The 2020 season was the Chicago White Sox' 121st season in Chicago and 120th in the American League. The Sox played their home games at Guaranteed Rate Field.

On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled. Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks. On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 24 Opening Day.

Due to the pandemic and the shortened season, Major League Baseball instituted certain rule changes which included the use of a universal designated hitter, a runner on second base to start extra innings, and a revised schedule. On July 30, the league and the union agreed that all remaining doubleheaders on the season would be seven innings.

On April 1, 2020, longtime White Sox radio broadcaster Ed Farmer died at the age of 70.

On September 17, with a win against the Minnesota Twins, the White Sox clinched their first playoff spot since 2008. This was their first winning season since 2012. They lost in three games to the Oakland Athletics in the 2020 American League Wild Card Series.

Offseason Rule changes For the 2020 season, MLB instituted several new rule changes including the following: Single trade deadline – there will no longer be a waiver trade deadline later in the year. 26-man roster – rosters will expand from 25 players, but no team may carry more than 13 pitchers. Three-batter minimum for pitchers - a pitcher must face three batters in a game before they can be removed unless there is an injury or the end of an inning.

Further rule changes came into effect in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including the use of the DH in the National League, a shortened schedule, and starting extra innings with a runner at second base.

Transactions November 21, 2019: Catcher Yasmani Grandal signed as a free agent by the White Sox to a four-year, $73 million contract. November 22, 2019: 1st Baseman José Abreu signed a three-year contract extension worth $50 million with the White Sox. December 2, 2019: Catcher James McCann signed a one-year extension with the White Sox. December 10, 2019: White Sox trade outfielder Steele Walker to the Texas Rangers for outfielder Nomar Mazara. December 20, 2019: LHP Gio González signed as a free agent by the White Sox to a one-year, $5 million contract. December 30, 2019: LHP Dallas Keuchel signed as a free agent by the White Sox to a three-year, $55.5 million contract. January 2, 2020: Outfielder Luis Robert signed a six-year contract extension worth $50 million with the White Sox. January 9, 2020: 1B-DH Edwin Encarnación signed as a free agent by the White Sox to a one-year, $12 million contract. January 14, 2020: RHP Steve Cishek signed as a free agent by the White Sox to a one-year, $6 million contract.

Regular season On August 13, the White Sox were supposed to play the first ever MLB at Field of Dreams game against the New York Yankees at a temporary 8,000 seat ballpark in Dyersville, Iowa before the pandemic came. MLB then announced the shortened season and that the AL and NL will play against each other in the same division which took the Yankees off the matchup. Then on July 1, MLB announced that the St. Louis Cardinals would replace the Yankees for the game. Then in late July, a majority of Cardinals players and coaches tested positive for COVID-19. The MLB announced on August 3 that the Field of Dreams game would be rescheduled to August 12, 2021.

Game log

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1 || July 24 ||Twins|| 7:10pm || 5–10 ||May (1–0) ||Giolito (0–1) ||—|| 0–1 ||L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 || July 25 ||Twins|| 1:10pm || 10–3 ||Keuchel (1–0) ||Dobnak (0–1) ||—|| 1–1 ||W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 3 || July 26 ||Twins|| 1:10pm || 2–14 ||Maeda (1–0) ||López (0–1) ||—|| 1–2 ||L1 |- style="background:#bbb;" |—|| July 27 || @ Indians|| colspan="8" |Postponed (inclement weather) |- style="background:#fbb;" | 4 || July 28 || @ Indians|| 3:40pm || 3–4 ||Civale (1–0) ||Cease (0–1) ||Hand (2) || 1–3 ||L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || July 28 || @ Indians|| TBA || 3–5 ||Plutko (1–0) ||Rodón (0–1) ||Hill (1) || 1–4 ||L3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 || July 29 || @ Indians|| 5:10pm || 4–0 ||Bummer (1–0) ||Hand (0–1) ||—|| 2–4 ||W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 || July 31 || @ Royals|| 7:05pm || 3–2 ||Keuchel (2–0) ||Bubic (0–1) ||Colomé (1) || 3–4 ||W2

