MLB Standings 2021: Chicago White Sox Are Playoff Locks After Field Of Dreams Game

The Chicago White Sox took center stage Thursday night in their walkoff win over the New York Yankees in MLB’s highly anticipated Field of Dreams Game. It’s been a while since the Windy City’s second team was a championship contender, but they could find themselves playing deep into October this year.

The White Sox have the best chance in all of baseball to make the playoffs. Chicago has an 11.5-game lead atop the AL Central with 46 games left in the regular season, making them a virtual lock to win the division.

No other MLB team has more than an eight-game lead in the division. Chicago is 2.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the overall standings for the AL’s best record.

FanGraphs gives the White Sox a 100% chance to make the playoffs. Tampa Bay has a five-game lead in the AL East and an estimated 87.3% chance to reach the postseason.

The Rays are currently the No. 1 seed in the AL. The Houston Astros are the betting favorites to reach the World Series. Chicago, however, might be the AL’s most complete team.

The White Sox have the AL’s second-best ERA. The pitching staff ranked first before giving up eight runs to the Yankees in Iowa. Chicago is fourth in runs scored with a lineup that is only getting better.

Outfielders Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez recently returned from injuries that cost them most of the season. They are both hitting over .300. Tim Anderson, Thursday night’s hero, is a former batting champion and hitting at least .300 for a third straight year. Reigning AL MVP Jose Abreu is second in the majors with 85 RBI.

Chicago’s pitching staff could look even more dangerous in October. Lance Lynn is the favorite to win the AL Cy Young award, while Carlos Rodon has almost been as good this season. The trade deadline acquisition of Craig Kimbrel gives the White Sox a dominant backend of the bullpen.

The White Sox lost in the wild-card round of the 2020 playoffs. It was the team’s first playoff appearance in 12 years. They haven’t won a postseason series since the 2005 World Series.

Chicago owns the best home record in the AL. If they manage to earn the No. 1 seed, they could become the favorites to win the pennant.