When two of the worst teams play each other at the end of the season, it is tough as a fan to get excited. The Washington Nationals and the Chicago White Sox are two of the worst teams in baseball, ranking near the bottom in every statistical category. For both sides, these teams are filled with young talent. However, they are many pieces away from being true contenders.
The Chicago White Sox are coming off a season where they finished with the worst record in MLB history. They improved in 2025, having the potential to win 60 games. Chicago is years away from becoming a true contender, but the rebuild is on the right path. With young stars such as Colson Montgomery and Kyle Teel, this marks the first time since 2021 that the Chicago White Sox have a promising foundation.
With the 2025 season coming to an end, here is the last series preview, and it just so happens to be between the two worst teams in baseball.
Let’s dive into the Chicago White Sox’s 2025 season.
OFFENSE
As expected, the offense has been underwhelming once again. Surprisingly, Luis Robert Jr. remains in Chicago after a brutal start to the season, tanking any value he had along with his hefty contract. However, with some mid-season callups, this team is starting to build its foundation. With Colson Montgomery (.800 OPS) and Kyle Teel (.801 OPS) joining the team mid-season, they have provided a jolt, and we saw the Chicago White Sox play competitive baseball in the second half of the season. As a team, however, they rank near the bottom in almost every statistical category. They are batting .232 (27th), scored 621 runs (28th), hit 157 runs (23rd), have an on-base percentage of .301 (27th), and a slugging percentage of .371 (29th).
PITCHING
Along with the offense, this unit disappointed as expected. With a mostly unknown rotation as well as an uninspiring bullpen, this team was doomed before the season even started. However, there are some bright spots within the rotation. Shane Smith made his first All-Star game as a rookie, and Sean Burke has looked solid during stretches of this season. These two could be long-term arms while other prospects are making their way into the big leagues. As a team, they have a 4.25 ERA (21st), allowed 180 home runs (14th), 1.37 WHIP (27th), and teams are batting .248 against them (20th).
GAME ONE – Friday, 6:45 EDT
WAS: RHP Cade Cavalli (3-1) – 9 G, 4.23 ERA, 34 SO, 1.43 WHIP, 98 ERA+
CWS: RHP Yoendrys Gomez (3-3) *CWS Stats* – 11 G (8 GS), 4.46 ERA, 42 SO, 1.25 WHIP, 94 ERA+
Cavalli has thrown in just nine games this season, and after missing the past two and a half years, Cavalli has looked solid. After giving up seven earned runs against the New York Yankees on August 27, Cavalli has strung together four consecutive quality starts. His last start was stellar, throwing five innings and allowing zero runs on five hits in a victory against the New York Mets.
Yoendrys Gomez has bounced around the league this season, making appearances for three different teams. After spending the past two seasons with the Yankees, Gomez was scooped up by the Los Angeles Dodgers for just three games before making his way to the Windy City. Overall, for the 2025 season, Gomez has a 4.92 ERA in twenty games, eight of them being starts. In his last start, he threw a quality start, throwing 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on six hits in a loss against the San Diego Padres.
GAME TWO – Saturday, 4:05 EDT
WAS: RHP Jake Irvin (9-13) – 32 G, 5.69 ERA, 118 SO, 1.44 WHIP, 72 ERA+
CWS: RHP Sean Burke (4-11) – 27 G (22 GS), 4.29 ERA, 123 SO, 1.47 WHIP, 98 ERA+
Jake Irvin has been the No.2 behind MacKenzie Gore, and he has eaten innings all season long. Even though the production has gone down compared to last season, the ability to stay on the field and throw every fifth day shows signs of a pitcher with a long future in the MLB. He threw well in his last start, throwing 5.1 innings and allowing just two runs on six hits in a win against the New York Mets.
Burke threw for the first time in the majors in 2024, and in just four games, he ended the season 2-0 with a 1.43 ERA. Succeeding in that short time span earned Burke an opportunity to start every fifth day for the Chicago White Sox, and the decision has not backfired. The numbers have regressed, but in twenty-two starts, Burke has a 4.29 ERA and an ERA+ of 98, making his season around average. In his last start, Burke threw a decent game, tossing four innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits in a loss to the San Diego Padres.
GAME THREE – Sunday, 3:05 EDT
WAS: TBD
CWS: RHP Shane Smith (6-8) – 28 G, 3.98 ERA, 137 SO, 1.24 WHIP, 105 ERA+
In just his rookie season, Shane Smith has become a star out of nowhere for the Chicago White Sox. In a season where Chicago didn’t expect much from their starting rotation, they have found a long-term gem. Smith made his first All-Star game this season and has pitched well throughout the entire season. In his last start, he threw five innings and allowed just one run on five hits in a loss against the New York Yankees.
This series serves as a moral boost for both squads as their disappointing seasons are coming to an end. Both teams have a foundation and could be solid in the future; however, there are many changes that need to happen to both squads. Washington has seen some bright spots throughout this long, dreary 2025 season. The off-season is looming ahead, and both teams should be desperate to improve their roster anyway they can.
Hopefully, when next season rolls around, the Washington Nationals can be playing competitive baseball, and with the young talent they have, they are not as far off from success as people may think.
