Thirteen games across four nail-biting series weren’t enough. The Guardians and White Sox will meet again, and the stakes are higher than ever.
The White Sox beat the Astros, 7-3, in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series on Wednesday, to advance to the best-of-five Division Series for an all-AL Central matchup with the Guardians. Game 1 is set for Saturday at Progressive Field.
The Guardians and White Sox duked it out for the Central crown this summer. Chicago held at least a share of first place for 96 days, and Cleveland for 89 days. The Guardians assumed first place by winning a three-game series over the White Sox from Sept. 14-16 at Progressive Field, and held on in a race settled by the thinnest of margins.
The Guardians finished 85-77, and the White Sox 84-78. Chicago won the head-to-head season series, 7-6, while outscoring the Guardians 58-57. Eleven games were decided by three runs. Seven games were decided by one. There were four walk-offs.
First pitch for Game 1 of the White Sox-Guardians Division Series is set for 1 p.m. ET on Saturday at Progressive Field. The game will be broadcast on TBS, truTV and HBO Max.
What do the starting lineups look like?
White Sox: These have not been announced yet, but look for Randal Grichuk to be at DH with Messick on the mound. Chicago has leaned on a right-handed-hitting lineup for much of the season when it faces lefty pitching.
1. Sam Antonacci, LF
2. Kyle Teel, C
3. Munetaka Murakami, 1B
4. Miguel Vargas, 3B
5. Andrew Benintendi, DH
6. Chase Meidroth, 2B
7. Colson Montgomery, SS
8. Tristan Peters, CF
9. Braden Montgomery, RF
Guardians: This projection has a few tentative aspects. Jo Adell could start in right field with Chase DeLauter at DH, and Cleveland could consider starting a right-handed bat like David Fry at first base if the White Sox starter is left-handed.
1. Steven Kwan, CF
2. José Ramírez, 3B
3. Chase DeLauter, RF
4. Jo Adell, DH
5. Travis Bazzana, 2B
6. Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
7. Angel Martínez, LF
8. Austin Hedges, C
9. Brayan Rocchio, SS
Anything else fans might want to know?
• This is the first postseason matchup between Chicago and Cleveland, which joined the White Sox in the AL Central division in 1994.
• The Guardians were 5 1/2 games behind the White Sox in the Central entering play on Aug. 20. Cleveland went 24-11 to end the regular season, which was the second-best record in MLB over that span, behind Milwaukee (25-10). Chicago went 18-18.
