THE 2025 CHICAGO WHITE SOX were lousy at baseball, wrapping their summer with a record of 60-102, the second-worst in the Majors.

The 2024 Chicago White Sox were even lousier at baseball, bumbling their way to a record-breaking 121 losses.

But here’s the thing: That’s a 19-game improvement.

It’s entirely understandable why nobody was at all impressed with the leap, as bouncing from lamest to second-lamest isn’t what we in the sportswriting industry refer to as “awesome.” But a 19-game leap ain’t no joke.

Witness the 2012 Baltimore Orioles, who delivered 88 dubs and played their way into the ALDS — just 12 months removed from their 69-win 2011 season.

This isn’t to say the Pale Hose will see the postseason — far from it — but another 19-game leap isn’t out of the realm of possibility…or at least so say our friends at Strat-O-Matic, whose simulation of the Sox 2026 season has them ending the year in a less-than-lame fashion.

Hey, I’m as surprised as you are.

Anyhoobs, welcome to day two of CSS / SOM 2026 simulation week. Yesterday, we looked at the Cubs; here’s what the next three days have in store for us:

Wednesday: National League 2026 simulation

Thursday: American League 2026 simulation

Friday: MLB Playoffs, World Series, and statistical leaders simulation

So if you can’t wait for Opening Day on March 26 — or, probably more accurately, Closing Day on September 27 — to see where the South Siders land in 2026, CSS and SOM have your back. Now let’s check out what Munetaka Murakami and the boys might have in store for us.

Strat-O-Matic creates a 2026 card for every player with their Baseball Daily product based on player projections. During the actual season, new cards are generated each day that account for their projections, to-date season totals, and recent trends for each player. This simulation includes projected rosters as of February 15th.

Kyle Teel — .269

Edgar Quero — .268

Austin Hays — .251

Munetaka Murakami — 31

Andrew Benintendi — 26

Colson Montgomery — 22

Munetaka Murakami — 71

Andrew Benintendi — 70

Miguel Vargas — 59

Jordan Leasure — 8

Sean Burke — 8

Shane Smith — 7

Shane Smith — 3.43

Mike Vasil — 3.57

Anthony Kay — 3.72

Shane Smith — 1.20

Anthony Kay — 1.21

Mike Vasil — 1.26

Started the season 37–31 with the division lead

Murakami slashed .214/.299/.405 with 217 strikeouts

Luisangel Acuña: .170 average vs. RHP (may as well switch-hit)