White Sox need their 30-HR hitters to break out of extreme slumps

Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

White Sox need their 30-HR hitters to break out of extreme slumps

By Alan Rubenstein | Last updated Sep 14, 2026 8:25 PM ET

Colson Montgomery, Munetaka Murakami and Miguel Vargas are all hitting below .225 in September. Without production from Montgomery, Murakami and Vargas, the Chicago White Sox had four wins and eight losses in September, entering their critical three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday.

Montgomery entered the series against Cleveland with a .119 batting average, .260 on-base percentage, .310 slugging percentage and a .570 OPS in September with two home runs and seven runs batted in. Murakami has a slash line of .114/.204/.250 with a .454 OPS, two HRs and six RBIs in September.

Vargas entered the series against Cleveland with a .224 batting average, .269 on-base percentage and .286 slugging percentage, with a .555 OPS, one HR (his only extra-base hit in September) and three RBIs this month. The power outage from Montgomery, Murakami, and Vargas is putting the White Sox's postseason hopes in serious jeopardy.

The White Sox are hitting .200 with a .306 on-base percentage, a .346 slugging percentage and a .654 OPS in September, with 12 HRs and 40 runs scored in 12 games.

Per MLB.com, "The White Sox lead the AL in runs scored, rank third in home runs and are tied for fifth in OPS."

Offense has defined the 2026 White Sox.

The Chicago White Sox 30 Home Run Club in September:

Miguel Vargas: .224/.269/.286 (.555 OPS)

Colson Montgomery: .119/.260/.310 (.570 OPS)

Munetaka Murakami: .114/.204/.250 (.454 OPS) pic.twitter.com/hvYGDPr1KT
— All Things Chicago Sports (@things_sox) September 13, 2026

The sputtering White Sox offense

Per Scott Merkin and Tim Stebbins of MLB.com, the White Sox scored just 15 runs in their previous eight games entering the series at Cleveland. According to MLB research via Merkin and Stebbins, the White Sox have one hit and four walks with the bases loaded in their previous 14 games entering Monday.

The White Sox have a .269 batting average, .355 on-base percentage, .477 slugging percentage and a .832 OPS, with 122 HRs and 483 runs scored in their 76 wins in 2026. In their 73 losses in 2026, the White Sox have a .198 batting average, .278 on-base percentage and .325 slugging percentage, with 71 HRs and 212 runs scored.

The White Sox's hitting and pitching have been wildly inconsistent in wins and losses in 2026. The White Sox have a 1.51 ERA in wins, with a 9.20 ERA in losses. To earn a postseason berth, the White Sox need more consistent hitting and pitching in the last 12 games of the regular season.

Alan Rubenstein

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