White Sox reach season-high milestone after sweeping Tigers

Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery (12) celebrates with his teammates after sweeping the Detroit Tigers in their three-game series at Comerica Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

White Sox reach season-high milestone after sweeping Tigers

By Alan Rubenstein | Last updated Aug 17, 2026 6:24 PM ET

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The Chicago White Sox took a season-high 5.5-game lead in the American League Central over the Tigers after a weekend sweep of a three-game series in Detroit.

With the three-game sweep of the Tigers, the White Sox improved to 65-58 this season.

Detroit fell to 60-64 after getting swept by the White Sox. The White Sox are the only team in the AL Central with a winning record. With the second-best record among division leaders in the AL, the White Sox would currently have a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

The schedule gets tougher for the White Sox beginning on Monday. The Cubs host the White Sox in a three-game series at Wrigley Field from Monday through Wednesday. Following the series at Wrigley Field, the White Sox host the Atlanta Braves in a makeup game on Thursday. The final game of a three-game series on June 11 was rained out between Atlanta and the White Sox at Rate Field.

Atlanta currently has the second-best record in baseball with 74 wins and 50 losses. The Cubs hold the top National League wild card with a 72-53 record.

St. Louis won the final two games against the Cubs this weekend at Wrigley Field. The White Sox won two out of three games against the Cubs at Rate Field from May 15-17.

The Crosstown Classic heads to Wrigley Field

The White Sox and Cubs begin a 3-game series tonight! pic.twitter.com/wUkJnlsyzS
— MLB (@MLB) August 17, 2026

The White Sox are on track to win the AL Central

The White Sox swept the Tigers with a 9-5 win on Friday night, a 4-3 win on Saturday and a 7-5 victory in the series finale on Sunday. The series sweep helped halt what was a rough start to August for the White Sox. Entering Detroit, the White Sox had three wins and six losses in August. A series loss to Cincinnati, which is in last place in the National League Central, was concerning.

The 5.5-game lead is the largest for the White Sox since they won the AL Central with 93 wins and 69 losses in 2022. Houston ended the White Sox's 2022 season with a four-game series win in the Wildcard round.

The game against Atlanta begins a seven-game homestand for the White Sox. The New York Mets, last place in the NL East, and the Texas Rangers, in second place and currently two games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West, will each play a three-game series at Rate Field to conclude the homestand.

The Mets and Rangers provide the White Sox with excellent opportunities to extend their lead in the AL Central. Detroit plays three games at Pittsburgh during the week, followed by a trio of games at Kansas City this weekend.

Alan Rubenstein

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