Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-07 · by Jay Cohen The Associated Press
The Chicago White Sox are set to play Game 3 of their AL Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field on Wednesday, with the White Sox leading 2-0 in the series. The article highlights the significance of the game for the White Sox, who last won a postseason series at home in 1906, and emphasizes the importance of crowd support as part of their blackout theme. Both teams will use openers; Sean Newcomb for Chicago and Daniel Espino for Cleveland. The White Sox have relied heavily on their bullpen throughout the playoffs, earning wins with five-plus innings pitched and five-plus strikeouts by relievers in each of their first four playoff games this year.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox last clinched a postseason series at home when Jiggs Donahue and George Davis helped the South Siders beat the Chicago Cubs in Game 6 of the 1906 World Series.
asserted
Siders → clinch → Series
That’s how long it’s been.
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it → ’ → ?
And the Cleveland Guardians have absolutely no interest in being on the other side of the field for the end of that streak.
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Guardians → have → streak
Chicago leads Cleveland 2-0 in their best-of-five AL Division Series going into Game 3 on Wednesday at Rate Field.
asserted
Chicago → lead → Field
The White Sox are hoping to advance to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2005, while the Guardians are looking to take one step toward a remarkable comeback.
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Guardians → hop → comeback
“For us the mindset is very clear: We’ve got to win another game because we don’t have the luxury to lose another one,” Guardians third baseman José Ramírez said.
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Ramírez → get → one
It’s the first home playoff date for Chicago since 2021, marking another moment in a surprising season after losing a total of 324 games over the previous three years.
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It → ’ → years
The team is encouraging its fans to wear black as part of its blackout theme.
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team → encourage → theme
“I think it’s going to be electric,” White Sox reliever Bryan Hudson said Tuesday.
asserted
Hudson → think → ?
“I don’t think it will be anything we’re used to or we’ve been in this year.
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we → think → ?
I think it’s going to be awesome.
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it → think → ?
I think all the boys are going to have some extra adrenaline.”
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boys → think → adrenaline
Chicago was much improved at home this season, going 48-33 after finishing with a 33-48 record at Rate Field in 2025.
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Chicago → go → 2025
It won four of its six home games against Cleveland in the regular season.
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It → win → season
“I always like playing on the road when it’s an exciting, loud crowd, and anticipate it’s going to be just that,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said.
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Vogt → like → road
“And our guys have played in this environment over and over again, whether it be postseasons in the past or regular-season games.
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it → play → past
So expecting it to be a loud, hostile crowd that’s talking a lot of smack to us from behind the dugout, and we enjoy that.”
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we → expect → that
Each team is going with an opener.
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team → go → opener
Left-hander Sean Newcomb starts for Chicago, and right-hander Daniel Espino takes the mound for Cleveland.
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Espino → start → Cleveland
The White Sox have relied on their relievers while winning their first four playoff games this year.
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Sox → rely → games
They are the only MLB team in the modern era to have their bullpen pitch five-plus innings, strike out five-plus batters and earn the win in four consecutive games, regular or postseason, according to Stats Perform.
uncertain
bullpen → pitch → Perform
Newcomb worked two scoreless innings after Anthony Kay got the first out for Chicago during a 4-3 win in Game 2 on Monday.
“We’ve leaned heavily on our bullpen, not only throughout the season but certainly here in the playoffs as well,” general manager Chris Getz said.
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Getz → work → playoffs
Do we need to be different?
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we → need → ?
We do.
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We → do → ?
But we’re also leaning into the strengths of our pitching staff and our team.”
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we → lean → staff
Chicago has been helped by off days after the first two games in the series.
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Chicago → help → series
If Cleveland avoids elimination in Game 3, the teams will play again on Thursday.
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teams → avoid → Thursday
Espino made his first career playoff appearance in the series opener, getting two outs in relief of Parker Messick.
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Espino → make → Messick
The 25-year-old Espino has long been considered one of the team’s top prospects, but he was hampered by shoulder injuries before making his major league debut in June.
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he → consider → June
“You just go out there and believe in your abilities and be confident on the work that you’ve put in,” Espino said. “And I can tell you, I’m prepared for this moment.”
asserted
I → go → moment
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