MLB Power Rankings: Losers of 20 in a row, White Sox hold worst record ever

Forget the 1962 Mets and last year’s Athletics and the 2003 Tigers and any number of potential WOATs (Worst Of All Time) that Major League Baseball has produced over the past half century.

These Chicago White Sox are a threat to the ancient history of the game.

The White Sox extended their losing streak to 20 games with three more losses against Minnesota and are now one away from the American League record set by the Baltimore Orioles in 1988. Three more losses and they will tie the 1961 Phillies with a 23-game losing streak, the longest in major league history.

Needless to say, the 27-87 White Sox have a permanent lease on No. 30 in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings, and the No. 29 Colorado Rockies, 41-71, hold a lead of just 17 ½ games.

But Chicago’s futility is almost immeasurable. The White Sox’s slugging percentage fell to .237, worse than the .262 hitting mark set by the 1962 Mets when they set a record 120 losses. As such, the White Sox are now on pace for 123 losses, which would shatter the Mets’ mark.

That would leave only one low point: the 1916 Philadelphia A’s, who lost 117 games but fortunately competed in an era where they only played 154 a year. Their .235 winning percentage (or .765 losing percentage) remains the worst in the modern era.

Who says there’s nothing to play on the South Side this summer?

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (+1)

2. Baltimore Orioles (+1)

3. Philadelphia Phillies (-2)

4. New York Yankees (+1)

5. Milwaukee Brewers (+1)

6. Los Angeles Dodgers (-2)

7. Minnesota Twins (+1)

8. Atlanta Braves (-1)

9. Kansas City Royals (+1)

10. Boston Red Sox (-1)

11. San Diego Padres (+1)

12. Arizona Diamondbacks (+1)

• Paul Sewald is closer; Ryan Thompson, Kevin Ginkel, AJ Puk should all get opportunities.

13. Houston Astros (-2)

14. Seattle Mariners (+1)

15. New York Mets (-)

16. St. Louis Cardinals (-)

17. Tampa Bay Rays (-)

18. Pittsburgh Pirates (+1)

• Bryan Reynolds has hit 11 home runs in the last two months, eight of them in game-tying or deficit-erasing games.

19. San Francisco Giants (+1)

20. Texas Rangers (-2)

21. Cincinnati Reds (+1)

22. Detroit Tigers (-1)

23. Chicago Cubs (-)

24. Washington Nationals (+1)

25. Toronto Blue Jays (-1)

• File this for 2025: Since June 25, George Springer is hitting .311 with eight homers, .384 OBP, .972 OPS.

26. Los Angeles Angels (-)

27. Oakland Athletics (-)

• With 28 hits, 81 RBI, Brent Rooker on 40 hits, 116 RBI pace.

28. Miami Marlins (-)

29. Colorado Rockies (-)

30. Chicago White Sox (-)

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: White Sox losing streak threatens all-time record