Six Pack of Stats: Pirates 9, White Sox 4

The 13th sweep of the first half, to a .500 team, at home: The perfect end to an amazing run

Should the subhed just be repeated? Thirteen times swept this season, against just one sweep (thanks, Rays!). A record of 6-23-2 in all series. A season-worst 44 games worse than .500 and a season-worst -177 run differential. Hopelessness abounds. Energy is inconsistent, if ever high. This is as moribund a White Sox team as has existed, very likely in any of our lifetimes. Very likely ever.

Top Play

Joey Bart put the game away — yes, a three-run homer in the fourth inning put the game away, as is wont to happen when you play these White Sox — with 29.9% WPA.

And, fitting, in the fifth Eloy Jiménez had a rally-killing GIDP that was the top Sox WPA (yes, a negative one) in the game, at -15.1%.

Top Performer

It’s crazy, but it’s true: Andrew Benintendi, who briefly put the White Sox up in the game with a third inning home run and who had two other hits in the game, wins game MVP with a 23.6% WPA. If you think Benny only prevailed because the Pirates had so many hitters with good games, you would not be wrong.

Hardest Hit

Eloy Jiménez yanked a single to left in the seventh that sped away at 112.3 mph.

Weakest Contact

It was the most appropriate end to a game that ended the most lackluster first half of baseball in White Sox history, as Gavin Sheets made the 27th out with a beyond-weak oppo ground out to third base, dribbling away at a bunt-worthy 37.3 mph.

Luckiest Hit

Luis Robert Jr.’s infield hit to shortstop in the third was expected to be an out, with a .130 xBA.

Toughest Out

Bryan Reynolds mashed a screaming meemie to left as the second batter of the game. The ball was cracked at 110.8 mph and had a .710 xBA.

Longest Hit

That Joey Bart homer wasn’t just an important hit, it was a big fly, traveling 416 feet into the seats.

Futility Watch

White Sox 2024 Record 27-71, worst 98-game start in White Sox history (5 1⁄2 games worse than the next-worst, 1948 White Sox), tied for 16th-worst start all-time, and a season-worst 44 games under .500
White Sox 2024 Run Differential -177, tied for 50th-worst 98-game start in MLB history and a White Sox season-worst
White Sox 2024 Season Record Pace 44-118 (.276)
Race to the Worst “Modern” 162-Game Record (2003 Tigers, 43-119) 1 game better
Race to the Worst “Modern” Record in a 162-Game Season (1962 Mets, 40-120) 3 games better
Race to the Most White Sox Losses (1970, 106) 12 games worse
Race to the Worst White Sox Record (1932, 52-109-1*) 8 1⁄2 games worse
Race to the Worst American League Record (1916 A’s, 38-124*) 6 games better
*record adjusted to a 162-game season

Glossary

WPA win probability added measures contributions to the win
xBA expected batting average