The Cleveland Guardians open their postseason run today with Game 1 of the ALDS against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field, and the matchup comes with plenty to watch beyond the first pitch. The game is set for Saturday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. Eastern.
Fans can catch the game on TBS, truTV, HBO Max and Univision in Spanish. For viewers looking to stream without a cable subscription, DIRECTV is offering a free trial, along with $35 off the first month. SlingTV is another option, with Sling Orange priced at $45.99 per month and carrying channels including TBD, TNT and ESPN.
Cleveland arrives after locking up its third straight AL Central title. The Guardians went 85-77 and surged late, winning 24 of their final 35 games after a busy trade deadline that brought in All-Star pitcher Foster Griffin and veteran bats Joel Adell and Nathaniel Lowe. That stretch pushed Cleveland past Chicago and earned the No. 2 seed in the American League.
The White Sox, though, bring real confidence into the series. Chicago went 84-78, swept the Houston Astros in the AL Wild Card round and picked up its first playoff series win in 21 years after three straight 100-loss seasons. The White Sox also had the upper hand in the regular season, taking the head-to-head matchup 7-6.
Pitching will be front and center in Game 1. Cleveland is turning to rookie Parker Messick, who went 12-9 with a 2.56 ERA and finished sixth in the majors in ERA.
He also went 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA in four starts against Chicago. The White Sox will answer with rookie reliever Hagen Smith, who owns a 1.29 ERA and is starting the game as part of a bullpen plan after tossing three scoreless innings against Houston.
Chicago’s lineup is built around power. Munetaka Murakami has 35 home runs and 77 RBI, while Miguel Vargas enters with 33 homers and 93 RBI. Chase Meidroth is also coming in hot, carrying a seven-game hitting streak after delivering a three-run homer in Game 2 of the Wild Card round.
For Cleveland, the big wild cards are youth and health. Rookies Chase DeLauter, who hit .287 with 16 home runs, and Travis Bazzana could make an immediate postseason mark. Jose Ramirez is also a major factor, even as he deals with hand and wrist injuries that limited him to 12 home runs and a .235 average during the regular season.
In Other News...
Jo Adell Sends Guardians A Clear Message After Flat ALDS Opener
After a flat start to the American League Division Series, the Guardians were left searching for any spark after Chicagos pitching held them to three hits and no runs in Game 1. Clevelands offense never found a rhythm, and with the series shifting back to Progressive Field for Mondays Game 2, the tone around the team quickly turned from disappointment to urgency.
Jo Adell, who went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts, was among the players stressing the need to flush the opener and move on. For a Guardians club that knows how quickly a postseason series can tilt, the challenge now is to reset at home and come back with a cleaner, more aggressive approach before the White Sox can seize full control. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Have A 20-Year-Old Shortstop Fans Need To Watch
Welbyn Francisca is the kind of young infielder who can make a prospect list feel alive, and the 20-year-old shortstop wasted little time reminding people why he has climbed so quickly through the Guardians system. On Opening Day in the Arizona Fall League, Francisca put together a loud all-around performance, going 5-for-5 with a double, a home run, three runs scored, three RBIs, a walk and a stolen base.
What makes that line especially notable is how it fits into the bigger arc of his year. Francisca spent the 2026 minor league season moving across multiple levels, batting .272 with 19 home runs and 53 RBIs despite missing time because of injury, and he is still showing the kind of impact that suggests his rise is far from finished. For Cleveland, the appeal is obvious: a young shortstop with production, athleticism and momentum, all in the same package. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Be Headed For A Costly 2027 Roster Squeeze
Major league clubs always keep one eye on the present and another on the payroll calendar, and the Guardians are getting a reminder of how quickly the bill can climb. MLB Trade Rumors recently laid out projected arbitration salaries for Clevelands 2027 roster, a snapshot that points to Steven Kwan and Jo Adell as two of the pricier names if the club keeps them in the fold.
The projections are only speculative and built from current performance and arbitration eligibility, but they underscore the kind of roster squeeze that can arrive fast for a contender trying to keep its core intact. Not every familiar face is a sure thing to stay, either, with Slade Cecconi and David Fry among the players whose futures could look different by then, leaving Cleveland to weigh cost against continuity. [Read more 🡒]