The Chicago White Sox enter Sunday’s contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates with the weight of a dismal 32–65 record dragging behind them, and there appears to be little relief in sight for a club that has struggled in nearly every phase of the game throughout the 2025 season. The offense has been abysmal, ranking near the bottom of the league in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, and runs per game, with Luis Robert Jr. standing as the lone reliable bat amid a sea of inconsistency. Despite flashes from Andrew Benintendi and Miguel Vargas, the lineup has failed to consistently apply pressure or manufacture runs, leaving starters with no margin for error. Jonathan Cannon is expected to take the mound for Chicago, and while he has the frame and makeup of a future mid-rotation arm, his current form is inconsistent, shown by a 3–7 record and 4.44 ERA across a season marked by command issues, high pitch counts, and an inability to work deep into games. Cannon’s stuff can flash—his fastball and cutter induce weak contact—but hitters have started adjusting, and without a dependable third pitch or strikeout upside, he becomes vulnerable by the middle innings. The White Sox bullpen, already stretched thin by overuse and inefficiency, has been a frequent culprit in blowing tight games and lacks a defined closer or reliable setup arm.

Defensively, the White Sox have shown slight improvement in range and fundamentals, but they still struggle with infield errors and missed assignments that have cost them innings and led to extended scoring chances for opponents. On the road, the White Sox have been particularly dismal, losing the majority of their away matchups and often failing to cover the run line even when getting significant odds as underdogs. Their best-case scenario for Sunday likely involves Cannon finding his rhythm early, getting six innings of two-run ball or better, and a few timely hits from Robert, Benintendi, or Moore to edge ahead before the bullpen inevitably enters the picture. However, the odds remain stacked heavily against a group that hasn’t been able to sustain positive momentum all season and tends to unravel in late innings. The challenge becomes steeper when considering Pittsburgh’s modest but capable lineup and the relatively strong command shown by Pirates starter Bailey Falter, who is unlikely to gift the Sox many scoring chances. The Angels of recent years have had similar issues, but the 2025 White Sox make them look like a powerhouse by comparison—this Chicago team simply hasn’t shown the grit, discipline, or offensive firepower needed to compete regularly. If they are to avoid another series loss, the White Sox must play flawless baseball across all nine innings, something they’ve rarely managed this year. With a young and thin roster continuing to grow through adversity, Sunday is another opportunity to evaluate talent, but expectations for a victory are understandably low unless several key players outperform their season-long trends and deliver a complete performance.