MLB Power Rankings: Indians take over
Chicago White Sox 59-87
Last week: 5-5
Last rank: 29
A 17-7 win over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon will go down as the biggest highlight of 2017 for the White Sox. In the game, they scored 11 runs over the final four innings and picked up 25 hits. Avisail Garcia drove in seven on five hits and Yoan Moncada notched four hits. Garcia may be the biggest breakout star in MLB this year.
This blowout win came against a gutted Tigers team, but it should not damper growing enthusiasm about the type of lineup the White Sox can have next season.Their young pitchers will not have to pitch scared because there will be plenty of runs on the scoreboard.
Detroit Tigers 60-86
Last week: 2-8
Last rank: 25
The Tigers are clearly just playing out the string, and there’s nothing sadder to watch than a baseball team in September that has just started its rebuild. Things hit a low for Detroit when they gave up 17 runs to the lowly White Sox on Thursday afternoon. There is not much talent waiting down below in the minor leagues. The Tigers are staring down a painful, multi-year rebuilding effort.
As ugly as it may be to watch, the Tigers did the right thing in finally pulling the plug on the Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera Era. The youngsters are taking their lumps now, but there have been some positives. Jeimer Candelario hit his first MLB home run and has not looked overwhelmed at the dish.