White Sox need to shake losing skid sooner rather than later

After a 6-2 start, the Chicago White Sox are sitting on an 8-game losing streak and are losing players left and right.

The Sox have been plagued by the injury bug starting in spring training and staying into the beginning of the season. Lucas Giolito was sent to the IL after his Opening Day start, Lance Lynn started the season on the IL, as did Yoan Moncada and Garrett Crochet. Eloy Jimenez was day-to-day, and later was further injured and placed on the IL.

With the return of players and the season progressing, snapping the skid sooner rather than later is needed for the White Sox.  Giolito came back and started against the Twins on April 24 and landed a no-decision, four hits across as many innings, nine strikeouts, and only one earned run.

Jimenez underwent surgery on his hamstring and is expected to return in 6-8 weeks. Lynn is expected back in mid-May. Yermín Mercedes is expected back in May as well.

The Chicago White Sox needs to get the losing streak under control very soon.

Before any of those players get back, the end of the losing streak needs to occur so that it doesn’t put unnecessary pressure on them to get the team back to winning. Allowing players full rehab time and opportunities are important to ensure that everyone comes back and is producing at their highest level to allow the group to thrive as a whole.

Jimenez, Lynn, and Moncada are key parts of the Sox’s defensive needs. Lynn is able to usually throw 5 or 6 innings. Eloy and Yoan, as well as the rest of the offense, produce at a high level making it easier on the bullpen to close out games.

Making the players that return to the lineup carry the team back to winning applies a pressure that can cause re-injury or partial healing of injuries after rehab periods. That would only hurt the Sox more as the season pushes on, making them fall deeper and deeper into the standings.

However, depth is as important as full returns for these players. The Sox rotation has many names that are reliable and they need to show their ability. Jake Burger is holding it down at 3rd and doing a great job.

Andrew Vaughn, Adam Engel, Gavin Sheets, and AJ Pollock are splitting starts on either side of Luis Robert in centerfield who should be returning on Wednesday.

Losing Joe Kelly and Garrett Crochet in the bullpen has also hurt. Kelly has been on the 10-day since Opening Day and Crochet is missing the entire season due to Tommy John.

In their absence, Kendall Graveman and Liam Hendriks have not been their usual selves which only hurts the Sox when they are in close games late.

Rotation arms fighting late into ball games with run support, and no defensive blunders allow the bullpen to be themselves and can win ball games before the return of a player helping in the playoff push.