Shane Smith leads White Sox to rare home win vs. Tigers

It had been almost two years to the day since the White Sox last defeated the Detroit Tigers in Chicago.

Coming into Tuesday's game at Rate Field, the Tigers had won the past 11 games they had played on the South Side. The last win for Chicago? It came on June 4, 2023, when Jake Burger hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 6-2 victory. 

Any Sox fan can be forgiven for not feeling optimistic about this four-game series against Detroit, especially after the first-place Tigers beat the snot out of the Sox in the opening game Monday.

However, in a pleasant surprise, the Sox bounced back with an 8-1 victory Tuesday night. 

The Chicago offense kicked into gear late in the game, scoring seven runs from the sixth inning on. Credit starting pitcher Shane Smith (2-3) with keeping the Tigers off the scoreboard until the bats woke up.

Smith tossed 5.1 scoreless innings to earn his second big league win. He allowed just three hits, all singles, while striking out six and walking two. His season ERA falls to a rotation-best 2.45.

Michael A. Taylor worked a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the fourth inning to give the Sox a 1-0 lead, and that's where the score stood when Smith finished his outing.

The Sox broke it open in the sixth, when Taylor hit his third home run of the season, a 3-run shot with two outs that increased the Sox lead to 4-0.

After Detroit got one in the seventh, the Sox added two more in the bottom of the inning on a two-out, two-run double by Austin Slater that made it 6-1.

Chicago scored six of its eight runs with two outs, which was nice to see. 

RBI singles by Mike Tauchman and Chase Meidroth increased the Sox lead to 8-1 in the eighth. That set the stage for a stress-free top of the ninth, as Chicago reliever Dan Altavilla retired the Tigers in order.

The Sox improve to 19-42. Hey, they are only 20.5 games back of the Tigers now! 

Luis Robert Jr.: Does he care?

I'm seeing a narrative emerge on social media about White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr.

The thinking goes, the Sox stink. Therefore, Robert no longer cares about the organization. He doesn't want to be here, and he's mailing in the season. He's just hoping to get traded, and that's the reason for his poor performance.

There's no getting around it: Robert has been absolutely terrible in 2025. He went 0 for 3 with a strikeout in Monday's 13-1 loss to the first-place Detroit Tigers. His batting average is down to .177. His OPS is down to .552. 

We're in June now, so this isn't a "slow start." This isn't because of "cold weather." This is a tire fire, a prolonged slump that is dragging an already-bad Sox team to even lower depths.

However, this whole "Robert doesn't care" business is a load of bull, and I'll tell you why. Let's take a look at the details of Robert's contract.

After this season, there are two club options remaining on his deal. Each is worth $20 million, one for 2026 and one for 2027. If the option is not exercised, Robert can be bought out for $2 million.

Let's think about this from Robert's perspective: Do you want $40 million over the next two seasons, or do you want $2 million after the 2025 season ends?

You want the $40 million, right? You want to play well enough so that those options get exercised, no?

Well, guess what? Robert isn't going to get that money unless he's turns his season around dramatically over the course of the next four months. If he continues to fail, he's not getting his $20 million next year, or in 2027. He's getting $2 million.

His poor performance this season is literally costing him millions. He could be leaving $38 million on the table. 

Do you really think he's mailing it in when he has 38 million reasons to play well? If you believe players are motivated by money (and I most certainly do), then the answer to that question is "no." 

Robert hasn't thrown in the towel on the White Sox. He just flat out sucks at the plate this season. No more, no less. Sometimes, it isn't more complicated than that. 

Bad pitching will always beat bad hitting (apparently)

The Baltimore Orioles have a 5.29 team ERA, which ranks 14th in the American League and 28th overall in Major League Baseball.

Only the Athletics and the Colorado Rockies are worse. 

In other words, on average, the Orioles give up more than five earned runs every time they take the field. But that didn't stop the White Sox from posting a grand total of five runs (only four of which were earned) in a three-game series at Baltimore over the weekend.

The Orioles (22-36) swept the series, beating the Sox 2-1 on Friday, 4-2 on Saturday and 3-2 on Sunday.

It was a truly spectacular failure by the South Siders, who piled up 29 strikeouts in the three defeats. 

