Chicago White Sox: 5 Ways They Can Rebound Against the Texas Rangers

Hey, look! Adam Dunn collected his first multi-hit game since July 22.

Alas, it was all for naught since the Chicago White Sox lost the game and the series thus losing the steam they had going in the streak that pushed them to a winning record.

Now, they must try to gather steam once again against the Texas Rangers, who hold the best record of any of the White Sox's remaining opponents.

Unfortunately for the White Sox, the Rangers have the best record in the American League against teams with losing records at 41-27.

This is a short list of things that might help the White Sox in the coming series.

Score Runs

This may seem obvious, but it is not a concept that the White Sox have grasped well much of the season. 

After scoring well for the first 15 games of the month (4.7 runs per game), the White Sox scored only three runs in the last two games of the series against the Cleveland Indians. 

Hopefully for the White Sox, their big producers, Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin, can follow through.  Taking walks would help.  The White Sox are 10th in the American League in walks.

The Starting Rotation Needs to Deliver Quality Starts

If the White Sox hold true to anything in this season, it is their above average starting pitching. 

Their starters struggled against the Indians, giving up nine earned runs in 14 1/3 innings.  They didn't have any quality starts.   However, one cannot fault Phil Humber for being hit in the face by a line drive Thursday night.  

In this series, the White Sox will cast the back end of their rotation, Jake Peavy, John Danks, and Gavin Floyd.  Peavy and Danks have been on the upswing lately.  In his first three starts of August, Peavy is 1-1 with a 2.91 ERA.  Danks is 5-1 with a 2.29 ERA in his last nine starts. 

Quality starts will bring them a long way in this series.  They will need plenty of innings in this series from their starters. 

Keep the Bullpen Where It Belongs

The White Sox loss Thursday night showed that they struggle when the bullpen enters the mix too early.

All four of the runs were issued by the long relief combination of Zach Stewart and Will Ohman.  In accordance with good starting pitching, the bullpen needs to keep to the last three innings. 

Anyway, the bullpen and its 3.53 ERA won't help the White Sox much in this series.

Keep the Ball Down

Add the Rangers' third place standing in the AL in home runs (145) with the fact that U.S. Cellular Field is a home run-friendly ballpark, and the result may not be pretty to the White Sox. 

However, the White Sox may be encouraged by the fact that their pitchers have surrendered the third fewest home runs in the AL (100).  Still, White Sox pitchers must keep the ball down.

Contain Michael Young

Michael Young has Chicago's number, hitting .476 with five doubles and six RBI in his last five games at U.S. Cellular Field.  Keeping his bat quiet would bring the White Sox a bit closer to a successful series.