We'll See

Two questions come to mind in the wake of yesterday’s 17-4 White Sox beatdown of the Reds yesterday: Will they get shut out in Kansas City tonight, and what’s up with Michael Kopech? The skeptic in me doubts the offense—in whole or part, either would be fine—will carry over. Andrew Vaughn and Hanser Alberto, four RBIs apiece; Gavin Sheets, three RBIs; Andrew Benintendi, Yasmani Grandal and Luis Robert Jr., two RBIs apiece—it feels more like Christmas come early than anything sustainable. But, hey, I’m happy to be proven wrong, and the Robert rollercoaster sure is something to behold, a .216 BA a week ago and .260 today. That’s what nine hits in five games will do. Now, for the enigma known as the Sox number-five starter. After the game, Kopech told reporters he let pitching coach Ethan Katz know before the start of the fifth inning, “My stuff’s not great today, but I’m prepared to give you as many as you need. I’ll go out there and do the best of my ability, whatever that is.” [today’s Tribune] “Whatever”—exactly. Kopech gave up four solo shots in six innings to earn his first win of the season. His record now stands at 1-3 with a 5.97 ERA and 1.57 WHIP over seven starts. Kopech has thrown his homerun pitch twelve times this season, tied for most in all of baseball. You have to wonder if opposing hitters think facing the twenty-seven year old righthander is Christmas come early.