There are two players we will excuse from blame. Mike Tauchman went 6 for 12 with two doubles, a triple, a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs in the series. Andrew Benintendi went 4 for 11 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored.

No other Sox player had an RBI. There was one run scored Sunday on an error, hence no RBI credit was given.

Let's take a look at some of the horrible stat lines we saw from other Sox batters this weekend, in order of terribleness:

• Luis Robert Jr., 0 for 10, seven strikeouts
• Miguel Vargas, 1 for 12, two strikeouts
• Joshua Palacios, 1 for 10, three strikeouts 
• Edgar Quero, 1 for 7, four strikeouts
• Josh Rojas, 2 for 10, three strikeouts
• Chase Meidroth, 2 for 9, one strikeout
• Lenyn Sosa, 3 for 10, three strikeouts

OK, maybe we can forgive Sosa. There was no production associated with his 3 for 10, but that's a .300 batting average, and Sosa looks like Babe Ruth in comparison to Robert Jr.

Baltimore has a pitching staff that opposing teams have been padding their numbers against, but the only thing the Sox padded this weekend is their strikeout totals.

The Sox are 18-41, and it's getting a little frustrating to still hear people claim that the team is "making progress," or "turning a corner," or "showing signs of improvement."

Let's be real here: The Sox are on pace to go 49-113. Yes, that's better than the 2024 Sox, who went 41-121. Yes, they are better than the aforementioned Rockies, who are 9-50 and on pace to obliterate previous records of futility. That's nice, but so what?

The fact is the 2025 season will ultimately result in the second-worst Sox team in my lifetime, ahead of only last year. I turn 49 years old next month. I'm not new here. 

We are once again witnessing historical ineptitude, no matter what way you try to spin it. 

Andrew Benintendi powers White Sox to win over Mets

Worth noting: The White Sox scored nine runs on Wednesday with neither Andrew Vaughn nor Luis Robert Jr. in the lineup.

Vaughn and Robert were supposed to be the leading run producers for the Sox in 2025. Vaughn and his .189 average and .531 OPS have been optioned to Triple-A Charlotte. Robert and his .190 average and .583 OPS have been stapled to the bench the past two days because of knee soreness.

They were not missed in Wednesday's series finale against the New York Mets, a 9-4 Sox victory. Andrew Benintendi had one of his best games of the season, going 3 for 5 with four RBIs. He was a double short of the cycle.

Benintendi's two-run single to left-center opened the scoring in the first inning. He added an RBI triple in the sixth inning to increase a Sox lead to 6-3. His homer in the eighth, his sixth of the season, capped Chicago's scoring and made it 9-3.

Mike Tauchman went 2 for 5 with two doubles and a pair of RBIs, and Lenyn Sosa went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI single to add to a 12-hit Chicago attack.

Starting pitcher Shane Smith entered this game with a 2.36 ERA in 10 starts, but he has only one win to show for it because of lack of run support. This time, it was the Sox offense who bailed out a struggling Smith, who allowed three runs and walked five over 3.2 innings in a no-decision. Smith struck out five, but he ran up 86 pitches in a short start. 

One thing Sox fans should keep in mind about Smith: He's never thrown more than 94.1 innings in his career. This season, he's logged 57 innings, and we aren't even to June 1. It wouldn't be a surprise if we see some regression and fatigue from the rookie right-hander.

As a Rule 5 pick, Smith's production has been a pleasant surprise through 11 starts. Imagine going for a walk in your neighborhood and finding $1,000 on the ground. You'll gladly accept the good fortune, but it wouldn't be wise to bank your financial future on that every happening again.

That's how I look at Smith: He's found money. Your delighted by what's happened so far, but you can't be certain he's going to have another run of good starts like he's had this early season. I'm not sure what Smith will provide the rest of the way. You just keep pitching him, and see what he does.

Brandon Eisert (2-0) got four outs to earn the win in relief Wednesday. Another Rule 5 pick, Mike Vasil, tossed three scoreless innings with five strikeouts for the Sox, who are now 18-38.

Tim Anderson designated for assignment

Former White Sox All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.

