CHICAGO — As Chicago White Sox reliever Jordan Hicks walked toward the home dugout at Rate Field, he marveled at a barricade protecting the freshly painted MLB postseason logo along the third base line.
The White Sox noticed similar touches in Houston and Cleveland, sites of the club’s playoff games so far, but they resonate differently in their own ballpark.
Back home at last, the White Sox are eager to keep up appearances in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday. A victory would put the White Sox in the American League Championship Series after three straight seasons of 100-plus losses, giving long-suffering Chicago fans plenty to celebrate.
“It’s about time we gave them some postseason baseball,” Chicago reliever Grant Taylor said.
Many members of the Chicago pitching staff have sported the “reliever” label this postseason, starting when the team swept the host Houston Astros in an AL wild-card series.
Manager Will Venable’s “all-hands-on-deck” approach to covering innings has produced what best qualify as bullpen games — albeit with remarkable results. Taylor delivered four-inning and 1 1/3-inning saves in the first two ALDS games in Cleveland.
“We’ve got a handful … of arms that can pitch in multiple roles, and the reason they’re able to pitch in multiple roles is because of the stuff development and their ability to go out and attack,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz said.
Chicago defeated the Guardians 3-0 and 4-3 in Games 1 and 2 behind resilient pitching and clutch hitting. First baseman Munetaka Murakami blasted a two-run home run in the series opener and contributed an RBI single to Monday’s Game 2 victory.
White Sox pitching has limited the Guardians to a .115 batting average (7-for-61) to begin the series.
On Wednesday, Chicago will turn to left-hander Sean Newcomb (0-0, 6.00) as its opener as the team tries to reach the ALCS for the first time since the 2005 team won the World Series.
Cleveland will counter with righty Daniel Espino (0-0, 0.00 ERA) as its opener. Espino worked two-thirds of an inning without allowing a run in Game 1, giving up one hit and one walk. Lefty Joey Cantillo is expected to work in bulk relief for the Guardians, but manager Stephen Vogt didn’t outline a plan beyond Espino.
“We’re really excited for Daniel to be getting the ball tomorrow,” Vogt said.
Newcomb committed a throwing error in the first inning of Game 2, contributing to Cleveland’s two-run rally, the first time the White Sox have trailed this postseason.
The Guardians know they need an offensive spark after struggling through the first two games. Cleveland expects a hostile environment as it tries to regroup, but it won’t be fazed.
“I mean, it’s not the first time that we’ve played in the playoffs on the road. I know the fans are going to clearly cheer for the team,” Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez said through an interpreter. “For us the mindset is very clear: We’ve got to win another game because we don’t have the luxury to lose another one. So that’s the mindset, to do whatever we can to win, wherever we’re playing.”
Teams with a 2-0 lead in best-of-five MLB postseason series have won 83 of 93 times, an 89% success rate.
The White Sox are aiming to clinch a postseason series at home for the first time since 1906.
–Kevin Druley, Field Level Media
