<p>PHILADELPHIA — The upstart <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox" target="_blank" ><u>White Sox</u></a> raised some eyebrows when they finally <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/05/13/white-sox-reach-500-this-late-in-season-for-first-time-since-2022-colson-montgomery-will-venable-jordan-hicks-seranthony-dominguez-bobby-witt" target="_blank" ><u>cracked .500</u></a> last month while playing their best baseball in four years — an admittedly low bar.</p><p>They turned more heads with an extra-innings, walkoff Crosstown Classic <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/05/17/edgar-quero-white-sox-rally-past-cubs-to-take-crosstown-series" target="_blank" ><u>win for the ages</u></a>, and their entirely-too-early wild-card contention has national observers taking notice of what general manager Chris Getz has cooking on the South Side.</p><p>But MLB’s most surprising turnaround story might not convert skeptics into true believers until the end of the month, as the Sox embark on their biggest sustained test through a brutal stretch of the schedule rife with playoff contenders, starting this weekend in Philadelphia.</p><p>After facing a stacked Phillies’ lineup that figures to stay in the National League wild-card conversation despite their early-season turmoil, the Sox will head home for three-game sets against the Braves, who are running away with the NL East behind the best record in baseball, and the perennial World Series-contending Dodgers.</p><p>Then it’s off to Yankee Stadium before a run through the American League Central gantlet, highlighted by their first matchup of the year June 22-24 against the Guardians, whom the Sox are sizing up for the division lead.</p><p>Rational fans might save the postseason talk until seeing whether the Sox can make it through their daunting June trial with a respectable record, but that’s not the attitude in the clubhouse.</p><p>“We want to be the best team we possibly can, and it's kind of a good litmus test for us to see where we're at,” fireballing reliever Grant Taylor said. “We're playing above .500 right now, but we want to go and beat those guys and show why we deserve to be in contention for being considered one of the best teams.</p><p>“I'm really excited about it. I think the guys in the clubhouse are excited about it, but every team in the big leagues is a tough team to beat,” Taylor said.