Monday belongs to the American League, with both Division Series moving into Game 2 and two clubs carrying the chance to take a 2-0 grip before the series changes cities. The White Sox visit Cleveland at 5 p.m. ET, while the Yankees try to answer Tampa Bay in an 8 p.m. ET first pitch. Both games air on TBS, truTV, UniMas and HBO Max.
White Sox have Cleveland on the edge
Chicago brings a 1-0 series lead into Progressive Field after a postseason start that has changed the mood around the club in a hurry. The White Sox have won all three of their playoff games, outscoring opponents 16-6, and will be chasing a fourth straight victory before returning to Rate Field for Wednesday’s Game 3.
They have held the lead after 24 innings during this October run, the most through three postseason games in franchise history. It is also tied for the highest such total by any club over its first three playoff games in the past 20 years.
The White Sox will again piece together the pitching staff. Left-hander Anthony Kay is slated to open, with right-hander Sean Burke expected to handle the bulk innings behind him. Chicago used a heavy volume of arms in its previous series against Houston and has continued to make the bullpen-game formula work.
For the Guardians, Game 2 is the moment for their apparent rotation advantage to finally arrive. Cleveland had Parker Messick and Gavin Williams lined up at home for the opening two games, but Messick’s start did not prevent a Game 1 loss in which the Guardians failed to score.
Williams now takes the mound with particular pressure on the home side. He was among the American League’s most overpowering strikeout arms after the All-Star break, averaging 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings in the second half. Cleveland needs that version of Williams against a White Sox lineup that has been playing with uncommon confidence.
Still, a dominant start alone will not repair the situation if the Guardians cannot create offense. Another shutout would send them to Chicago down two games with the White Sox preparing for their first postseason home date of the year.
Game 2 at a glance
| Series | Game time | Probable starters | Series score |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Sox at Guardians | 5 p.m. ET | Anthony Kay, White Sox; Gavin Williams, Guardians | White Sox lead 1-0 |
| Yankees at Rays | 8 p.m. ET | Cam Schlittler, Yankees; Freddy Peralta, Rays | Rays lead 1-0 |
Yankees need an answer without Judge
New York’s Game 1 loss at Tampa Bay offered a sharper reminder of what Aaron Judge’s absence can mean. Judge remains off the roster because of a calf injury, and the Yankees could not produce the kind of offensive surge that carried them past Boston in the Wild Card Series.
Drew Rasmussen made sure of it, allowing one hit across eight innings in the Rays’ opener. The Yankees managed only three baserunners Saturday night, and their search for a late spark included Giancarlo Stanton batting in the ninth inning for the first time since April. That appearance did not turn the game, though it suggested Stanton could be used again soon.
The challenge does not soften in Game 2. Tampa Bay’s pitching depth has been one of its strengths all season, to the point that the club had more capable arms than postseason roster spots. The Yankees will send Cam Schlittler out needing to keep the game close while the lineup looks for production beyond the young players who starred against the Red Sox.
Peralta gets the ball after September turnaround
Freddy Peralta will start for Tampa Bay after one of the more striking late-season turnarounds in the league. His ERA was 4.99 when the Mets dealt him at the Trade Deadline, but he finished September as the American League Pitcher of the Month with a 0.92 ERA.
That run earned Peralta the Game 2 assignment, although his October record brings some uncertainty. Across six postseason outings since 2023, including five starts, he owns a 5.33 ERA. His earlier playoff troubles came during his time with Milwaukee, when his standing around the game was considerably stronger than it had become before the trade.
The Rays do not need Peralta to duplicate Rasmussen’s eight-inning masterpiece. Their bullpen covered only one inning in Game 1, leaving Tampa Bay well positioned to take over if Peralta can depart with a lead. September showed that the Rays have found an adjustment that works for him; Monday is the next test of whether it holds under October lights.
