The Chicago White Sox are just one win away from clinching their spot in the American League Championship Series, and they get to do it at home in Chicago for Game 3 of the ALDS. Seriously, with a 2-0 series lead, they’ve got a golden opportunity to make their first ALCS appearance since 2005. You remember 2005, right? That’s when they swept the Houston Astros 4-0 to snag their last World Series title. Talk about history repeating, if they can close this out.
White Sox Go Bullpen, But Game 2’s Ghost Looms
To get it done, the White Sox are rolling with another bullpen game, and LHP Sean Newcomb (2-5, 3.09 ERA) is set to be their opener. Now, here’s the kicker: Newcomb was in action in Game 2, following opener Anthony Kay. He struck out three over two innings, which sounds decent, right? But then there’s the other side of that coin. His throwing error in the first inning let *both* of Kay’s runners score, handing the Guardians an early 2-0 lead. You gotta wonder how that plays out in a do-or-die game where one mistake could send them home for the night without an ALCS berth. This dude’s getting another shot, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Here’s the White Sox lineup for Game 3:
* Sam Antonacci, DH
* Miguel Vargas, 3B
* Munetaka Murakami, 1B
* Kyle Teel, C
* Chase Meidroth, 2B
* Tristan Peters, CF
* Braden Montgomery, RF
* Randal Grichuk, LF
* Colson Montgomery, SS
Starting pitcher: LHP Sean Newcomb (2-5, 3.09 ERA)
Guardians Facing Elimination and Throwing Everything They Got
On the other side, the Cleveland Guardians are staring down an 0-2 hole, trying to avoid getting swept out of the postseason. They’re trotting out right-hander Daniel Espino (0-0, 4.11 ERA) to open Game 3. This is Espino’s second appearance in the postseason, but his first start. In Game 1, he allowed a hit and a walk over just two-thirds of an inning. The plan? He’s expected to pitch only an inning or two before handing it over to the bullpen. They are clearly just trying to survive here, and every single arm they’ve got is probably ready to go.
Here’s the Guardians lineup for Game 3:
* Steven Kwan, CF
* José Ramírez, 3B
* Chase DeLauter, RF
* Jo Adell, DH
* Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
* Angel Martínez, LF
* Travis Bazzana, 2B
* Patrick Bailey, C
* Brayan Rocchio, S
Starting pitcher: RHP Daniel Espino (0-0, 4.11 ERA)
So, can the White Sox close this out and punch their ticket to the ALCS? Or will the Guardians somehow claw their way back, starting with a crucial Game 3 win? All eyes will be on Chicago at 4 p.m. ET, airing on TBS and truTV. It’s win or go home for Cleveland, and the White Sox are looking to make some serious noise.
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