White Sox Injuries Building, AL Central Odds Widening
By Reed Wallach
Things are getting grim for the Chicago White Sox in 2022.
One of the biggest letdowns in baseball this season, Chicago has been unable to get on track due to a bevy of issues. Now, as we head into the final month of the season, the White Sox have their longest odds to win the AL Central.
Injuries are building for the South Siders and the odds reflect how they are running out of time to cash as preseason favorites to win the division.
AL Central Odds
- Cleveland Guardians: -160
- Chicago White Sox: +290
- Minnesota Twins: +380
Michael Kopech Injuries Headline Issues for White Sox Ahead of September
As if things couldn't get worse for Chicago, Michael Kopech left in the first inning of his start against the Kansas City Royals earlier this week.
Michael Kopech leaves with injury (it was clear that he was injured before he started).
— Vinnie Parise (@VinnieParise) August 22, 2022
Tony La Russa let him go and it’s 1-0 Royals with the bases loaded and 0 outs.
Final batter was four straight balls.
Hall of Fame manager.
The injury bug has run through Chicago's dugout all season and it may be hitting a breaking point. The White Sox must go 30-9 the rest of the season to go over their win total as they are sitting at 62-61 on the year.
As for the division, the Guardians continue to navigate through their schedule and build their lead over the Twins and White Sox. Both teams appear to be trending towards missing the postseason all together given the talent in the AL East and the Seattle Mariners sitting several games ahead of them.
If there is any saving grace for the White Sox, it's that they play the fourth easiest schedule to finish the season, by far the easiest amongst the AL Central foes. Maybe the team can beat up on inferior competition and push towards the division? We'll see, but the team is running out of time and oddsmakers have responded.