From Worst to First? White Sox Suddenly Leading the AL Central

The White Sox entered mid-June 2026 with a 38-33 record, good enough for first place in the American League Central. That mark is a stunning reversal for a team that lost 121 games in 2024 and followed that with another 100-loss season in 2025.

The White Sox lost 121 games in 2024, one of the worst single-season records in Major League Baseball history, then followed that up with another 100-loss campaign in 2025. The team also stumbled out of the gate in 2026 with a 6-13 start before turning things around.

Davis Martin is a right-handed pitcher who has emerged as the ace of the White Sox staff in 2026. He carried a sub-3.00 ERA deep into June and consistently delivered quality starts against top competition, giving Chicago stability every fifth day.

Young players like Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, Edgar Quero, and rookie Braden Montgomery have all contributed offensively. Braden Montgomery made an especially memorable debut, hitting a walk-off home run in his first major league game.

There are legitimate questions about whether Chicago can keep up this pace over a full 162-game season, as the pitching staff needs to stay healthy and the offense must remain consistent. General Manager Chris Getz may also need to add reinforcements at the trade deadline to keep the team competitive.