Things looked good for a while in June for the Chicago White Sox, there was even a chance that the team could leave the month with a .500 record, but that’s out the window now after a seven-game losing streak against division rivals Detroit and Cleveland

South Side fans should take notice of what’s been happening on the field, but who really is in the mood after a loss like last Wednesday’s in Cleveland, which concluded arguably the worst stretch of the Sox’s season so far.

The 2018 season, of course, is not about wins and losses for the Sox but about seeing results with key individuals who are growing to be part of the White Sox’s hopefully competitive future in Phase Two of the rebuild.

It’s fitting that a bottoming out has happened as of late cause with a key hitter returning from injury, a second baseman continuing to swing a hot stick and a veteran making a case for next month’s All-Star game, fans should take a step back and see that there’s a little light at the end of the tunnel.

Hitting In June

Matt Davidson: .182 AVG, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 12 H
Tim Anderson: .231 AVG, 2 HR, 11 HR, 16 H
Jose Abreu: .213 AVG, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 19 H

The struggles have been real for two key young guys in Yoan Moncada and Avisail Garcia. With Garcia just coming back from injury while Moncada is still finding his way after a hot start to the season, the month of June hasn’t been very kind for both.

Moncada: .189 AVG, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 17 H
Garcia: .222 AVG, 2 H, Run Scored (Overall – .229 AVG, HR, 4 RBI)

After this past Sunday’s performance against Oakland, though, Moncada may have shown that he’s gotten a little of what the doctor ordered for him.

Powering a 10-3 Sox win with six RBIs, Moncada helped secure a split in the four-game series and left the team with a positive weekend-ender as they gear things back up with the first of three games at home against Minnesota. In the meanwhile Moncada gets to enjoy his place as the first Sox player 23 years or younger with 6+ RBI in a game since Harold Baines (7/7/82) and the first Sox player with 6+ RBI out of the leadoff spot since Rip Radcliff (6/2/36).

Pitchers (Month of June)

The starting staff has taken a step back in recent weeks but overall has still been able to put up respectable numbers, respectable enough to give the Sox a chance to compete on a nightly basis.

Dylan Covey: 3.33 ERA, 22 K, 13 BB, 10 ER, 12 R, 25 H, 27 IP
James Shields: 4.70 ERA, 23 K, 9 BB, 16 ER, 22 R, 31 H, 30.2 IP
Reynaldo Lopez: 3.04 ERA, 19 K, 11 BB, 8 ER, 10 R, 22 H, 23.2 IP

Lopez Inning Breakdown:

Innings 1-3 — 4.33 ERA, 43.2 IP, K/BB: 31/16, Opposition Batting Average: .256
Innings 4-6 — 2.97 ERA, 36.1 IP, K/BB: 26/20, Opp. BA: .221
Innings 7-9 — 1.17 ERA, 7.2 IP, K/BB: 6/2, Opp. BA: .120

Carlos Rodon:

6/9 @ BOS (Season debut) — 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, K/BB: 7/2, Pitches: 97
6/14 vs. CLE — 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, K/BB: 4/3, Pitches: 100
6/19 @ CLE — 6.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, K/BB: 5/2, Pitches: 98
6/24 vs. OAK — 8.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, K/BB: 3/0, Pitches: 99

Dylan Covey:

2017 — 0-7 Record, 70.0 IP, 7.71 ERA, K/BB: 41/34, K/9: 5.3, HR 20
2018 — 3-2 Record, 44.1 IP, 3.45 ERA, K/BB: 36/20, K/9: 5.1, HR 2

As the calendar turns towards July, will we see more progress on the field? Will Jose Abreu represent the Sox at the All-Star Game? Who will be traded at the July 31st deadline? And when will Sox finally see highly touted prospects Eloy Jimenez and Michael Kopech?