BALTIMORE -- With Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards, the White Sox fell to 5-23 overall in games decided by one or two runs during the 2025 season.
That’s the bad news. Well, that rough ledger, their overall 18-41 mark and the fact they scored five runs in total during Baltimore’s three-game weekend sweep represents some of the bad news. As for the good news?
Yes, there is good news -- or at least relatively positive news. The White Sox have a team battling enough to play in so many close contests, including a 3-15 record in one-run games.
“We're doing a lot of things well to be in close games,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “At the same time, you’ve got to find ways to score runs. And it feels like a lot of these games we walk away saying, ‘We pitched well, we defended well, we just didn't really score.’”
"We gotta have a short memory with it, but remember that we’re still in these close ballgames,” said starter Adrian Houser, who allowed three runs in six innings and struck out six. “There might be a few mistakes that we’re making here and there that we need to clean up. It’s part of being a young team and being who we are.”
There are other areas of upcoming study relating to this team aside from wins and losses, which probably won’t end up in the White Sox favor in ‘25. Here are two of those.
Prospect callups
Not everyone who closely follows the world of young pitching agreed with the White Sox moving Grant Taylor to the bullpen. But Taylor has responded in a major way since that switch, with six straight scoreless relief appearances covering six innings for Double-A Birmingham with 12 strikeouts, no free passes, and two hits allowed.
The White Sox No. 6 prospect, per to MLB Pipeline, is having his workload closely monitored, but he could be in Chicago’s bullpen sometime in July. Those who watched Taylor dominate during Spring Training could already see the look and talent of a player who belonged in the Majors.
Right-hander Wikelman González (No. 16 prospect) completed a 5-0 run in May with a 3.07 ERA as part of Triple-A Charlotte’s bullpen. He limited opponents to a .125 average while recording 14 strikeouts over 14 2/3 innings. His move to the bullpen also soon could feature big league dividends.
“It’s more about just taking the opportunities wherever the team gives it to me, in relief or starting, just make sure I’m doing my job,” González told MLB.com recently via interpreter Cristian Guzman. “Make sure I’m going out to compete. I feel good.
“You get a little bit less rest as a reliever than you do as a starter. A little bit more time in the weight room now, just giving myself time to be prepared and ready to go.”
Shortstop Colson Montgomery (No. 5) has been sidelined for two games after taking a fastball off his right knee, though X-rays being negative. He’s another Charlotte player to watch in terms of a possible callup, as is catcher Kyle Teel (White Sox No. 2 and No. 28 overall). Teel is doing damage with the bat offensively against International League pitching, but the White Sox want him to get as much catching experience as possible.
Trades
Houser likes his fit in Chicago after just three starts, where he had a 14-inning scoreless streak to open his White Sox career come to an end Sunday. The 32-year-old also knows pitching well could mean a deal by the July 31 Trade Deadline in this rebuild world.
“That’s always probably in the back of your mind, but right now, my process is taking it day by day and I’m having a good time with these guys, having fun and that’s just how I’m gonna go about it,” Houser said. “Can’t get too far ahead and take care of business today and just go from there.”
The same holds true for left-handed hitting outfielder Mike Tauchman, 34, who homered and tripled on Sunday. Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. remains the biggest possible talent return for the White Sox, but following an 0-for-2 showing Sunday after being dropped to seventh in the lineup, he’s hitting .180 with a .561 OPS.
“He's working extremely hard and has the right attitude about finding his way,” Venable said. “You're rooting for the guy and know that he's an important part of this and it's going to happen for him.”
Senior Reporter Scott Merkin has covered the White Sox for MLB.com since 2003.