On the field, the Sox look to be in position to avoid repeating history following last year\u2019s record-setting 121-loss<\/a> season. The Colorado Rockies (22-74) are on pace<\/a> to shatter that mark. But the Sox still sit last in the American League Central with a 32-65 record. There have been a lot of close losses along the way. The Sox are 8-22 in one-run games and 4-14 in contests decided by two runs.<\/p>\n The games resume Friday as the Sox begin a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Here are three questions as action picks back up after the All-Star break.<\/p>\n 1. Who will be dealt by the trade deadline?<\/p>\n Luis Robert Jr. has been in a season-long funk. But the center fielder is still one of the names to watch<\/a> as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.<\/p>\n Robert, who turns 28 on Aug. 3, is slashing .190\/.275\/.325 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs in 79 games. His contract includes $20 million club options in 2026 and 2027, with $2 million buyouts for both seasons.<\/p>\n If Robert gets going in the right direction, he could provide a spark for a club during the stretch run. But he\u2019s just 8-for-46 (.174) in his last 16 games.<\/p>\n Robert could be part of an active trade deadline for the Sox.<\/p>\n Starter Adrian Houser also has been mentioned in trade speculation<\/a>.\u00a0The right-hander has been phenomenal since signing a one-year deal<\/a> with the Sox on May 20, going 5-2 with a 1.56 ERA in nine starts.<\/p>\n Houser allowed one earned run over 22 innings in his last three starts. He is scheduled to start Saturday. How many more he has with the club is an intriguing question.<\/p>\n 2. What will the workload look like for the young starting pitchers? Rookie Shane Smith represented the Sox at the All-Star Game<\/a>. He became the seventh Sox rookie \u2014 and first rookie pitcher \u2014 to earn an All-Star nod.<\/p>\n The right-hander made his final start before the All-Star break on July 11, allowing two runs while striking out five in three innings during Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians<\/a>.<\/p>\n Smith and Venable said the short start was by design.<\/p>\n \u201cThey make that decision for my benefit,\u201d Smith said after the outing.<\/p>\n Smith has pitched 86 2\/3 innings this season, and the Sox have his workload in mind.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to find ways to be creative, we have to find ways to do the right thing,\u201d Venable said on July 11. \u201cWithout getting too far down the road, we\u2019ll explore all the options to make sure we\u2019re putting the right calculus into the decision on how to go about protecting him.\u201d<\/p>\n Young starters Sean Burke, Jonathan Cannon and Davis Martin are facing similar circumstances. It\u2019s one of the reasons the Sox acquired Aaron Civale from the Milwaukee Brewers<\/a>, adding a veteran with the ability to accumulate innings.<\/p>\n The Sox will have to do more maneuvering as the season carries on.<\/p>\n 3. What\u2019s the next step in the progression for the newcomers?<\/p>\n Smith was one of 11 Sox players who made their major-league debut during the first half.<\/p>\n Only the Athletics (12) entered the final day before the All-Star break with more debuts this season.<\/p>\n The list of Sox players also includes catchers Kyle Teel<\/a> and Edgar Quero.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to keep my head down, and keep grinding every day and focus on the process,\u201d Teel said on July 12 at Rate Field.<\/p>\n Right-hander Grant Taylor has been electric in relief work, displaying a 100-mph fastball<\/a>. The recent double-play combination has featured Chase Meidroth at second base and Colson Montgomery at shortstop.<\/p>\n![\"White](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CTC-L-SOX-GIANTS-062825-13_230869602.jpg\")
White Sox starter Adrian Houser delivers against the Giants on June 28, 2025, at Rate Field. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n
\n![\"White](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CTC-Z-SOX-SMITH.jpg\")
White Sox pitcher Shane Smith signs autographs before the All-Star Home Run Derby on July 14, 2025, in Atlanta. (Brynn Anderson\/AP)<\/p>\n![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1752839712_750_CTC-SOX-GUARDIANS-28_231359602.jpg\")
White Sox reliever Grant Taylor gets high-fives in the dugout during the ninth inning against the Guardians on July 13, 2025, at Rate Field. (Eileen T. Meslar\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n