(670 The Score) The White Sox continued their flirtation with the .500 mark by climbing exactly to it with a win Friday, but they failed to get over the hump in suffering a pair of losses to the Yankees on Saturday and Sunday as they played before packed home crowds.
Now, the White Sox will head to the North Side of Chicago for a pair of games against the Cubs on Tuesday and Wednesday at Wrigley Field.
Here are the latest trends with the South Siders:
THREE UP
1.) Eloy coming alive
White Sox rookie outfielder Eloy Jimenez had started his professional career by going more than two months without a homer at Guaranteed Rate Field. He ended that wait last Tuesday with a ball that may still be traveling, a 462-foot shot to straightaway center field.
Jimenez is hitting .319 with a 1.075 OPS in June and is up to 11 homers and 25 RBIs with a slash line of .247/.301/.476 for the season.
2.) All-Star starter Giolito?
White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito posted an MLB-worst 6.13 ERA a year ago. Now, he's tied for the MLB lead with 10 wins and has an American League-best 2.22 ERA. Giolito also leads AL pitchers with a 3.0 WAR, per Fangraphs, and a 2.71 FIP as well.
Giolito is a leading candidate to start the All-Star Game in Cleveland on July 9. While there's a case to be made for others like the Twins' Jake Odorizzi and Astros' Justin Verlander, Giolito has the statistical edge.
3.) Collins up
The White Sox will debut another exciting prospect soon, as they're calling up 2016 first-round pick Zack Collins from Triple-A Charlotte, according to reports. While the team hasn't made the move official, it will mark the latest prized prospect to reach the majors.
Collins has nine homers and 39 RBIs over 50 games in Charlotte, including a slash line of .250/.374/.482.
THREE DOWN
1.) The other guys
The rise of Giolito has been one of the most exciting stories in baseball this season, as he has emerged into an ace. But the other members of the rotation haven't produced anywhere near Giolito's level.
After 32-year-old journeyman Odrisamer Despaigne was hit hard for seven earned runs over 4 1/3 innings Sunday, the White Sox's non-Giolito starters are 13-26 with a 6.34 ERA.
2.) Reynaldo role reversal?
Though Giolito has risen from the bottom of baseball, the White Sox still have the worst starter in the game, statistically speaking. That's right-hander Reynaldo Lopez, who's 4-7 with a MLB-worst 6.31 ERA.
The 25-year-old Lopez, who was acquired along with Giolito in a trade with the Nationals in late 2016, was 7-10 with a 3.91 ERA in 2018. Entering 2019, he expressed his hopes of posting a sub-3.00 ERA, but his performance has gone the other way.
3.) Moncada's setback
Third baseman Yoan Moncada's return to the White Sox's lineup was brief, as he managed only two plate appearances Sunday afternoon before being pulled with more back tightness.
Moncada had been out of the lineup since last Monday as his back flared up. Now, the White Sox can no longer backdate a potential injured list stint, which could be necessary after Moncada's latest setback.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
