CHICAGO -- With 17 games to play in 17 days following Thursday’s off-day and the White Sox leading the American League Central by one game, Chicago's 2020 expectations have far surpassed simply getting better in this 60-game campaign.

Think the first of multiple World Series championships, as general manager Rick Hahn has stated numerous times for this team’s ultimate goal.

“I want to be there, I want to be in those moments,” White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson said. “That's what it's about, playing to the end, and I'm going to give everything I've got to hopefully get there -- and not just get there but carry us as far as we can go. We're trying to win this thing, trying to win the whole thing. Why not?”

“We have some big series coming up,” White Sox catcher James McCann said. “But the most important thing is taking it day by day and not looking too far ahead. Taking care of business each day and moving on from there.”

Chicago hosts Detroit at Guaranteed Rate Field for three this weekend, then goes to Cincinnati for three next weekend against the Reds. Those six mark the only games against below-.500 teams for the White Sox, as they host the Twins for four from Monday through Thursday, visit the Indians for four from Sept. 21-24 and finish with three at home against the NL Central-leading Cubs.

Dallas Keuchel will be skipped due to back soreness this weekend against the Tigers, something manager Rick Renteria mentioned prior to Wednesday’s 8-1 victory over the Pirates. The veteran southpaw departed last Sunday’s victory in Kansas City after five innings and just 49 pitches because of his back locking up after fielding a comebacker to the mound.

Keuchel officially was put on the 10-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to Monday, with Reynaldo López being recalled from the team’s alternate training site in Schaumburg, Ill. López has an 8.38 ERA over four starts this season with 22 baserunners allowed in 9 2/3 innings, but he figures to get another start against the Tigers.

Only Lucas Giolito has been confirmed as a starter against the Tigers on Friday. If the White Sox follow with López and a bullpen day or some combination of the two, they could line up Dylan Cease, Dane Dunning, Giolito and Keuchel against the Twins, assuming Keuchel is ready to return.

Individual honors are on the line in these final 17 days, as well. Anderson is hitting .350 and trying to win back-to-back AL batting titles, finding himself in close competition with the Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu (.355) and the Twins' Nelson Cruz (.342).

José Abreu, Anderson and Luis Robert deserve AL MVP consideration, with Robert one of the clear front-runners for the AL Rookie of the Year Award. Anderson made a strong case for Abreu during a Zoom call Wednesday.

“Probably one of the most clutch hitters there is in baseball … and just the way he goes about his business,” Anderson said. “Every day, he shows up, he's ready to play, he has great at-bats.

“I can write a whole book about it, but I don't think there's a need for that. You see it, you watch him every day. You see what he brings, how important he is to this ballclub and what type of player he is. He gets the runs in when they're out there.”

Those individual awards rate a distant second to team achievement, a point made clear by this cohesive White Sox crew since Spring Training. Even winning the AL Central and getting to the playoffs for the first time since 2008 would be a major step forward but is not enough for the White Sox, who have 17 days to set themselves up for the postseason.

“We're just starting. Couldn't be more happy to be in the position we are in for years to come,” Anderson said. “We're all going to be here for a while, so it's only right we continue to grow, continue to build that energy for the fan base so when they do come back [to the stadiums], there's going to be a lot of excitement.”