Keys Will Venable Needs to Win AL Manager of the Year Award

MLB Keys Will Venable Needs to Win AL Manager of the Year Award

By Nemanja Milosavljević

August 22, 2026 • 3:04 PM EDT

Updated 14 days ago

Keys Will Venable Needs to Win AL Manager of the Year Award

The White Sox have been one of the surprise stories of the American League this season, and it’s fair to say Will Venable is getting a ton of credit. With a 67-61 record heading into the final stretch, he’s turned around a franchise that came in as an underdog. That achievement has Venable in the thick of the AL Manager of the Year conversation. But it’s not a race he can coast through—Boston’s dramatic surge and Tampa Bay’s consistency have left the award wide open.

The Red Sox, left for dead at the end of June at 37-47, have staged one of those second-half charges you can’t ignore. Chad Tracy, their interim manager, suddenly looks like a serious contender for the award, especially after Boston muscled itself back into the wild card mix. Then you’ve got the machine that is Tampa Bay, with Kevin Cash steady at the helm and cruising atop the AL East. Simply put, Venable has his work cut out for him.

According to Yahoo Sports, there are clear things Venable must do if he wants to take home top honors. Here’s what matters most for bettors and fans tracking the AL Manager of the Year market, and why each could tip the odds in Venable’s favor.

Key developments

White Sox hold a 67-61 record, leading their division late in the season
Boston Red Sox surged from 37-47 in June to become a top wildcard threat
Tampa Bay remains a strong force, keeping Kevin Cash squarely in the race
White Sox pitching depth is tested; creative use of relievers has worked—so far
Error management is under the magnifying glass after high-profile gaffes

1. Find a pitching hero when it counts

Every manager gets tested by injuries and fatigue, but Venable’s been in a real bind with Chicago’s arms. He’s made it work creatively, patching together games with relievers and unusual starter combos, grabbing two wins using mostly the bullpen. But you can only get lucky so often—if Venable can’t uncover another reliable starter this month, the wheels could come off. The solution? A healthy, in-form Davis Martin or a surprise run from Drew Thorpe.

Martin showed serious ace potential early in the year with stellar control (2.00 ERA through May and only three home runs allowed) before a finger issue. If he returns sharp, he can anchor the staff. Thorpe, meanwhile, could play the wild card role—a bounce-back from surgery might leave him just fresh and hungry enough to make a difference. Even if Thorpe can just deliver three gritty, five-inning starts and keep games alive, it might swing the division. Bettors should watch how these rotation moves shape up day-to-day.

2. Cut out the costly mistakes

This is the other side of the Venable coin. He’s displayed brilliant tactical feels, but the rookie learning curve is still clear. His worst was a mental lapse on mound visits, which forced Noah Schultz off prematurely in an 8-2 defeat. That kind of error isn’t just embarrassing, it can swing games—and votes. In another key moment, he missed an obvious intentional walk with the game on the line against the Cubs.

Venable owned up to both mistakes, but with the race this tight, he just can’t afford another. The voters remember when a manager costs his team, especially in high-leverage spots. Put simply, if Venable keeps things clean the rest of the way, that narrative flips back in his favor.

After his most glaring error, Venable spoke out in the aftermath—a moment that fans and voters are sure to remember. As Venable took reporters through the confusion with mound visits that forced Schultz off the mound, his openness earned him respect, but the pressure is now firmly on him not to make those mistakes again.

3. Outpace Boston, win the division

This is the bottom line. If Venable wants AL Manager of the Year, the White Sox must win the Central—and they’ll have to avoid a late-season collapse like Detroit suffered last year. Split the remaining 16 division games at a minimum (8-8), but shoot much higher if this award is truly in play. With five divisional series left, that’s non-negotiable.

Plus, Chicago faces teams with losing records in 15 other games, all but two of them. Winning 10 of those is the absolute baseline. This isn’t the time to drop gimmes—those ugly losses can flip the script on a manager’s narrative and let Tracy or Cash claim the upper hand. Get those 18 wins, and Venable probably claims both the division crown and the last laugh in the MOY race.

Key takeaways

Will Venable leads the White Sox to first in the AL Central with a 67-61 mark
Boston is hot on their heels, so every game is critical down the stretch
Chicago’s pitching health is a make-or-break factor for Venable’s MOY bid
Rookie mistakes have cost key games—Venable needs to stay sharp
Returning Davis Martin or an impact run from Drew Thorpe could decide the division
White Sox must win the division outright for Venable to beat Tracy and Cash for AL MOY
Schedule favors Chicago, but the margin for error is razor-thin
Bettors should monitor lineup and rotation news for late value in MOY markets

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Frequently Asked Questions

At the time of writing, Will Venable has managed the Chicago White Sox to a 67-61 record, sitting first in their division as the season heads into the final stretch.

Venable is primarily up against interim Red Sox manager Chad Tracy, whose team came roaring back from a poor June, and Kevin Cash of the Rays, whose steady leadership in Tampa Bay keeps him in the conversation.

Venable needs either a healthy, effective return from Davis Martin or a breakout from Drew Thorpe to bolster a tired pitching staff. Without a fresh arm, the Sox could stumble down the stretch.

Recent high-profile errors, like exceeding mound visits and risky late-game decisions, have cost Chicago. With the award race tight, any further mistakes could shift the narrative and voting against Venable.

With five divisional series and mostly sub-.500 teams left, Chicago has an opportunity to rack up wins. They must capitalize on easy matchups and avoid slip-ups if Venable is to outpace Boston and Tampa Bay in the MOY race.

Yes, the consensus is that Venable needs Chicago to take the AL Central outright. If Boston wins more games, the award likely heads to Tracy, not Venable.