In 31 games, Anderson batted .205/.258/.241 with no homers and three RBIs. His three doubles were his only extra-base hits of the season. As a matter of fact, Anderson has only homered once in the last three seasons combined. He hasn't played well since the first two months of 2022.

So, no, the Sox should not "take a flyer" on Anderson, who will turn 32 on June 23. He's cooked.

White Sox trade catcher Matt Thaiss to Rays

It's been years since we've said the White Sox have a surplus at any one position. However, you could make a case that the Sox have four catchers who deserve a major league roster spot.

Matt Thaiss has a .382 on-base percentage, which is second on the team. Edgar Quero is a 22-year-old rookie who has shown flashes in 31 games since being called to Chicago. 

Korey Lee, who has been on the IL with an ankle sprain, has 170 games of big league experience, and his rehab assignment in Triple-A Charlotte was set to expire this week. Meanwhile, highly regarded prospect Kyle Teel is tearing up Triple-A, having been named International Player of the Week.

Only two of these guys can play in Chicago. For now, it's going to be Quero and Lee. 

Thaiss was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday in exchange for Triple-A outfielder Dru Baker.

The move probably weakens the Sox defensively behind the plate, as Thaiss has an established reputation as a good game-caller, and he blocks pitches in the dirt quite well. But despite his .382 OBP, he's not much of an offensive player. He's batting .212 with a .294 slugging percentage. The best thing about Thiass' offense: He sees pitches and takes his walks.

In other words, Thaiss profiles as a backup catcher on a decent team. That probably works well for the Rays, who could use a better No. 2 catcher to pair with Danny Jansen. 

What are the Sox getting in Baker? He's 25 years old, and he was batting .244/.344/.302 in 17 games at Triple-A Durham before hitting the IL with an adductor strain. He's currently rehabbing the injury.

Over 311 games in the minors, Baker has posted a .291/.369/.405 slash line. He stole 49 bases in 2023 and 42 bases in 2024. So, if he can get on base at a .369 clip, his speed is a real weapon. He can play all three outfield spots, but he's only got 21 homers in 1,310 professional plate appearances.

In other words, Baker is a potential backup outfielder. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a look in Chicago later this season after the Sox trade away veteran incumbents for futures in July.

Sox drop second straight to Mets

Pitcher Jonathan Cannon was originally scheduled to start Saturday against the Texas Rangers, but he was pushed back three days because of lower back tightness.

He took the ball Tuesday against the New York Mets, and he looked rusty, giving up four runs on six hits in the first inning. Pete Alonso and Jared Young each hit two-run homers to stake New York to an early 4-2 lead.

The Sox never fully recovered in a 6-4 loss. Give Cannon this: He got through 5.1 innings, and Jared Shuster was the only Chicago reliever used.

Miguel Vargas hit his team-leading eighth home run of the season for the Sox, a two-run shot in the top of the first inning. He added an RBI double in the seventh inning that brought the South Siders within a run at 5-4.

But the Sox could not get the tying run across, and the Mets added an insurance run in the eighth against Shuster.

The Sox have dropped three straight and are now 17-38.

Memorial Day 2025

 Make it a safe and a reflective one.

 

White Sox have used 44(!) players already this season

When Vinny Capra pinch-ran for Andrew Vaughn in the bottom of the ninth inning during Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the Seattle Mariners, he became the 44th player the White Sox have used in the 2025 season.

Mind you, we're only 50 games in. On average, we're seeing a new player appear almost every game. If you're at the ballpark or sitting on the couch watching this team, it's fair if you're asking, "Who the hell are these guys?"

The team record is 63 players used, set last year in the miserable 121-loss campaign. Even if the Sox don't lose that many games again, they appear poised to blow by that record for players used.

It speaks to the instability in the organization. The Sox are looking for answers and not finding many, so the roster churn continues, and I don't expect that to stop anytime soon.

The Sox are 15-35 through their first 50 games. That's the same exact record they had through 50 games in 2024.

Of course, last year's club was stuck on 15 wins for about two weeks. They won their 49th game to improve to 15-34, then lost 14 straight. At one point, they were 15-48, finally collecting their 16th win in Game 64.

So, if the Sox can manage a couple wins here and there over the next couple of weeks, they will finally be ahead of last year's pace. Wouldn't that be nice?