The best and worst case scenarios on how the Chicago White Sox season will play out

The Chicago White Sox need their pitchers to step up big in 2023.

Dylan Cease could finally win the Cy Young. He could also show that 2022 was his peak season. He still needs to win a game where the Sox need him to shut down the opponent late in the year.

He could finally achieve that or he could be the pitcher we saw in the 2021 playoffs or against the Guardians at the end of the last season.

Lynn hopefully pitches as he did in the second half of last season. Father time could also catch up to him and we see the bad pitcher that he was in June and July.

Lucas Giolito could regain his 2020 form. He might continue the decline we saw last season on his way out the door.

Michael Kopech could finally achieve his ace potential. He has a better chance of being bound for the injured list as we have seen in the past.

The new pitch clock might prevent him from throwing his best stuff as he has always been a pitcher who needs time to power back up. Although, he did credit Johnny Cueto last season with helping him be more creative in his delivery to get outs.

Clevinger has the stuff to be the steal of the offseason that Rick Hahn is envisioning. Clevinger might have a good chance of being the pitcher we saw in San Diego last season, which was not good.

The bullpen will be without closer Liam Hendriks as he is being treated for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Garrett Crochet will also miss the beginning of the season as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery.

Despite not having those two arms, the bullpen still has the potential to be dominant. Kendall Graveman and Reynaldo Lopez have the stuff to close.

Joe Kelly could have a rebound season after he was injured for most of 2022. Aaron Bummer and Jake Diekman can be very good high-leverage, left-handed pitchers.

Then again, Kelly could continue to struggle even though he is now healthy. Bummer might continue to be inconsistent in high-leverage chances and Diekman has a chance to be the bad pitcher the Sox acquired at the trade deadline.

The Chicago White Sox seem to be an all-or-nothing team this year. If “all” happens, then it will be a really good season. If “nothing” is the outcome, then it is another year of having nothing to show for it.