The White Sox arrived in the American League Division Series by sweeping Houston, and now they will carry a season’s worth of tight division games into Cleveland for a first-ever postseason meeting with the Guardians. Chicago took the regular-season series 7-6, but the Guardians claimed the AL Central and hold home-field advantage in a matchup that should feel familiar from the first pitch.
Key takeaways
- Chicago swept the Astros in the Wild Card Series to advance into the ALDS.
- The White Sox and Guardians have never faced one another in the postseason.
- Six of their 13 regular-season meetings were decided by one run, with two going to extra innings.
- Chicago hit 211 home runs during the regular season, the fifth-highest total in MLB.
- Cleveland’s rotation of Parker Messick, Gavin Williams and Foster Griffin is a central strength entering the series.
- Game 1 is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. ET in Cleveland.
A division rivalry takes the October stage
The clubs split little in their regular-season meetings. The White Sox earned the slim 7-6 edge, while Cleveland won four of the six one-run contests. Two games needed extra innings, a fair indication that neither side should expect much breathing room in this best-of-five set.
Chicago brings the louder regular-season power profile. Its 211 homers ranked fifth in the Majors, while Cleveland finished with 162, placing 27th. That gap may matter in October, where one swing can rewrite an inning.
The Guardians did improve their lineup’s punch after adding Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe at the Trade Deadline. Still, the long ball is not the foundation of Cleveland’s club. The Guardians will look instead to their pitching staff to control the series and keep Chicago’s hitters from changing games with one mistake.
Parker Messick, Gavin Williams and deadline addition Foster Griffin give Cleveland a sturdy starting group, with All-Star Cade Smith leading the bullpen once the starters are finished. For the Guardians, limiting damage in the air will be a priority against a White Sox club that can put a crooked number on the board quickly.
Ramírez remains Cleveland’s October hinge
José Ramírez enters the series as Cleveland’s most important individual question. The seven-time All-Star underwent surgery in June after fracturing his left hamate bone, and his production did not resemble his usual standard after the break. Ramírez posted a .598 OPS with two home runs in the second half.
Hamate recovery can take time, and Cleveland will hope its switch-hitting cornerstone has a better October waiting. A deep Guardians run likely requires Ramírez to rediscover the impact he has supplied throughout his career.
The series opens Saturday in Cleveland, with Game 2 also at Progressive Field before the clubs shift to Chicago.
- Game 1, at Cleveland: Saturday, 1 p.m. ET/noon CT, TBS, truTV, UniMas and HBO Max.
- Game 2, at Cleveland: Monday, 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT, TBS, truTV, UniMas and HBO Max.
- Game 3, at Chicago: Wednesday, time to be determined, TBS, truTV, UniMas and HBO Max.
- Game 4, if necessary, at Chicago: Thursday, time to be determined, TBS, truTV, UniMas and HBO Max.
- Game 5, if necessary, at Cleveland: Saturday, time to be determined, TBS, truTV, UniMas and HBO Max.
