Will Venable didn’t flinch after the White Sox took their first postseason loss of the year.
Following Wednesday’s 9-3 defeat to the Cleveland Guardians in ALDS Game 3 at Rate Field, the Chicago manager said he still has total faith in his club as the series shifts to Game 4 on Thursday. The White Sox still lead the best-of-five set 2-1, but a chance to wrap up their first ALCS trip since 2005 slipped away in front of a sellout crowd.
“Yeah, yeah. I mean, 100% confidence.
We've done it all year. Been in tough spots where we haven't played our best games.
We played good games. Whatever the result, these guys come back the next day.
It's really kind of been the the story of our group and being able to bounce back, no matter what happens.”
Chicago struck first, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI double from Kyle Teel, but Cleveland flipped the game in the third inning and never let go. Jo Adell delivered the biggest swing of the night, clearing the bases with a two-out triple to push the Guardians in front 4-1.
"100% confidence. We've been in tough spots... the story of our group is being able to bounce back."
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 7, 2026
- White Sox manager Will Venable on tonight's loss and responding tomorrow in Game 4 pic.twitter.com/9JxJhNJz6Q
The damage kept coming late. Jose Ramirez ripped a two-run triple in the eighth, and Cleveland tacked on two more runs in the ninth to put the game away.
The White Sox couldn’t keep pace with the Guardians’ pitching. Chicago finished 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and struck out 19 times.
Game 4 is set for Thursday at Rate Field, with Parker Messick scheduled to start for Cleveland after giving up two runs over 4 1/3 innings in Game 1. The White Sox now need one more win to reach the ALCS, and Venable’s postgame message made clear he expects his team to answer.
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White Sox Got An Unusual Midgame Alert During ALDS Tension
Tension was already high in Game 1 of the ALDS between the White Sox and Guardians when a pair of Chicago fans picked up on something unusual from the stands. Dave Williams and Jordan Lazowski noticed Cleveland players were signaling breaking pitches by tapping their helmets, and the observation quickly turned into a midgame alert that made its way to White Sox players and executives.
Chicago acknowledged the warning and addressed it during the game, a reminder of how closely postseason baseball is watched when every pitch matters. It was an unusual wrinkle in a playoff opener that already had plenty of edge, with fans in real time helping the White Sox stay aware of what was unfolding across the diamond. [Read more 🡒]
Hawk Harrelson Has A Message White Sox Fans Will Love Before Game 3
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Hawk Harrelson appeared on ESPN 1000 ahead of Game 3 to deliver a message White Sox fans were sure to appreciate, a reminder that his allegiance has never really faded. Harrelson, who retired in 2018 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2021, remains one of the clubs most recognizable supporters, and his timing only adds to the sense that this is the kind of night White Sox fans have been waiting for. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Are One Win From History As Game 4 Gets Complicated
The White Sox return home for Game 4 of the American League Division Series with a chance to finish off the Guardians and move into the ALCS, but the setup is a little trickier than a simple close-out game. Cleveland is turning to left-hander Parker Messick, while Chicago plans to open with left-hander Hagen Smith, a move that keeps the matchup flexible and gives the Sox a chance to script the night from the first inning on.
Both managers have already weighed in on what they expect Thursday to look like, and that only adds to the intrigue around a game with so much on the line. For Chicago, it is not just about getting one more win, but about handling a playoff game that figures to test how well the club can navigate pitching choices, matchup decisions and the pressure that comes with being so close to history. [Read more 🡒]