2022 Is Officially Championship-Or-Bust For White Sox
On one hand, the Chicago White Sox lived up to expectations in 2021 by cruising to a 93-69 record and an AL Central division title.
On the other hand, the White Sox failed to win their first playoff series since 2005. They were dispatched by Dusty Baker’s Houston Astros in the ALDS (in four games). Needless to say, it was a disappointing finish for a team that entered the season with championship expectations.
White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf brought Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa out of retirement to replace Rick Renteria. Reinsdorf believed that La Russa’s leadership and experience was the final piece needed to compete for a championship.
Only time will tell if Reinsdorf ends up being right. Winning the franchise’s first division title since 2008 was a nice start, but anything less than a World Series championship in 2022 has to be considered a disappointment.
The White Sox is one of the main betting favorites to win the World Series in Illinois sports betting. FanDuel gives them +1000 odds of winning it all (tied with Houston for the third-highest odds), and only six teams have higher World Series odds than the White Sox (+1200) at DraftKings.
White Sox fans can bet on over/under, futures, and individual players. Chicago is a heavy favorite to win the AL Central next year. Furthermore. Lucas Giolito (+1100 at DraftKings) is one of the main contenders to win the AL Cy Young Award.
Regular Season Prediction: 95-67 Record & AL Central Champions
Not only are the White Sox arguably the most balanced team in the AL, but they play in what could easily be baseball’s weakest division.
The Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers are still in rebuilding mode. The Cleveland Guardians didn’t make any splashy moves whatsoever. And as great as José Ramírez, the supporting cast around him just isn’t good enough to keep Cleveland in playoff contention.
The Minnesota Twins made a blockbuster move by signing superstar shortstop Carlos Correa. They also brought in starting pitcher Sonny Gray in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds, and catcher Gary Sánchez and infielder Gio Urshela were brought in a deal with the New York Yankees that sent Josh Donaldson to The Bronx.
But questions persist in the Twins’ rotation, and their lineup simply isn’t as deep from top to bottom as Chicago’s. Add it all up, and the White Sox should win the AL Central by a comfortable margin.
MLB and the MLBPA agreed to an expanded playoff format for 2022. The top two seeds in each league will receive “first-round byes”. The Wild Card round will pit the No. 3 seed/lowest-ranked division winner vs. the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed in a best-of-three.
The White Sox are in a great position to earn a first-round bye because they play in the league’s weakest division.
The AL East has four contenders in the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and New York Yankees. Those four teams are sure to give each other difficult times throughout the year, meaning it’ll be hard for the AL East winner to top Chicago in the standings.
Playoff Prediction: White Sox Win AL Pennant, Lose To Dodgers In World Series
On paper, the Rays, Blue Jays, and White Sox look like the most complete teams in the AL. All three clubs feature powerful lineups, top-tier rotations, and deep bullpens.
But when you compare the three, the White Sox have by far the best pitching unit in the American League. Their lineup may not feature the star power that Toronto has (Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, George Springer), but Chicago is arguably deeper from top to bottom.
The way-too-early prediction here is that the White Sox will earn a first-round by and defeat the Yankees in the ALDS. They’ll then go on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays to win their first AL crown since 2005.
That will set up a marquee World Series showdown with the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB ratings galore!). Unfortunately for Chicago, the Dodgers are one of the few teams that can overmatch their deep pitching staff and balanced lineup.
The Dodgers will defeat the White Sox in five games to claim their second World Series in three years. For Chicago, it will still be a major step forward in the La Russa era.
