Hardly anyone expects the Chicago White Sox to average fewer than two runs a game all season.
But then again, not many would have expected the Southsiders to be as punchless — an MLB-worst 13 runs in seven games, six of them losses — as they have been to start the 2024 season.
But runs are the commodity the White Sox will need if they are to turn around this four-game series against the host Kansas City Royals, with the third game on tap for Saturday night.
The White Sox’s task got a little harder in a 2-1 loss Friday after a frightening-looking injury to Luis Robert Jr., the team’s star center fielder.
Robert, like most of Chicago’s other regulars, has struggled to start the season (.214 batting average, 11 strikeouts and just one walk), but he’s just a year removed from leading the White Sox with 38 home runs and an .857 OPS in 2023.
Robert doubled down the left-field line in the ninth inning Friday but pulled up rounding first base, and he hopped on his left leg the rest of the way to second base before leaving the game.
He was diagnosed with a hip flexor injury. The White Sox didn’t say how long Robert would be out, although the injury is the same one that cost him more than three months of the 2021 season.
“He’s hard to replace,” Grifol said. “You don’t replace a guy like him, but at the same time, next man up. We have to go out and continue to fight and do the things we need to do.”
Chicago’s bats were stymied by Royals right-hander Brady Singer in Friday’s 2-1 loss, a day after the White Sox were blown out 10-1 by Kansas City in the series opener.
The White Sox have scored more than three runs in a game only once this season, and they lost that one, 7-6 in 10 innings to the Detroit Tigers last Saturday.
They’ve been shut out twice — 1-0 on Opening Day to the Tigers and 9-0 vs. the visiting Atlanta Braves on Monday.
On Friday night, the White Sox were 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position, giving them a mark of 4-for-34 with RISP for the seven games.
“The worst thing we can do is feel sorry for ourselves, so we’re not going to do that,” Grifol said Friday. “So that I promise you — that’s not going to happen. We’re going to go out there and compete … and play baseball the right way, and see what happens.”
Kansas City’s pitching won’t make it any easier for the White Sox. Through eight games, Royals’ starters have pitched to an MLB-best 1.43 ERA (eight earned runs in 50 1/3 innings) and have made an MLB-best seven quality starts — the latest by Singer, who gave up one run on two hits in 6 1/3 innings Friday.
“The pitches are working really well,” Singer said. “I have a lot of confidence in them right now. I’m able to throw some different pitches as well.”
Veteran Michael Wacha (0-0, 5.40 ERA) will start for Kansas City on Saturday night against Chicago’s Chris Flexen (0-1, 8.31) in a battle of right-handers.
Wacha has made five career starts against the White Sox and is 2-0 with a 5.13 ERA.
Flexen is 2-0 in his career against Kansas City, with a 1.32 ERA in 13 2/3 innings.
– Field Level Media
