White Sox and Rays Both Lead 2-0 as Division Series Take Shape
The Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are both one win from the American League Championship Series after taking 2-0 leads in their Division Series.
Chicago won 3-0 in Cleveland in the opener before edging Game 2 4-3, continuing a postseason run that few saw coming.
Pitching Carries Chicago
The White Sox used five pitchers to shut out the Guardians in the first game, with Munetaka Murakami's two-run home run providing the decisive contribution. They followed it with a one-run win at Progressive Field to move within a game of the ALCS.
It extends a remarkable few weeks. Chicago lost more than 100 games in each of the previous three seasons, including a modern record 121 in 2024, before improving by 24 wins this year to take the final wild card place. They then swept the Houston Astros to claim their first playoff series win since the 2005 World Series.
No team in major league history had previously reached the postseason after three consecutive 100-loss seasons.
Rasmussen Dominant for the Rays
Tampa Bay are in the same position after two tight wins over the New York Yankees.
Drew Rasmussen was outstanding in the opener, throwing eight scoreless innings and allowing a single hit while striking out 10. Jonathan Aranda's home run provided the only run of a 1-0 victory, and Bryan Baker closed it out in the ninth, striking out Giancarlo Stanton on his first appearance at the plate since April.
The Rays won Game 2 5-2. Cam Booser needed only eight pitches to pick up the win in relief after Rasmussen's effort, and Baker recorded a second save.
Tampa Bay finished the regular season with the best record in the American League at 98-64 after winning the AL East, having been widely tipped to finish bottom of the division in preseason projections.
The National League Is Tighter
Both National League series are more finely balanced.
The Milwaukee Brewers, who finished with the best record in baseball, lead the San Diego Padres 2-0 after a 3-2 win in the opener.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves are level at 1-1. Los Angeles took the first game 5-3 before Atlanta responded to even the series. The Dodgers are attempting to win a third consecutive World Series, something no team has managed since the New York Yankees between 1998 and 2000.
Division Series are best-of-five, with the winners advancing to the Championship Series. The World Series is scheduled to begin on 23 October.
For Cleveland the position is uncomfortable. They took the AL Central from Chicago in the closing fortnight of the regular season, overhauling a side that had led the division for 74 consecutive days, and now face elimination against the same opponent on their own field.
New York's situation is similar. The Yankees swept Boston in the wild card round, winning 9-0 and 8-1, but have scored twice in two games since.
