series wraps up Sunday. Here’s a look at what’s ahead for the Sox (records and stats are through Friday).