The wild-card round does not always deliver the kind of matchup fans dream about, and this one comes with a strange twist: Chicago and Houston enter the postseason with the fewest combined wins of any series in postseason history, 165. Still, the White Sox are headed to Texas, and the regular-season meetings offer a pretty clear picture of how this could unfold.
Houston took five of the seven games from Chicago during the season, and the story was mostly the same each time out. The White Sox managed one explosive 12-run game, but in the other six, Astros pitching kept them to five runs or fewer. That kind of control over an opponent tends to travel well into October.
Jeremy Pena was the biggest problem for Chicago in the regular season. In 29 at-bats against the White Sox, the Houston shortstop hit .345/.367/.522 with two homers, two RBI and a .918 OPS.
On the mound, Hunter Brown looked every bit like the kind of starter who can tilt a short series. He faced Chicago twice, went 2-0, posted a 1.38 ERA and struck out 14 across 13 innings.
The White Sox did have a few bright spots in the matchup. Chase Meidroth hit .304 in 23 at-bats, added a home run and drove in four runs.
Munetaka Murakami also delivered one loud night in July, going deep twice and finishing with six RBI in that game, though he was quiet the rest of the way. Sean Burke was the best thing Chicago had on the pitching side, making two starts against Houston and going 1-1 with a 1.54 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings.
The bigger question is which team can survive a series that may come down to offense. Chicago’s slugging has been one of the best parts of its season, but its pitching staff has a 4.12 ERA, good for 15th in MLB.
Houston’s staff has been even shakier, sitting 24th with a 4.45 ERA. That points to a series where a couple of crooked numbers could decide everything.
If it turns into a shootout, the White Sox can make a case. But Houston has the kind of October names that change the conversation fast.
Jose Altuve has long been one of the most clutch hitters in postseason history, and Yordan Alvarez enters as the front-runner for American League MVP. With those two in the middle of the lineup, the Astros have the veteran edge in a series that could end up being the most underrated of the first round.
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Astros Wild Card Roster Reveals A Plan Fans Will Notice
The Astros 26-man roster for the American League Wild Card Series offers a clear glimpse at how this group is being shaped for October, with 12 pitchers and 14 position players on hand and a roster split that leans heavily on a mix of veterans and newcomers. Half of the players on the list have no postseason experience, but the core still includes the familiar October names fans know well, including Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Pea and Christian Vzquez.
There are also a few decisions that stand out right away, starting with rookie Ethan Pecko being left off because of injury, which opened the door for Tatsuya Imai to make the roster. Houston also added Raynel Delgado and Joey Loperfido while leaving Steven Okert out, another sign the club has chosen flexibility and coverage over familiarity in a series where every spot matters. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Playoff Roster Leaves One Bullpen Decision Under The Microscope
The White Sox have settled on their 26-man roster for the American League Wild Card Series against the Astros, and the breakdown already hints at the kind of tight, matchup-driven choices teams make in October. Chicago carried 14 position players and 12 pitchers, a setup that gave the club room to keep Tommy Pham on the roster instead of adding another arm, while also finding spots for rookies Noah Schultz and David Sandlin. Jake Rogers was kept as the backup catcher, another sign that the Sox leaned toward flexibility and familiar pieces as they finalized the group.
The one move that stands out most from Houstons perspective is the absence of Trevor Richards, who had been part of the White Sox regular-season pitching mix. In a short series, every bullpen spot matters, and leaving a veteran reliever off the roster can reshape how a manager navigates the late innings and the middle frames. Chicago clearly made a judgment call here, and whether that choice helps or hinders them against an experienced Astros club is one of the more interesting subplots hanging over the series. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Game 1 Plan Rests On A Risky A.J. Blubaugh Bet
The Astros are leaning on an unusual opening move for Game 1 against the White Sox, lining up a bullpen game with A.J. Blubaugh in the lead role. It is a notable assignment for a pitcher who has spent most of the season in relief, but one Houston has every reason to consider after Blubaugh handled a heavy workload and led all MLB relievers in innings pitched.
Still, the choice comes with real uncertainty. Blubaugh has not been as sharp of late, with his ERA climbing and his multi-inning outings becoming less frequent, which puts added pressure on Houston's pitching plan behind him. How long he can keep the game moving could shape the Astros' entire bullpen usage for the night, and that is the part worth watching as the series opens. [Read more 🡒]