White Sox fall to Cubs, heading to Oakland for playoffs
If the White Sox were perennial playoff participants, there might have been some concern after Sunday's 10-8 loss against the Cubs to close the regular season.
They are not - at least not yet - so the Sox aren't going to dwell on dropping seven of their last eight games.
"There's nothing left for us to do but go hard," manager Rick Renteria said. "We have to respond. If we don't respond, we are out. You fight all year long to finally put yourself in position for the dance.
"Now, you have to perform. If you don't perform, there's no tomorrow. If you do well, it gives ourselves a chance to continue to move forward. There's no tomorrow. There's no redemption until next year. We have to try to get as far as we possibly can. Stay positive."
After becoming the first team in the American League to clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Twins on Sept. 17 and holding the best record, the White Sox's fade dropped them to the No. 7 seed.
That means they have to play the best-of-three opening round on the road, and the Sox (35-25) are heading to Oakland to meet the second-seeded Athletics (36-24).
Game 1 is set for Tuesday at 2 p.m. (ESPN) with Lucas Giolito starting for the Sox. Dallas Keuchel starts Game 2 Wednesday (2 p.m., ESPN) and it's a big question mark after that if Game 3 is necessary.
While the obvious preference was finishing the abbreviated 60-game season strong and hosting the first round, the White Sox are just happy to be involved after a 12-year absence from the playoffs.
"At the end of the day, once you're in the playoffs it's a whole new season," catcher James McCann said. "I don't think we've set our sights on anything other than winning. I think it's unrealistic to say that we're just going to roll through the playoffs.
"I think every team's going to have their hurdles they have to overcome. But I like the way our team is composed, and I think we have a shot to do some damage and make a deep run."
Getting slumping hitters like Luis Robert going would give the Sox a needed boost, and the rookie center fielder is perked up after going 5-for-11 in the three-game series against the Cubs.
"I've been working as always," Robert said through a translator. "This month, I didn't get the results I was getting the first month. But I kept working and the last few days I felt better."
Renteria was feeling much better about his team after the White Sox rallied from a 10-1 deficit against the Cubs and almost pulled out a win at Guaranteed Rate Field.
"I went back in there and told them they battled their (butts) off," Renteria said. "Keep your heads up because the next phase is starting. No time to lament. We have to stay positive. We are getting ready to go give ourselves a chance to continue on this journey and I fully expect they will give us everything they've got in order to give us a chance."