The Chicago White Sox were in third place in the American League Central, just one game behind the co-leading Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins following the games of the weekend of July 4. Yet Baseball Prospectus' Playoff Odds Report gave the White Sox just an 18.4 percent chance of reaching the postseason.
Two week later, the Playoffs Odds Report gives the White Sox an almost 50/50 shot at playing in October, rating their chances at 47.4 percent as they are now in first place in the AL Central, leading the Tigers and Twins by 1½ games. They have put up a torrid run, as they were 24-33 and 9½ games out following games of June 8, and since then have gone 26-8, ending speculation that either general manager Ken Williams or manager Ozzie Guillen would be fired.
No other club's postseason hopes have gotten a bigger boost over the past two weeks than those of the White Sox. Here is the look at the top five gainers during that span based on Baseball Prospectus' Playoff Odds Report: