The White Sox have lost four of their last five games, and their inability to come from behind is becoming a serious concern.
The Chicago White Sox are in the middle of a difficult stretch. Chicago has lost four of its last five games, dropping its record to 55-51 and shrinking its lead in the AL Central to just 1.5 games.
Things will not be getting any easier moving forward, either. The White Sox still have two more games against the New York Yankees and will face current AL Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler on Wednesday night. Without an off day in between, they will then head to Tampa Bay over the weekend to face a Rays team that has the best record in the American League and swept the White Sox earlier this season.
It is not unreasonable to be concerned, not just because of Chicago's recent struggles, but because of a trend that has hindered this team for over a month now. The 2026 White Sox used to be the comeback kids. But lately, falling behind in a game has been a death sentence for Chicago.
The last time the White Sox won a game after trailing at any point beyond the fifth inning was on June 27 against the Kansas City Royals. That was over a month ago. The last 11 times the White Sox have fallen behind after the fifth inning, even if only by one run, they have ended up losing the game.
The recipe for this team is to get ahead and stay ahead. But that has proven difficult with a starting rotation that is nowhere near good enough.
In the early stages of the season, it truly felt like the White Sox were never out of a game. Their explosive offense could rally from behind at any moment. But when you watch a White Sox game now, you can usually tell what their fate will be within the first few innings. If Chicago takes an early lead and gets off to a hot start, the team is probably in good shape. But if the opponent scores first and the White Sox fail to capitalize on their scoring opportunities, it could end up being a long night.
There may not be an answer to the problem, at least not one that is quantifiable on paper. But it is definitely something that needs to change over the final two months of the season if the White Sox want to remain on top of the AL Central.
You need to be able to win games in more than one way. A one-dimensional formula creates too much volatility because a cold stretch from the offense or one bad turn through the starting rotation can be difficult to overcome.
First pitch between the White Sox and Yankees on Wednesday night is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. CT, with Cam Schlittler taking the mound against Davis Martin. If there was ever a time for Martin to return to form, it is now. Chicago needs him more than ever.
