The Houston Astros proved challenging for the Chicago White Sox in their regular-season encounters. The Sox are aiming for better outcomes in the upcoming American League wild-card series. This best-of-three contest starts on Tuesday at Daikin Park in Houston.
White Sox manager Will Venable expressed enthusiasm about the matchup, acknowledging the Astros’ strong lineup and pitching. “We know how good a club they have,” Venable stated. “We had some challenges with them recently, but we’re excited.”
The Astros secured the AL West title after a decisive 9-0 victory over the Athletics. Houston outpaced the Texas Rangers, who fell to the Minnesota Twins, ensuring the division win for the Astros.
On the other hand, the Sox ended the regular season with a 4-2 win against the Colorado Rockies at Rate Field. Randal Grichuk and Brenton Doyle each hit two-run homers, and starter Anthony Kay allowed only one run over five innings, sealing the Sox’s season record at 84-78.
Anthony was great today. The changeup was really effective for him, Venable said. And offensively, it was nice to see Grichuk and Doyle with some nice swings.
The Sox anticipate the playoff series with a positive mindset. “The ultimate goal is to get in the playoffs,” Grichuk remarked. “Now everything starts fresh.” The Sox will face their playoff opponent at Houston, entering as the No. 6 seed after missing the AL Central title.
Games 1 and 2 will begin at 4 p.m., airing on Peacock and NBCSN. Although the Sox struggled against the Astros, losing five of seven games this season, they remain optimistic. Grichuk noted that the team feels ready to compete in Houston.
The Sox had standout performances, including Munetaka Murakami’s two home runs and six RBI game against the Astros. The team also managed to contain potential AL MVP Yordan Alvarez, limiting him to a .200 average with no home runs over seven games.
The White Sox are formulating their pitching strategy, with further discussions planned as they travel. “We’ll talk about our pitching and lineup once we get more information,” Venable mentioned.
The Sox achieved a significant turnaround with a 24-game improvement from last season. Kay reflected on the unexpected success, expressing his hope that the momentum continues.
For the Sox, the series against the Astros represents a fresh start. “We don’t look at the past records,” Grichuk said. “We’re ready to start the series.”
Attendance Notes
The Sox ended 2026 with home game attendance of 1,986,419, marking the highest since 2022 and the second-highest in 15 years.
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