5 Chicago White Sox Who Need to Pick Up the Pace This Month

The Chicago White Sox dropped their series with Cleveland with losses on Wednesday and Thursday.

This is far from good news.

However, in a division that no one wants to take control of, the White Sox are still within four games of Detroit in the AL Central standings. The White Sox failed to overtake the Indians and are once again looking up at the .500 mark, but the door to the playoffs is still open a crack.

It is closing with each passing day, of course.

To get their on-again, off-again drive for the top of the division back on the upswing, the Sox need to see some players pick up their respective games. Here are five players who could stand to take it up a notch.

Gordon Beckham

Beckham is hitting .179 in 16 games in August, culminating in Thursday's 0-for-4 effort that saw him leave seven runners on base as the White Sox lost 4-2 to the Tribe.

A strikeout with two on an two out in the sixth inning was followed by an eighth-inning whiff that left the bases juiced. Beckham is chasing pitches and not coming up with the clutch hits.

The Chicago second baseman has just three RBI in his last 25 games. Beckham needs to find the outfield grass when runners are on base.

Alexei Ramirez

Whether he's moving Juan Pierre around the bases or in the five hole, it's a great time for the Cuban Missile to heat up.

With just a .234 average this month, Ramirez could help spark a big run by simply making better contact. Settling him into the second spot in the order might help.

Jake Peavy

Just like the White Sox, Peavy's results have varied in his recent starts, but there have been encouraging signs.

The strength seems to be returning to Peavy's surgically-repaired right arm. He's thrown over 100 pitches in each of his last three starts.

August 7th three-hit gem against the Twins was followed by a less dominating outing six days later against Kansas City that resulted in a no decision. At the very least, Peavy is throwing deeper into games as the season has worn on.

A string of command performances in his next four or five starts would be great to see from Peavy. I'm sure the White Sox could accept quality starts in those games.

Jason Frasor

Since coming over from the Blue Jays, Frasor has a 6.13 ERA in 10 Chicago appearances.

He's settled down as of late, not giving up an earned run in his last four games. He picked up the win in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-inning victory. That needs to continue if the White Sox bullpen is to remain strong.

Adam Dunn

We passed broken record status with Dunn months ago, but if the man could just go on a four or five-week tear with the bat...

Dunn has hits in his last three games since leaving the team to handle family business, including a pair in four at-bats Thursday. His first multi-hit game in almost a month provides at least a glimmer of hope.

Could some of the bad taste from Dunn's lost season be erased with a hot final six weeks? Of course it could if it helped push the White Sox to the top of the division.