Anthony Rizzo is making a rare Chicago detour on Wednesday night.
Instead of backing the Cubs side of town, the former Chicago star says he’ll be at Rate Field with his son for Game 3 of the American League Division Series, where the White Sox can wrap up their series against the Cleveland Guardians.
That’s a notable shift for a player who spent years becoming one of the most familiar faces on the North Side. But with the White Sox up 2-0 and sitting one win from the ALCS, Rizzo says the pull is simple.
“We’ll be enjoying playoff baseball… this White Sox team is an easy team to root for, seems like they’re a band of brothers,” Rizzo told WGN, according to Michele Steele.
Rizzo’s words carry some weight. He was a central piece of the Cubs team that finally ended Chicago’s 108-year World Series drought in 2016, so he knows what a strong clubhouse can look like when everything clicks.
And that’s apparently what he sees in this White Sox group, which opened October as a Wild Card team, swept the Houston Astros and then won the first two games of the ALDS on the road against Cleveland. That run has turned into a full-on Chicago postseason story, with the White Sox now in position to close things out at home.
For Rizzo, there doesn’t seem to be much mystery in the decision. He likes this team, and he’s bringing his son along to enjoy the moment.
A Cubs legend in the stands pulling for the White Sox would have sounded strange a few months ago. In October, though, baseball in Chicago has a way of blurring the usual lines.
In Other News...
White Sox Got An Unusual Midgame Alert During ALDS Tension
A tense Game 1 of the ALDS between the White Sox and Guardians came with an unusual twist away from the field. In the middle of the action, White Sox fans Dave Williams and Jordan Lazowski noticed Cleveland was signaling breaking pitches by tapping their helmets, and they wasted no time trying to get the information to the right people.
Williams and Lazowski texted White Sox players and executives during the game, raising the alarm as the matchup tightened. The team acknowledged the tip and addressed it, adding another layer to a postseason opener that already had plenty of pressure riding on it. [Read more 🡒]
Tommy Pham Had White Sox Teammates Cracking Up Before ALDS Game 3
Tommy Pham gave his White Sox teammates a different kind of entertainment on the way home after an ALDS game, turning a plane ride into an impromptu fantasy football session. While watching Monday Night Football, Pham was openly frustrated with how his fantasy players were doing, and the reaction around him was enough to have teammates cracking up as the club flew back with its playoff momentum intact.
Chicago enters Game 3 at home with a 2-0 series lead over the Cleveland Guardians and an undefeated postseason so far, which has made for a pretty upbeat travel and clubhouse mood. Phams sideline-style commentary was a reminder that even in October, theres still room for a little levity, especially for a team that has spent the playoffs handling business and enjoying the ride. [Read more 🡒]
Hawk Harrelson Has A Message White Sox Fans Will Love Before Game 3
The White Sox are about to play their first home playoff game since 2021, and the atmosphere around Rate Field has a familiar October buzz to it. With a 2-0 series lead heading into Game 3, there is plenty for Chicago fans to feel good about already, and few voices resonate with that crowd quite like former longtime broadcaster Hawk Harrelson.
Harrelson, who retired in 2018 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2021, showed up on ESPN 1000 to send a message to White Sox fans before the game. Even away from the booth, he has stayed a loyal supporter of the club, and his words are the kind of pregame rallying cry that fits a team trying to turn a strong start into something bigger back home. [Read more 🡒]