The race for the AL Central heavily favors the Chicago White Sox at this juncture. This doesn’t mean that the Cleveland Guardians can’t catch them at the top, but the Pale Hose boasts a three-game cushion, which is significant with just one month left to play.
The folks at Bleacher Report published a piece this week about 10 things they think will happen from this point until the start of the postseason. Among them, they predicted Chicago hanging on and securing a first-round bye, winning the division crown, and securing the No. 2 seed in the American League.
Kerry Miller wrote that the Guardians aren’t being completely serious about their postseason quest because they haven’t called up star prospect Ralphy Velazquez, who is enjoying a breakout campaign in Triple-A.
“The White Sox otherwise have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the majors, while the Guardians aren’t even being serious in their pursuit of the postseason, opting against using one of their September callup spots on Ralphy Velazquez—who hit .356/.433/.867 with 15 home runs in August—presumably because they want him to continue playing in the minors if there is a lockout, which players cannot do if they are on a 40-man roster,” Miller wrote.
The White Sox do have an easier schedule than the Guardians, and Miller does have a point when he calls out Cleveland for refusing to call up Velazquez. He has the potential to be much better than current first baseman Nathaniel Lowe.
However, it’s important to note that both teams will have a crucial series from September 14-16, and it will be in Cleveland. That three-game set has the potential to make or break both squads’ divisional pursuits.
If the Guardians reach that series and they are behind one or two games, they could take over the division with a sweep or a series win. All they need to do is stay afloat and remain within striking distance until that date comes. It’s much easier said than done, but while Chicago is a very solid ballclub, the gap between the two isn’t particularly large.
Things in the AL Central are very much open as of early September. It’s up to the Guardians to keep them that way.
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