Chicago takes a 2-0 ALDS lead and returns home with a chance to make franchise history
The Chicago White Sox are one victory away from returning to the American League Championship Series, and a potential clinching win at home would carry historic significance for the franchise.
Chicago defeated the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 in Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Monday at Progressive Field, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series. The victory improved the White Sox to 4-0 in the 2026 postseason, with all four victories coming on the road.
Chicago will now return home with an opportunity to finish the series.
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday at Rate Field, with first pitch set for 4 p.m. ET and 3 p.m. CT. If the White Sox win, they will advance to the ALCS for the first time since 2005. A Game 3 victory would also give Chicago its first home postseason series-clinching victory since Oct. 14, 1906.
The 1906 White Sox defeated the Chicago Cubs at South Side Park in Game 6 of the World Series to win the championship. That victory remains the last time the White Sox clinched a postseason series at home.
The opportunity became possible because of another resilient performance in Cleveland.
The Guardians jumped in front with two runs in the first inning against Anthony Kay and Sean Newcomb. It marked the first time Chicago had trailed during the 2026 postseason after opening the playoffs with 27 innings without falling behind. The White Sox had led for 24 of those 27 innings before Cleveland's early response.
Chicago answered in the fourth.
Kyle Teel scored the White Sox's first run when Munetaka Murakami delivered an RBI single against Gavin Williams. The hit cut Cleveland's advantage to 2-1 and gave Chicago a response after the Guardians' early two-run inning.
Williams remained effective for much of the afternoon. The Cleveland right-hander struck out 11 White Sox hitters over five-plus innings, setting a postseason career high with his strikeout total. His performance kept the Guardians in position to protect their early advantage, but Chicago eventually broke through against the Cleveland bullpen.
The decisive inning came in the sixth.
Miguel Vargas started the inning with a single and moved to second when Murakami grounded out against Cleveland reliever Erik Sabrowski. Pinch-hitter Randal Grichuk then worked a four-pitch walk, putting two runners aboard.
A wild pitch moved Vargas and Grichuk into scoring position. Tommy Pham followed with a short fly ball to left, giving Cleveland another opportunity to escape the inning with its lead intact.
Braden Montgomery made sure that did not happen.
The rookie lined an opposite-field double down the right-field line, bringing both Vargas and Grichuk home. The two-run hit put Chicago ahead 3-2 and gave the White Sox their first lead of the game. Chase Meidroth followed with a run-scoring single against Hunter Gaddis, extending the advantage to 4-2.
The three-run sixth proved to be the difference.
While Chicago's offense supplied the lead, the pitching staff had to protect it. Sean Burke delivered an important relief appearance after entering in the third inning. He worked 5⅓ innings, allowing one hit and one run while striking out six and walking one. His extended outing allowed the White Sox to keep Cleveland's offense in check after the Guardians' two-run first inning.
Burke's outing ended in the eighth inning after Chase DeLauter singled with two outs. Grant Taylor then entered to protect Chicago's 4-2 lead.
Taylor had already thrown four innings in Game 1, but the White Sox again turned to him in a critical situation. Jo Adell greeted Taylor with an RBI triple that brought Cleveland within one run. Nathaniel Lowe then lined out to left to end the inning and keep Chicago ahead 4-3.
Taylor returned for the ninth inning and closed out the victory, securing the save. The White Sox held on for their fourth consecutive postseason win and moved within one victory of the ALCS.
Chicago's position is strengthened by postseason history. Teams that take a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five postseason series have gone on to win the series 83 times in 93 opportunities, an 89 percent success rate. Teams that win the first two games on the road in a Division Series under the current 2-2-1 format have advanced 17 times in 19 opportunities, also an 89 percent rate.
Cleveland now faces elimination in Game 3, while Chicago needs only one more victory to advance.
For the White Sox, reaching the ALCS would mark their first appearance in the league championship series since 2005. That season ended with Chicago winning the World Series after going 11-1 in the postseason.
The next opportunity will come in front of the home crowd.
Both potential games at Rate Field are already sold out. White Sox fans have been waiting for home playoff baseball since 2021, and the Blackout theme is set to return for Wednesday's game despite the afternoon start.
Chicago has already accomplished plenty during this postseason. The White Sox won both Wild Card games on the road, followed that sweep with two victories at Progressive Field and now hold a 2-0 lead in the ALDS.
One more win would take them back to the ALCS for the first time in 21 years.
It would also create a piece of franchise history that has been waiting since 1906.
The White Sox have waited 120 years for another opportunity to clinch a postseason series at home. On Wednesday, they will have their first chance to end that wait.
For Chicago, the path is simple.
One more victory sends the White Sox to the ALCS.
One more victory could also give the franchise its first home postseason series-clinching celebration since the 1906 championship season.
