White Sox: 3 reasons Chicago is World Series favorites

2. Lineup Depth

As mentioned, the White Sox have withstood the losses of young studs Jimenez and Robert and Engel has yet to take the field this season. Yet, they have a top-tier offense across the board in the AL. The emergence of Yermin Mercedes has been a revelation. Top prospects Andrew Vaughn and Nick Madrigal have arrived, and looked the part.

The White Sox could find a way to make some helpful additions to their depth. But they’re doing just fine right now, with the strong likelihood catcher Yasmani Grandal (.130 average and four home runs thus far) will start to hit better.

1. Pitching

The White Sox have the only starting rotation in the American League with a collective ERA below 3.00 (2.87 going into Friday). They go five deep, with Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Dylan Cease, Carlos Rodon and Dallas Keuchel.  And Giolito, the supposed ace, hasn’t even been that good so far (4.54 ERA in seven starts). Rodon, finally healthy, has a 0.58 ERA and he threw a no-hitter in April.

With Liam Hendriks locking down the back end, the White Sox also have the pieces of a pretty good bullpen despite seven blown saves as a team. Michael Kopech and Garrett Crochet are options for the starting rotation if/when circumstances dictate, but for now they make the North Siders’ bullpen deeper and better with 46 combined strikeouts over 33 combined innings so far this season.