With the start of the 2019 season rapidly approaching, I believe it’s time that we give you the ultimate breakdown of each division and predict their position in the standings come season’s end. It’s hard to predict record, so we’ll just give you their placement in the standings. Of course, this is coming from a fan’s perspective and what we think it could look like, not what it will. Today, we focus on the American League Central and the Chicago White Sox:
Chicago White Sox
2018 record: 62-100, 4th in AL Central
Projected Lineup:
RF Jon Jay
2B Yoan Moncada
LF Eloy Jimenez
1B Jose Abreu
DH Yonder Alonso
SS Tim Anderson
C Wellington Castillo
3B Yolmer Sanchez
CF Adam Engel
Starting Rotation:
RH Lucas Giolito
LH Carlos Rodon
RH Reynaldo Lopez
RH Ivan Nova
RH Dylan Covey
RH Ervin Santana
Key Bullpen Pieces:
RH Alex Colome
RH Nate Jones
RH Kelvin Herrera
Key Bench Pieces:
INF/OF Daniel Palk
INF/OF Nicky Delmonico
OF Brandon Guyer
C James McCann
The White Sox pushed hard to get Manny Machado this offseason. They brought in his brother-in-law Yonder Alonso and his buddy Jon Jay in hopes of influencing him to come to the south side, but it did not work. The White Sox are heading in the right direction, starting with their top prospect, Eloy Jimenez. The White Sox believe he is the real deal with all the tools to be a superstar. So much so that they have just signed Jimenez to a six-year extension for $43 million before he’s played a single game in the big leagues. Some high expectations for the 22-year-old but I have no doubt he will exceed them and be in the running for the 2019 AL Rookie of the Year. One other player Chicago hopes to produce as expected is Moncada, who in his first full season in 2018 hit just .235 with a .315 OBP and 217 strikeouts. Entering just his age 24 season, if Moncada can figure it out and join a middle of the order that will include Abreu and Jimenez, the Southsiders have something to look forward to this upcoming season.
The starting rotation for the White Sox struggled last year, especially at the top with Giolito. Once a promising young prospect with the Nationals, Giolito was quite underwhelming last year. 6.13 ERA, which was the highest among qualified starters. 118 earned runs and 90 walks. If Chicago is looking to contend within the next few years, they need Giolito to step up.
The bullpen received a bit of a boost when they acquired Alex Colome from Seattle. The 30-year-old has been a quality reliever over the past few years, with an All Star appearance in 2016. In 2017, he ended the year with a 3.24 ERA with a league leading 47 saves. Last year, he had a 3.04 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 70 games with the Rays and Mariners. He expects to be the 9th inning guy.
With the impending arrival of Jimenez in the middle of that order, it’s tough to see how the White Sox won’t eclipse their 62 wins from 2018.
2019 prediction: 3rd in AL Central