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 || August 1 || @ Royals|| 6:05pm || 11–5 ||Foster (1–0) ||Bolaños (0–2) ||Heuer (1) || 4–4 ||W3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 9 || August 2 || @ Royals|| 1:05pm || 9–2 ||Cease (1–1) ||Barlow (1–1) ||—|| 5–4 ||W4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 10 || August 3 || @ Brewers|| 7:10pm || 6–4 ||Detwiler (1–0) ||Phelps (1–1) ||Colomé (2) || 6–4 ||W5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 11 || August 4 || @ Brewers|| 7:10pm || 3–2 ||Giolito (1–1) ||Williams (0–1) ||Colomé (3) || 7–4 ||W6 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 12 || August 5 ||Brewers|| 7:10pm || 0–1 ||Houser (1–0) ||Keuchel (2–1) ||Hader (2) || 7–5 ||L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 13 || August 6 ||Brewers|| 7:10pm || 3–8 ||Lindblom (1–0) ||González (0–1) ||—|| 7–6 ||L2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 || August 7 ||Indians|| 7:10pm || 2–0 ||Cease (2–1) ||Civale (1–2) ||Colomé (4) || 8–6 ||W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 15 || August 8 ||Indians|| 1:10pm || 1–7 ||Plesac (1–1) ||Anderson (0–1) ||—|| 8–7 ||L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 16 || August 9 ||Indians|| 1:10pm || 4–5 ||Maton (1–0) ||Cordero (0–1) ||Pérez (1) || 8–8 ||L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 17 || August 10 || @ Tigers|| 6:10pm || 1–5 ||Norris (1–1) ||Keuchel (2–2) ||—|| 8–9 ||L3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 18 || August 11 || @ Tigers|| 6:10pm || 8–4 ||Foster (2–0) ||Alexander (1–1) ||—|| 9–9 ||W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 19 || August 12 || @ Tigers|| 12:10pm || 7–5 ||Cease (3–1) ||Boyd (0–2) ||Colomé (5) || 10–9 ||W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 20 || August 15 ||Cardinals|| 1:10pm || 1–5 ||Wainwright (2–0) ||Giolito (1–2) ||—|| 10–10 ||L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 21 || August 15 ||Cardinals|| 3:15pm || 3–6 ||Cabrera (1–0) ||Marshall (0–1) ||Miller (1) || 10–11 ||L2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 22 || August 16 ||Cardinals|| 1:10pm || 7–2 ||Keuchel (3–2) ||Hudson (0–2) ||—|| 11–11 ||W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 23 || August 17 ||Tigers|| 7:10pm || 7–2 ||Heuer (1–0) ||Boyd (0–3) ||—|| 12–11 ||W2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 24 || August 18 ||Tigers|| 7:10pm || 10–4 ||Cease (4–1) ||Skubal (0–1) ||—|| 13–11 ||W3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 25 || August 19 ||Tigers|| 7:10pm || 5–3 ||Marshall (1–1) ||Soto (0–1) ||Colomé (6) || 14–11 ||W4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 26 || August 20 ||Tigers|| 1:10pm || 9–0 ||Giolito (2–2) ||Turnbull (2–2) ||—|| 15–11 ||W5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 27 || August 21 || @ Cubs|| 7:15pm || 10–1 ||Keuchel (4–2) ||Lester (2–1) ||—|| 16–11 ||W6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 28 || August 22 || @ Cubs|| 7:15pm || 7–4 ||González (1–1) ||Hendricks (3–3) ||—|| 17–11 ||W7 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 29 || August 23 || @ Cubs|| 1:20pm || 1–2 ||Darvish (5–1) ||Cease (4–2) ||Jeffress (3) || 17–12 ||L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 30 || August 25 ||Pirates|| 7:10pm || 4–0 ||Giolito (3–2) ||Brault (0–1) ||—|| 18–12 ||W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 31 || August 26 ||Pirates|| 1:10pm || 10–3 ||Keuchel (2–0) ||Williams (1–5) ||—|| 19–12 ||W2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 32 || August 28 ||Royals|| 7:10pm || 6–5 ||Colomé (1–0) ||Kennedy (0–2) ||—|| 20–12 ||W3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 33 || August 29 ||Royals|| 1:10pm || 6–9 ||Newberry (1–0) ||Burdi (0–1) ||Hahn (1) || 20–13 ||L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 34 || August 30 ||Royals|| 1:10pm || 5–2 ||Foster (3–0) ||Zuber (1–2) ||—|| 21–13 ||W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 35 || August 31 || @ Twins|| 7:10pm || 8–5 || Foster (4–0) || Rogers (1–3) || Colomé (7) || 22–13 || W2

