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White Sox Win Game 2, Extend Lead Over Guardians
Confirmed
In Short: The Chicago White Sox extended their lead over the Cleveland Guardians with a 4-3 victory in Game 2 of their American League Division Series.
The Chicago White Sox continued their strong playoff performance, defeating the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 in Game 2 of their American League Division Series on Monday night.
Guardians starter Gavin Williams, who threw 99 pitches or more 10 times this season, was pulled after 98 pitches. Williams struck out 11 batters, tying for the second-most ever for a Guardians pitcher in a playoff game.
Despite Williams' impressive performance, the Guardians' lead evaporated immediately after he was removed from the game.
White Sox rookie Braden Montgomery delivered a critical two-run double in the eighth inning, securing the win for Chicago.
The Guardians' offense struggled to find its footing, with only three hits throughout the game.
Chicago's bullpen, led by Sean Burke, held the Guardians scoreless after Williams was pulled.
Taylor Grant worked 1 1/3 innings and allowed one hit, securing his second straight save.
The White Sox now lead the series 2-0 and will return home for Game 3 on Wednesday.
Scott Merkin is set to start for the White Sox in Game 3, with Anthony Kay expected to open the game for Chicago.
Resale tickets for Game 3 remain expensive, reflecting the high demand for the series.
The Guardians will turn to Gavin Williams again for Game 3, hoping to bounce back from their loss.
The White Sox are one win away from advancing to the American League Championship Series for the first time in 21 years.
What this adds
The Guardians' offense was stifled, managing only three hits and one run after Williams was pulled.
The White Sox's bullpen performance was crucial in securing the win.
Background
The Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians will both use openers in Game 3 of their ALDS series.
The Chicago White Sox edged the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 in Game 1 of their American League Division Series.
What's confirmed
- Game 3 is Wednesday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field, where the White Sox have two chances to do something they haven't done since 1906 — clinch a postseason series at home.
What's still developing
- Meidroth, 25, is hitting.400 with five RBI through four playoff games.
- Last year, they suffered through a third straight 100-loss season.
- He got behind on Jo Adell, eventually intentionally walking the Guardians outfielder to load the bases, before inducing the grounder he was seeking from Lowe.
- Erik Sabrowski, who allowed an RBI double to Colson Montgomery in Cleveland’s Game 1 loss, entered the game and got a groundout before walking a batter, throwing a wild pitch, getting a flyout and then surrendering a go-ahead, two-run, two-out double to rookie Braden Montgomery.
- He worked behind Anthony Kay in Game 2 at Progressive Field and settled down after an early throwing error.
- Kyle Teel got Chicago's first hit with a single up the middle leading off the fourth.
- Jo Adell hit an RBI triple in the eighth and Chase DeLauter had two hits for the Guardians.
- With a 4.5-game deficit behind the Cleveland Guardians for the third and final American League wild-card berth and only 11 games to play, the Tigers' chances of reaching the postseason are slim — less than 2 percent, according to FanGraphs.
- Live stream White Sox vs Guardians on DIRECTV: Start your free trial now!
- Oct 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Nathaniel Lowe (46) advances to third base on a double from Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana (not pictured) during the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox in game one of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field.
- Munetaka Murakami provided the biggest swing with a two-run homer, while five White Sox pitchers combined to hold the Guardians to only three hits.
- Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Chicago enters the matchup with a 1-0 series lead after shutting out Cleveland 3-0 in Game 1.
Sources
- Chicago Tribunelink
- Fox Newslink
- The Journal Gazettelink
- Ontapsportsnetlink
- Espnlink
- CBS Sportslink
- Newsweeklink
- Thebigleadlink
- USA Todaylink
- Espnlacrosselink
- WarpBeat — background on White Sox, Guardians Set Openers for ALDS Game 3 link
- WarpBeat — background on White Sox Beat Guardians, Move Closer to ALCS link
- MLB — video link