White Sox Aim to Eliminate Guardians in ALDS Game 3
Chicago looks to secure a postseason series win for the second consecutive year, while Cleveland faces elimination on the road.
The Chicago White Sox are poised to eliminate the Cleveland Guardians in Game 3 of the American League Division Series, aiming to secure their second straight postseason series victory. The Guardians, after dropping both home games in Cleveland, now travel to Guaranteed Rate Field to face elimination.
The White Sox, a team that has endured over 300 losses in the past three seasons, are on the brink of advancing to the American League Championship Series. Their current postseason run is already considered an accomplishment, but they aim to continue their unexpected success.
Cleveland, which won the AL Central this season, faces a familiar postseason predicament. Last year, they were eliminated after winning the division. Now, trailing 0-2 in the series, they must win Game 3 to extend their season.
Pitching Situation
The starting pitcher for the White Sox in Game 3 remains uncertain, with speculation pointing towards Hagen Smith or a bullpen-by-committee approach. The team has faced challenges with consistent starting pitching this season, relying on arms like Sean Burke and Anthony Kay, though Kay has primarily been used as an opener. The potential involvement of Davis Martin, who provided significant contributions in the first half of the season, is also a point of interest.
For the Guardians, Foster Griffin is expected to play a role, potentially as a starter or reliever. Griffin finished the season with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He made two starts against the White Sox earlier in the season, including a seven-inning scoreless outing at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Series Context
The White Sox have battled back from deficits to win games in this series, a testament to their resilient play. The atmosphere at Guaranteed Rate Field is expected to be energetic as the team plays with confidence and against expectations. Despite the Guardians' potential to fight, the author suggests Cleveland may secure a victory in Game 3, potentially pushing the series total over 7.5 runs given neither team has a consistently dominant shutdown arm.