The Chicago White Sox, a team that clocked an MLB-record 121 losses two years back, have officially swept a playoff series. They knocked out the Houston Astros 7-3 on Wednesday night in Houston, sealing the best-of-three wild-card series at Daikin Park. This is huge for a franchise that hadn’t won a postseason series since their 2005 World Series run, which, ironically, also came against Houston when the Astros were in the National League. Talk about a comeback for the ages.
From Laughingstock to Playoff Juggernaut, Thanks to Getz
This incredible turnaround lands squarely on the shoulders of Vice President and General Manager Chris Getz. The guy, a former major-league infielder from Metro Detroit, attended Grosse Pointe South High School and the University of Michigan. Getz stepped into the GM role in 2021, and let’s be real, his initial flurry of trades was absolutely roasted by fans and pundits alike. The organization bottomed out hard, losing more than 100 games each year for three consecutive seasons, including that soul-crushing, MLB-record 121 losses in 2024. Before 2023, the franchise, which dates back to 1901, had only four 100-loss seasons in its entire history. People thought he was insane.
But somehow, some way, Getz pulled it off. The White Sox entered this season with a minuscule 1.2% chance to even make the playoffs, according to FanGraphs. Yet, fueled by an electric offense and a key free-agent signing in Munetaka Murakami, they powered their way to an 84-78 record. They might have lost the division to the Guardians in the final days, but they absolutely earned that wild-card spot. They’re the first team in MLB history to make the postseason after two consecutive 100-loss seasons, let alone three. This whole season feels straight out of a movie, reminiscent of the 2006 Tigers who went to the World Series just three years after setting an AL-record with 119 losses.
A Wild Card Masterclass: Never Trailed the Astros
When it came to the actual wild-card series, the White Sox didn’t just win, they dominated. They never once trailed the Astros in either of the two games. On Wednesday night, they absolutely bounced Houston starter Hunter Brown, getting four runs off him in the very first inning. That’s the kind of statement you make when you’re defying all expectations. A big sweep of the Tigers at Comerica Park in mid-August really lit the fire for their final, improbable push to the postseason, and they haven’t looked back since.
Now, the White Sox are heading into a best-of-five American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians. This isn’t just any series, it’s AL Central rivals clashing, and it kicks off Saturday, October 3, at Progressive Field in Cleveland. This will actually be the third straight year the Guardians face a fellow AL Central team in the playoffs, having lost to the Tigers in the wild-card round in 2025 and beating the Tigers in the ALDS in 2024. The stakes are huge, and after what we’ve seen, this White Sox team is absolutely playing with house money and a ton of swagger. Get ready for some fireworks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply