The Chicago White Sox are headed back to the postseason, and their first stop is a familiar one: Houston.
Chicago wrapped up its 2026 regular season at Rate Field on Sunday afternoon by beating the Colorado Rockies 4-2, a quick bounce-back after an ugly loss the night before. The win didn’t change the standings - the White Sox were already locked into the third and final Wild Card spot - but it gave them a strong finish to one of the most exciting seasons they’ve had in a long time.
The next piece of the puzzle came soon after. Once the Minnesota Twins beat the Texas Rangers, the Wild Card bracket was set, and the Rangers’ loss gave the Houston Astros the division. That means the White Sox will head to Houston for a best-of-three series this week.
The schedule is set for Tuesday, Sept. 29 and Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 4 p.m. CT, with a possible Game 3 on Thursday, October 1 at 4 p.m.
CT. All three games are listed on Peacock.
For Chicago, the matchup carries a little history with it. The last time the White Sox reached the playoffs, five years ago, they ran into the Astros in the ALDS and lost the series 3-1. Houston went on to the World Series before falling to the Atlanta Braves.
This version of the Astros looks very different, though. The record says plenty: 80-81. They’ve spent the year looking more ordinary than dominant, with plenty of swings in form along the way.
The White Sox have also handled them well lately. Chicago won the season series 5-2 and took three of four in an early September trip to Houston. Over those four games, the White Sox scored 14 runs and held the Astros to three runs or fewer in each of their wins.
Houston, though, is coming in with some pop. The Astros scored 22 runs over their final two games against the Athletics, and they still lead the Majors with 226 home runs. That power could be a real problem for a White Sox pitching staff that has struggled.
The Astros have issues of their own on the mound. Their starters finished with a 4.81 ERA, the fourth-worst mark in baseball, and unlike Chicago, they don’t have a Top 7 bullpen to lean on.
Still, the postseason changes everything. Houston brings more experience and the edge of playing at home, while the White Sox arrive as a young team taking on a big test. For Chicago, it’s a shot at something fans have been waiting for.
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