- Editor's Note: "White Sox Farm Report: Weekend Recap, June 25-26, 2022" originally appeared on Sox on 35th. Jordan Lazowski of Sox On 35th will be a regular contributor to NBC Sports Chicago's White Sox coverage for the 2022 season. You can read more of their coverage at SoxOn35th.com, and follow them on Twitter at @SoxOn35th.
We've all heard the commercial: "Lucas Giolito, 2018, WORST pitcher in baseball." We also all know the story from there. From 2019 through May 25, 2022, Giolito posted a 3.40 ERA, .281 wOBA against, and .210/.277/.374 slash line in 79 games. In that same span, he struck out 30.9% of batters and walked just 8.1%. He came into this season in a perfect position to continue to build his resume for a long-term contract.
However, in Giolito's five starts since May 25, he's been anything but the pitcher Sox fans have come to know him as over the past three seasons. Following another rough start against the Blue Jays this past week, Giolito's ERA on the season has spiked all the way to 5.40. In his last 25.2 innings, Giolito has allowed 27 earned runs (9.47 ERA). Giolito has remained accountable and talked about some adjustments he needs to make, but no matter how you look at this, it's an uncharacteristic five-game stretch for the right-hander.
So, what exactly has happened to Giolito? Everyone has their opinions, but can we use data to find the root causes? Let’s attempt to break it all down in hopes that a turnaround can begin today with the Angels.