By Salem Chicago News Staff
CHICAGO — September 26, 2026
One day after popping champagne in Kansas City, the White Sox made clear Friday that their celebration was only step one.
Players and staff declared the roster is built for a deep October run as Chicago turned its attention to overtaking the Cleveland Guardians for the American League Central title. The White Sox trail by one game with two remaining and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.
“We are not done, but man, it feels really good right now,” general manager Chris Getz said.
The confidence traces to a culture overhaul engineered by manager Will Venable, who took over a team that lost 102 games in his first year at the helm in 2025. That squad followed the 2024 club’s Modern Era record of 121 losses. The turnaround has exceeded even internal timelines.
“Everyone that’s watched this season unfold can really take away something that can apply to just how you go about your life,” Getz said. “You face adversity and you lean into what it takes to be successful. This group has proven that.”
Assistant general manager Jin Wong pointed to intangibles as much as talent.
“As the season progressed, this team certainly had a fight to it that wasn’t necessarily prognosticated by all the experts,” Wong said. “You put the players’ good makeup together with talent and it played out perfectly.”
The clubhouse atmosphere has drawn attention all season. Players cited a no-ego environment and genuine friendship as drivers of the team’s success.
“Everybody in here is really friends with each other. There’s no egos at all. We look forward to coming to the field,” said designated hitter Andrew Benintendi.
The White Sox had never won more than five games in a row this season but also endured only two four-game losing streaks. The consistency proved more valuable than any hot streak.
Friday’s 6-1 win over the Rockies kept the pressure on Cleveland, which played a rain-delayed game in Kansas City. If the White Sox and Guardians finish with identical records, Chicago would claim the division crown and the No. 2 AL seed, earning a bye through the Wild Card Series and into the Division Series.
If Cleveland holds on, the White Sox would enter the Wild Card round as the sixth seed, likely facing the second-seeded Guardians or the Houston Astros.
Fans packed Rate Field on Friday, tailgating in the parking lot hours before first pitch in a scene that has become routine on the South Side this season.
“The support that our fans have provided our players, I really do think it’s helped their development,” Getz said. “These guys have responded really well.”
The White Sox host the Rockies again Saturday with Davis Martin on the mound. The Wild Card Series is scheduled to begin Sept. 29.
