The White Sox can clinch their first home playoff series victory in 120 years on Wednesday at Rate Field.
The Chicago White Sox enter Wednesday’s Game 3 against the Cleveland Guardians at Rate Field with a 2-0 series lead and a chance to clinch their first home postseason series win since 1906. The guardians vs white sox matchup gives Chicago an opportunity to sweep the best-of-five American League Division Series after taking both opening games in Cleveland.
Chicago opened the series with a 3-0 win on Saturday, then followed with a 4-3 comeback victory on Monday. In Game 2, Braden Montgomery delivered a two-run double and Sean Burke threw 5 1/3 innings of long relief, retiring 13 straight batters to overcome an 11-strikeout performance by Cleveland starter Gavin Williams. Reliever Grant Taylor earned saves in both games.
Manager Will Venable chose Sean Newcomb to start Game 3. Chicago has relied on multi-inning relief work throughout October, starting the postseason 4-0 after sweeping the Houston Astros in the wild-card round before beating Cleveland twice.
Turnaround after three 100-loss seasons
The playoff push comes two years after Chicago set an MLB record with 121 losses in 2024. The White Sox lost 101 games in 2023 and 102 last year, making them the first team in major league history to reach the postseason after three consecutive 100-loss seasons. Only five players from the 2024 roster remain with the club, according to MLB.com.
First baseman Munetaka Murakami joined the team in the offseason and hit 35 home runs during the regular season, adding another in his first four playoff games. Murakami spoke through an interpreter during Tuesday’s workout at Rate Field about the home crowd.
“The crowds have been 100% really awesome throughout the year,” Murakami said. “It gets really loud. I’m initially happy the crowds are there and are supporting the team all the way.”
Wednesday’s matchup is Chicago’s first home playoff game since 2021. The game will air on TBS, truTV and HBO Max.
