The 1962 New York Mets lost 120 games, setting the record for the most defeats in a single season in modern baseball history. The 2024 White Sox are on pace to supplant the Mets as the worst team ever. As the season winds down, we’ll track their efforts to avoid infamy.
CHICAGO — The White Sox, who have scored 104 fewer runs than any other team, have proven to be an elixir for any struggling pitcher. That now includes Guardians rookie Joey Cantillo, who retired the first 20 Chicago hitters he faced on Monday and dealt the White Sox their 112th defeat.
Cantillo registered an 8.47 ERA in his first four spot starts, but in Cleveland’s 5-3 victory, he struck out 10 and kept the White Sox off the bases until Andrew Benintendi’s two-out single to right in the seventh.
What a night for Joey Cantillo!
He has struck out 10 batters in his outing tonight. #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/LJ8jZstH78
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) September 10, 2024
Strangely, the White Sox have notched more wins against the first-place Guardians (five) than against any other opponent this season. Their loss Monday, however, marked their 13th in a row at home and 25th in their last 26 games at Guaranteed Rate Field. They sit only eight losses from tying the 1962 Mets’ dubious mark. They sit 40 1/2 games out of fourth place in the five-team American League Central. — Zack Meisel
Current pace: 125 losses
Games remaining: 17
Wins needed to avoid equaling the ’62 Mets: 10
Next game: Tuesday, vs. Cleveland. RHP Ben Lively 11-9, 4.07 ERA (Guardians) vs. RHP Jonathan Cannon 3-9, 4.53 (White Sox)
(Top photo of Luis Robert Jr.swinging and missing on Monday against the Guardians: Ben Hsu / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
