Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers

Any lingering, remaining doubt as to the top team in the American League Central was answered by the White Sox three-game sweep of the Tigers this weekend at Comerica Park. Just don’t expect this ultra-focused group from Chicago to live in such rarified, cocky air. They are understandably confident following a 7-5 victory Sunday, but they certainly aren’t celebrating anything beyond the win that day. “You call it whatever you want,” said White Sox manager Will Venable when asked for a second or third time since Friday if this weekend was some sort of division statement for the White Sox. “I'm just so proud of the group. … These guys are tired and beat up and they just keep playing.” “It’s kind of unspoken in the locker room what’s going on right now and coming into this weekend and understanding where we are at with this team,” White Sox starter Sean Burke said. “I think for everybody to show up like that was huge for us.” It was just two months ago, from June 19-21, when the White Sox were swept out of Comerica Park by the Tigers. It was just three days ago when the White Sox lost a series at home to the Reds during one of their worst three-game stretches in the last month. There was no hangover from either of those setbacks, both far and near, as they moved to a 5 1/2 game lead in the division. It’s their biggest advantage since the final day of the 2021 campaign when they last reached the postseason with a division crown. No other team is within a series sweep of .500 in the division, but that fact shouldn’t diminish the on-field prowess shown by Venable’s crew. They trailed early Friday and powered their way to victory behind four home runs. They were behind 3-0 and 4-1 on Sunday, in a game where Burke and his 1.60 ERA over his last 62 innings entering the finale weren’t as sharp, and still cruised back to improve to 28-34 on the road. Even when they were losing, the White Sox still gave the feel of being a step or two away from victory.