The White Sox are heading back to Chicago with a chance to do something they haven’t done at home in 120 years.
Chicago hasn’t clinched a playoff series on its own field since 1906, when that series happened to be the World Series. Now, with a 2-0 lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Division Series, the White Sox are one win away from sweeping their way into history at Rate Field on Wednesday.
To get there, they’re sticking with the same approach they’ve used before: another bullpen game. Sean Newcomb will be the starter for Game 3.
That decision may not thrill every fan, especially with the atmosphere expected to be electric in Chicago. Newcomb has been uneven this postseason.
In the opener against the Houston Astros, he allowed two runs on two hits, including a home run, over one inning. Against Cleveland, he worked two innings and gave up one hit and one walk.
The unearned run charged to Anthony Kay came after a throwing error by Newcomb in the first inning, helping dig the White Sox into a 2-0 hole.
For much of the regular season, Newcomb was one of the more dependable arms on the staff, serving as a bulk reliever, opener, and high-leverage option. But the workload may have started to catch up with him.
He threw 90.1 innings in the regular season, and his ERA, which had hovered near 2.50, climbed to 3.09. A rough finish didn’t help either, with a 7.36 ERA over his final seven regular-season appearances.
The recent trouble has centered on walks and home runs. If Newcomb can keep the ball on the ground and look more like the early-season version of himself, the White Sox will be in solid shape.
There’s also a matchup angle working in his favor. Cleveland’s top of the order is mostly left-handed, but Newcomb has reverse splits and has actually been better against righties than lefties. Even so, if he can work through Steven Kwan, José Ramírez, and Chase DeLauter - the first three hitters he’s likely to see - Will Venable should be ready to make the move before Newcomb gets to a lefty-killer like Jo Adell.
If Venable plays it that way and turns to a right-hander such as Davis Martin for Adell and the bulk of the innings, the White Sox could put themselves in position to finish the job at home.
In Other News...
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Pham later pushed back on social media, saying the report misrepresented his tone and that he was joking. For a White Sox team already living with plenty of daily scrutiny, even a short back-and-forth like this can grow legs fast, especially when it involves a player, the commissioner, and a topic as touchy as the ball itself. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Rizzo Just Reignited A Cubs-Sox Fight White Sox Fans Hate
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The response from White Sox fans made the temperature clear almost immediately. Plenty of them rejected the pitch for civic unity and leaned into the familiar hostility toward the Cubs, turning Rizzos comments into one more reminder that Chicagos baseball divide is not going away anytime soon. For the White Sox, the timing only adds another layer, because any appeal for shared rooting interest tends to collide with a fan base that has spent years defining itself in opposition to the North Side. [Read more 🡒]
Tommy Pham Had White Sox Teammates Cracking Up Before ALDS Game 3
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For a team already in a good spot, it was the kind of loose moment that fits a clubhouse riding high in October. The White Sox head into Game 3 at home with a 2-0 series lead over the Guardians and an undefeated playoff run so far, and even the travel day provided a reminder that the group is handling the moment with a little confidence and a lot of laughter. [Read more 🡒]