Notes: Abreu's strong May; Yoán's hot streak

CLEVELAND – Consistency is a key for José Abreu.

At the plate. In the field. In the clubhouse. And especially in the way the White Sox first baseman lives his life.

So even in April, when that 2020 American League Most Valuable Player consistency was absent via a .213/.296/.394 slash line with five home runs and 19 RBIs, Abreu didn’t panic. Abreu didn’t change.

“No, I didn’t change anything,” said Abreu through interpreter Billy Russo during a Wednesday morning Zoom prior to the series finale being postponed. “Just follow my philosophy: Live in peace with life and enjoy life.”

That steadiness has never failed the 34-year-old, who entered Wednesday leading the Majors with 46 RBIs. He was a candidate for American League Player of the Month in May with a .333/.422/.631 slash line to go with six home runs, 27 RBIs, five doubles and even one triple.

But that consistency doesn’t mean Abreu occasionally won’t go from great success to coming up short. In the opener of Monday’s doubleheader, Abreu battled Cleveland reliever James Karinchak for eight pitches with Billy Hamilton on third and one out of the eighth inning in a tie ballgame.

Abreu fell behind at 0-2, worked the count full, fouled off a 95.6 mph four-seamer up in the zone and then launched a sacrifice fly to left on a 96.3 mph four-seamer a little lower in the zone to bring home the game-winning run. But on Tuesday, the White Sox cleanup hitter finished 0-for-5, leaving eight on base, including the bases loaded in the ninth, when he grounded out to end the game in a 6-5 loss.

Different results, but the process doesn’t change.

“My mindset in those at-bats is easy: Just try to produce,” Abreu said. “Since I was in Cuba, I learned if you're third, fourth or fifth in the batting order, you have to produce in those moments.

“I like to be in those moments, and [Monday] was a good day for me. Yesterday, I couldn't get it done, but those are the moments that I like because those are the moments that I'm ready for. I'm the MVP, and I know that those moments are going to get to me.”

Moncada is very good … and getting better

Yoán Moncada features a .429 on-base percentage, ranking second in the AL behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and third overall in baseball. He has reached base safely in 25 of his last 26 games, hit in six straight (10-for-19) and walked 22 times in his last 21 games.

“You see the patience we’ve already seen and seen him doing some damage on pitches he can handle,” said White Sox general manager Rick Hahn of Moncada. “He’s hitting his pitch. He’s not expanding and continues to blossom as one of the finer players in the game. He’s fun to watch.”

“I’m not surprised by the way Moncada has been taking at-bats or by his at-bats,” Abreu said. “I know that it is the kind of thing he can do.”

Yet, Abreu fully believes Moncada is capable of even more productive results, cementing his place among the game’s elite.

“That’s why for me, what he’s doing right now is just normal, just routine for him,” Abreu said. “I’ve been playing with him for a very long time. I’m not surprised at the results and the development he has had at the Majors. I’m always here to support him, help him and give him advice because I know the kind of player he can be and the kind of player he is.”

They said it

“Last night, when we were riding the bus back to the hotel, I was talking to him and just telling him this is not a fair sport. You don't make a season in two months. You have to work hard and grind throughout the whole season. And sometimes, you don't get the results you are hoping [for], but you have to keep working.” – Abreu, on his message to Yermín Mercedes, who was slashing .415/.455/.659 at the end of April but has dropped to .212/.282/.313 over the last 29 games

“There’s just not too much positive I can say about it really. It’s one of those I’m going to put behind me.” – Dylan Cease, on his start covering 3 1/3 innings in Tuesday’s loss