The White Sox head into Wednesday afternoon’s contest with a chance to reach the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2005. After snatching back-to-back victories at Progressive Field, Chicago now has the opportunity to close out the best-of-five series on their own turf, a feat the franchise has not achieved in a home playoff clincher since 1906. White Sox closer Grant Taylor, who saved both games in Cleveland, noted that capturing two road wins to start the series puts his team in a strong position as they return to Rate Field.
For the Guardians, Wednesday’s game represents a desperate fight for survival. Having relinquished their home-field advantage by dropping the first two games of the series, Cleveland must now secure a road win to keep their season alive. Outfielder Steven Kwan emphasized that the team is maintaining its focus without hitting a panic button, banking on the fact that the Guardians performed better on the road during the regular season, finishing 44-37 away from home compared to 41-40 at Progressive Field.
The series dynamic marks a massive turnaround for the White Sox, who reached the playoffs for the first time since 2021 after enduring three consecutive seasons of at least 100 losses. According to MLB.com, Daniel Espino is scheduled to serve as an opener for Cleveland in Game 3, following an impressive September where he helped limit opponents to four hits over 15 scoreless innings. The broadcast of the game will be available on TBS, truTV, and HBO Max.
A victory for the White Sox would cement a remarkable postseason run, following their recent sweep of the Houston Astros in the wild-card series. Conversely, a loss for the Guardians results in an immediate exit from the postseason.