NEWSLETTER
The season of disappointment rolls on for the Chicago White Sox, with news today ahead of a double-header with Kansas City that All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson will be sidelined 4-6 weeks with a torn ligament in his hand that may require surgery.
Russell Dorsey broke the news this afternoon, but the team is yet to confirm.
Anderson is hitting .301 with 111 wRC+ and 2.2 fWAR and is in the midst of a prolonged slump, one that might be explained by the hand injury depending on when it occurred.
Anderson is hitting .242 with a 65 wRC+ since the start of July, whereas before July 1, Anderson carried a .340/.377/.460 slash line and a 141 wRC+ that earned him the starting nod at last month’s All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
Anderson’s absence for the next 4-6 weeks is a significant blow to whatever chances the White Sox had at overtaking the Twins for the top spot in the American League Central down the stretch, placing the likelihood of a third straight playoff berth in serious jeopardy.
The White Sox are 55-53 and two games behind the Twins entering play today, with their next seven games coming against the Royals and Tigers. While it’s worth noting that the White Sox have one of the easier schedules by opponent winning percentage down the stretch, Anderson’s presence at the top of the order will be sorely missed by a team that has been as disappointing as any in baseball this season.
