The White Sox went three straight games without an extra-base hit for the first time since 2010, putting an exclamation point on a lifeless sweep at the hands of the Red Sox.
It's been a rough week for the Chicago White Sox, who were swept at home by the Boston Red Sox in a three-game series as we close in on the All-Star break.
The White Sox now find themselves at 47-45, allowing teams like the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers to get back into the AL Central race amid their recent losing streak. Maybe most importantly, the Sox seem to really lack energy at this point in the season.
The White Sox were completely lifeless against Boston. They were dominated in every facet of the game, and there wasn't even a real highlight from a White Sox player in the entire series. So if the series felt especially bleak from a White Sox perspective, the numbers back it up.
In fact, the White Sox did something this week that they haven't done as an organization since 2010.
Chicago did not have a single extra-base hit in the series against the Red Sox. It's the first time since 2010 that the White Sox have gone three games without an extra-base hit, and they became the first team in Major League Baseball this season to go three games without one.
The offense scored just two runs over the three-game series, leaving the White Sox at risk of falling below .500 in the first half if they can't win a game against the Athletics.
One of the more frustrating things about the 2026 White Sox has been their inability to play complete baseball for an extended run. They've gotten flashes from the starting pitching. They've had rather consistent offensive performances for most of the year. But very rarely have the two come together for a prolonged stretch. And usually when they have, the bullpen has found a way to play its worst baseball, blow some leads, and keep the White Sox from truly separating from the .500 mark and the rest of the AL Central.
After the most recent series with the Cleveland Guardians, we spent a lot of time complaining about Chicago's bullpen. Then, on Wednesday, the bullpen delivered five scoreless innings in relief of Davis Martin. On Thursday, it was 3.2 scoreless innings in relief of Anthony Kay. Both times, the bullpen kept the White Sox in the ballgame. And both times, the offense failed to come through and capitalize on the situation.
With Munetaka Murakami returning to the lineup for a series against the Athletics, the hope is that the White Sox can salvage a few games and win a series heading into the All-Star break, maintaining their spot at the top of the division and regaining a little bit of momentum. If they can do that, perhaps they can rediscover their groove as a team.
Then with some additions at the trade deadline, we could get the best of the White Sox lineup, starting rotation, and bullpen at the same time.
We've seen enough flashes to know that this team has potential, and that's what makes it more frustrating than ever when they seem to leave the door open for other teams to hang around. The Minnesota Twins are currently just 2.0 games back in the division, while the Detroit Tigers, the preseason favorite, are 4.5 games out and winners of five straight.
If the White Sox don't find a way to bury the Tigers before the trade deadline, they'll likely be buyers instead of sellers and add even more competition to the division race.