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 36 || September 1 || @ Twins|| 7:10pm || 2–3 || Thielbar (1–0) || Cordero (0–2) || Wisler (1) || 22–14 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 37 || September 2 || @ Twins|| 7:10pm || 1–8 || Berríos (3–3) || López (0–2) ||—|| 22–15 || L2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 38 || September 3 || @ Royals|| 7:05pm || 11–6 || Cease (5–2) || Duffy (2–3) ||—|| 23–15 || W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 39 || September 4 || @ Royals|| 7:05pm || 7–4 || Heuer (2–0) || Singer (1–4) || Colomé (8) || 24–15 || W2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 40 || September 5 || @ Royals|| 6:05pm || 5–3 || Giolito (4–2) || Bubic (0–5) || Colomé (9) || 25–15 || W3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 41 || September 6 || @ Royals|| 1:05pm || 8–2 || Keuchel (6–2) || Harvey (0–3) ||—|| 26–15 || W4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 42 || September 8 || @ Pirates|| 6:05pm || 4–5 || Rodríguez (2–2) || Detwiler (1–1) ||—|| 26–16 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 43 || September 9 || @ Pirates|| 6:05pm || 8–1 || Dunning (1–0) || Brubaker (1–1) ||—|| 27–16 || W1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 44 || September 11 ||Tigers|| 7:10pm || 4–3 || Marshall (2–1) || Cisnero (2–3) || Colomé (10) || 28–16 || W2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 45 || September 12 ||Tigers|| 6:10pm || 14–0 || López (1–2) || Fulmer (0–2) ||—|| 29–16 || W3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 46 || September 13 ||Tigers|| 1:10pm || 5–2 || Cordero (1–2) || Turnbull (4–3) || Colomé (11) || 30–16 || W4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 47 || September 14 ||Twins|| 7:10pm || 3–1 || Colomé (2–0) || Rogers (1–4) ||—|| 31–16 || W5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 48 || September 15 ||Twins|| 7:10pm || 6–2 || Dunning (2–0) || Dobnak (6–4) ||—|| 32–16 || W6 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 49 || September 16 ||Twins|| 7:10pm || 1–5 || Stashak (1–0) || Giolito (4–3) ||—|| 32–17 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 50 || September 17 ||Twins|| 1:10pm || 4–3 || Heuer (3–0) || Clippard (1–1) || Colomé (12) || 33–17 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 51 || September 18 || @ Reds|| 6:10pm || 1–7 || Mahle (2–2) || Stiever (0–1) ||—|| 33–18 || L1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 52 || September 19 || @ Reds|| 5:10pm || 5–0 || Foster (5–0) || Bauer (4–4) ||—|| 34–18 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 53 || September 20 || @ Reds|| 12:10pm || 3–7 || Sims (3–0) || Cease (5–3) ||—|| 34–19 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 54 || September 21 || @ Indians|| 5:10pm || 4–7 || Civale (4–5) || Fry (0–1) || Hand (14) || 34–20 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 55 || September 22 || @ Indians|| 5:10pm || 3–5 || Maton (3–3) || Foster (5–1) ||—|| 34–21 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 56 || September 23 || @ Indians|| 5:10pm || 2–3 || Hand (2–1) || González (1–2) ||—|| 34–22 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 57 || September 24 || @ Indians|| 5:10pm || 4–5 || Hill (2–0) || Rodón (0–2) || Hand (15) || 34–23 || L5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 58 || September 25 ||Cubs|| 7:10pm || 0–10 || Darvish (8–3) || Cease (5–4) ||—|| 34–24 || L6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 59 || September 26 ||Cubs|| 6:10pm || 9–5 || Foster (6–1) || Lester (3–3) ||—|| 35–24 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 60 || September 27 ||Cubs|| 2:10pm || 8–10 || Alzolay (1–1) || López (1–3) || Chafin (1) || 35–25 || L1

|- style="text-align:center;" | Legend:      = Win      = Loss      = PostponementBold = White Sox team member

Season standings American League Central

American League Wild Card

Record against opponents

Detailed records

American League Central Opponent Total Home Away Chicago White Sox – – – – –Cleveland Indians 2–8 1–2 1–6 30 41Detroit Tigers 9–1 7–0 2–1 70 28Kansas City Royals 9–1 2–1 7–0 71 40Minnesota Twins 5–5 4–3 1–2 42 54 Total 25–15 14–6 11–9 212 163