The Chicago White Sox were bottom feeders in the American League Central for three consecutive seasons. However, they have had one of the best turnarounds in recent baseball history in 2026.
The White Sox are tied for first place in the American League Central and they have been battling the Cleveland Guardians for the top spot as the two teams compete in the stretch run of the season. Whether the White Sox win the division or not, they have an excellent chance at playing postseason baseball as a Wild Card team
The White Sox lost 100 games in each of the three previous seasons, and that included a 121-loss season in 2024. That's the most losses of any team in the expansion era.
Players like Munetaka Murakami (32 home runs), Colson Montgomery (31 home runs) and Miguel Vargas (31 home runs) have keyed a rejuvenated offense that has provided the impetus for the turnaround. While all three have had hot streaks and cold streaks, they have provided manager Will Venable with significant power when it has been needed most.
Major League Baseball insider Ken Rosenthal declared that the White Sox turnaround is one of the âÂÂbest stories in years.â The Athletic and Fox reporter also pointed out that FanGraphs estimated that the White Sox would have a 67-95 record this year and less than a 1 percent chance of winning the division.
The White Sox have a 78-75 record with 9 games remaining in the season, and that's the same record as the Guardians. The White Sox won the season series between the two teams, and that would give them the edge if both teams are tied for the division lead at the conclusion of the season.