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          Chicago White Sox Report

          Stock Watch: Jose Abreu show continues

          Jose Abreu has just two homers since July 29 but he's still making a major impact offensively. Brian Kersey/Getty Images
          • Doug Padilla, ESPN Staff WriterSep 2, 2014, 10:58 AM ET
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              Doug covers the Los Angeles Dodgers for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN Chicago in July 2010 and covered the Chicago White Sox for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN Radio 1000 through the 2015 season.
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          RISING

          StreakingJose Abreu, 1B: The legend continues into the final month as the rookie will enter September on a 12-game hitting streak. He already has 18- and 21-game hitting streaks this season. On his current 12-game run, he is batting .500 (21-of-42). He also has a hit in 16 of his last 17 games, batting .452 (28-for-62) over that stretch. So while his power is down (two home runs since July 29), his ability to deliver offense has not waned.

          Chris Sale, SP: Seemingly less dominating as the calendar flipped to August, Sale cranked it up in his final start of the month, striking out a season-high 13 Tigers batters. It was his first victory since July 26 at Minnesota. Maybe Sale's dominating opening to the season set the bar so high that his August seemed pedestrian by comparison, because looking deeper into the month he now has five consecutive quality starts and a 2.77 ERA since July ended.

          Adam Eaton, CF: Who would have guessed that crashing into a fence at full speed and injuring an oblique is just what a guy needed? Hitless in three consecutive games when he was injured, Eaton has hit in all seven games of his return, boasting a .429 batting average over that run, with four doubles, three walks and nine run scored. Adding in a triple, he has five extra-base hits over his past six games. With a .265 batting average on July 9, Eaton now has that mark up to .313, sixth in the American League heading into September.

          FALLING

          SlumpingAvisail Garcia, RF: Since returning from shoulder surgery, Garcia is still trying to get in the flow, something not unexpected. The middle-of-the-order threat does have two home runs and 12 RBIs in the 15 games since his return, but he is batting .218 with a .267 on-base percentage. The positive is that he is trying to get the kinks out now instead of doing it in regular season games next season.

          Overall offense: While guys such as Abreu and Eaton are hitting, issues remain on offense. Before Sunday's 6-2 victory over the Tigers, the White Sox were batting .221 with eight home runs and 25 runs scored over their previous 10 home games. The White Sox had also scored three runs or less in 17 of their past 23 games before Sunday. Over their last 24 games, which includes Sunday, the White Sox have averaged 3.25 runs per game.

          Ronald Belisario, RP: After a hot start, it has been a season to forget for the right-hander and August was no exception. Typically a pitcher who struggles in August, 2014 was more of the same as he posted a 10.80 ERA over the month. Belisario is making $3 million this season and still has two more years of arbitration remaining, but he seems to be a likely candidate not to be tendered a contract at the end of the season.