Pregame notes: No one *wants* to be swept in back-to-back series

The White Sox got a season-high eight-game losing streak out of the way in early April (and then had another one in mid-June), so it'll take a few more lapses for this current five-game skid to approach the worst string of results of the year.

But it's certainly putting a slight crimp in all the year-end pressers of this week, which are trying to maintain the victory lap vibes that a stronger second half should otherwise be able to foster. There will be plenty of takeaways from Chris Getz's Wednesday year-end presser on this website over the next 24 hours, but for now, let's highlight a portion that feels least apt to use right before the White Sox play a getaway day game against the Orioles amid a five-game losing streak.

"It's important for our fans to know that our players, they love having the fans' support," Getz said. "They love having them show up. They perform well and I want our fans to be a part of it. The Chicago fan base is a special one. I talk to former players all the time about how special this place is. I recently had a conversation with Paul Konerko and was getting feedback from him, talking about the similar message of how great this fan base is and he says 'If you've got a team that shows fight and doesn't give up and likes to play together and plays this game hard, the fans will get around you.' We felt that this year and we appreciate it, and we owe it to the fans to continue to grow this group."

Personally, I can confirm Konerko's general point. I wouldn't go so far as to describe my mother's regard for Chase Meidroth as "irrational," but that adjective survived the first round of cuts.

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Even if it were irrational, at the very least Will Venable feels it too, as he's returned Meidroth to the leadoff spot, in light of the Sox second baseman hitting .327/.400/.418 since returning from his thumb contusion in mid-August.

"He's in a really good spot, which is why he's up there right now," Venable said. "Tone-setter for sure. One of those guys that likes to get dirty, likes to play hard, base run well, he likes defense, he likes being able to be a guy at the plate you can trust. So he's just a competitor that likes to be out there playing baseball, whether he's hurt or feeling great, he wants to be in the lineup and wants to be playing."

Meidroth is also running a season-high 12-game hitting streak.

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Colson Montgomery has struck out 25 times in 62 plate appearances (40.3 percent) in September. Coincidentally, Sox officials have been talking up his defense of recent.

"He's been very consistent," Getz said. "You look at how accurate his throws are, the steadiness of his glove. He's a reliable defender that oftentimes people point to his height and is he going to be able to stick at shortstop, I think he's proven that he can and he can make an impact defensively. The way that he leads the entire field, the captain so to speak on the infield. He's got that presence about him. We feel very confident that he's going to be able to remain at shortstop for a while and we feel very fortunate to have him at that position."

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The Sox are 21 wins ahead of where they were at this point last season (36-116) and need a 6-4 finish to avoid a third-straight 100-loss campaign.

Yeah, I dunno guys.

First pitch: White Sox vs. Orioles

TV: CHSN

Radio: ESPN 1000 AM, WRTO 1200 AM

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