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Guardians, White Sox Set for ALDS Clash
Confirmed
In Short: The Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox will face off in the American League Division Series, with the Guardians holding the edge in pitching.
The Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox will renew their American League Central rivalry in the upcoming ALDS, with the Guardians holding the edge in pitching.
The Guardians clinched their third straight AL Central division title and earned a bye in the Wild Card round, while the White Sox advanced by sweeping the Houston Astros in the wild-card round.
Despite the Guardians' record against Williams, the White Sox have struggled against Cleveland's pitching, with the Guardians excelling at striking out White Sox batters.
The Guardians are favored in the matchup, with a money line of -168, while the White Sox have a money line of +142.
The series will start on Saturday in Cleveland, with the Guardians expected to have the advantage due to their recent hot streak and home-field advantage.
The Guardians' pitching depth and recent form make them the favorites, but the White Sox's young talent and recent offensive surge could make for an exciting series.
The Guardians' pitching staff will be key, with Williams being the best starting pitcher in the series.
The Guardians' recent success and the White Sox's inexperience could give Cleveland an edge in the series.
The Guardians' pitching staff will be crucial, with the team having a bye to rest and prepare for the series.
The Guardians' recent form and home advantage could give them an edge over the White Sox in the ALDS.
What's confirmed
- The Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians will renew their American League Central rivalry in the ALDS.
What's still developing
- On their side of the bracket are the White Sox (84-78), who finished a game back of the Guardians in the Central, and the Houston Astros (81-81) who finished in first place to win a pedestrian American League West.
- The Guardians are fortunate to play in this “bracket-style” era, as seeding does not reset each round so they'd just have to play one of the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays in the ALCS.
- Gavin Williams, Parker Messick and Foster Griffin give Cleveland a solid trio to start off the series.
- Cleveland is 1-3 in Williams' four starts against the White Sox this season.
- The White Sox do have familiarity with Cleveland's starters, but the Guardians haven't had trouble striking out the White Sox, which is concerning for the lower seed in this matchup.
- If you go back further to the Detroit series that began on September 18, the White Sox have 73 runs in their last 11 games.
- It marked the first time since the 2005 World Series that the White Sox won a postseason series.
- The ALDS will have a similar feel to the September series between the two sides in Cleveland in which the Guardians took two out of three games.
- Cleveland, the AL Central champion, is the expected favorite in the matchup against the most inexperienced roster left in the AL bracket.
- For a team with so many young players, the Guardians are dragging a lot of historical baggage.
- Schedule & more » With some time to rest before the ALDS starts Saturday and then three days off within the series there is no reason the White Sox can't continue to lean on that pen.
- What does each remaining team need to do to move on to the League Championship Series?