White Sox trounced by Astros, fall to 30-94

HOUSTON — That 1962 Mets record for losses in a season will keep coming up unless the White Sox go on an unexpected hot streak, but interim manager Grady Sizemore wants his players to turn a deaf ear to it.

“I don’t want guys thinking about that,” Sizemore said before the Sox’ 6-1 loss to the Astros. “None of that really matters. You’re either in the playoffs and you make the World Series or you don’t.”

While going 2-5 since Sizemore took over for Pedro Grifol, the Sox have generally played better, but not Saturday. In the Astros’ three-run third against right-hander Chris Flexen (2-12, 5.46 ERA), third baseman Lenyn Sosa failed to corral left fielder Andrew Benintendi’s routine throw in, allowing a runner to advance. Jose Altuve stole third base standing up against Flexen, and the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez was caught between third and home but got back safely.

Gavin Sheets was doubled off second base by shortstop Jeremy Pena on Dominic Fletcher’s soft line drive in the fourth inning, and Luis Robert Jr., who’s 17-for-20 in stolen bases, made the first out of the sixth trying to steal second with the Sox trailing 4-1. Sox reliever Gus Varland, air-mailed a pickoff attempt at first, allowing a runner to score from third.

“Tonight wasn’t one of our better ones,” said Sheets, who had two of the Sox’ five hits.

“Last I checked, [Pena] was right on my hip on my left, and when he threw the pitch, he bounced off and got to my right without me knowing.”

Big and little things gone wrong have added up to a 30-94 record. The Mets were 40-120 in ’62, and the Sox are on pace for 122.8 losses. The franchise record for losses is 106 in 1970.

“We’re all playing for something out there, but it’s not for some record or whatever; it’s to get better and play as a unit,” Sizemore said.

The Sox fell to 0-18 in Flexen’s last 18 starts.

De Los Santos claimed off waivers

Right-hander Enyel De Los Santos was claimed off waivers from the Yankees, Varland was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte and righty Steven Wilson (5.71 ERA) landed on the 15-day injured list with a lower back strain.

Right-hander Mike Clevinger was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

De Los Santos, 28, allowed seven runs and eight hits in the Sox’ 12-2 win against the Yankees in his last game Monday before being designated for assignment.

He is 1-2 with a 5.79 ERA and one save in 49 combined relief appearances between the Yankees and Padres this season.

Varland, 27, has a 3.86 ERA in four games with Charlotte. He made seven relief appearances with the Dodgers before being DFA’d.

About that bullpen

The Sox’ bullpen had a major-league-worst 5.03 ERA entering Saturday, including a 6.17 mark since the All-Star break.

While Michael Kopech has faced 27 batters, allowing one hit and one walk with 13 strikeouts since being traded to the Dodgers, Chad Kuhl was used for his second career save Friday.

And Matt Foster, pitching for the first time since 2022 after Tommy John surgery, was asked to pitch the eighth protecting a two-run lead.

“It’s been tough,” Sizemore said. “We’ve been mixing and matching. We don’t have a set of guys in certain roles.’’