How did the White Sox go from 121 losses to the brink of the ALCS?
Chicago took a 2-0 ALDS lead Monday, moving within one win of its first ALCS appearance since 2005.
Braden Montgomery’s two-run double and Sean Burke’s one-hit, 5⅓-inning relief appearance carried the White Sox to a 4-3 win over Cleveland and a 2-0 ALDS lead.[1][8] Chicago is 4-0 in the postseason, all on the road, after becoming the first team to reach the playoffs following three consecutive 10…
Braden Montgomery’s two-run double and Sean Burke’s one-hit, 5⅓-inning relief appearance carried the White Sox to a 4-3 win over Cleveland and a 2-0 ALDS lead.[1][8] Chicago is 4-0 in the postseason, all on the road, after becoming the first team to reach the playoffs following three consecutive 100-loss seasons.[1][8]
Why it matters: Chicago’s rise is unusually compressed: the club lost a post-1900 record 121 games in 2024 but now needs one victory to reach its first ALCS since its 2005 World Series season.[1][8]
Key insights: The best-of-five format gives Chicago three opportunities to secure the one additional victory needed to advance from its 2-0 position.[1][8] | Burke provided 5⅓ innings of relief while allowing only one hit, reducing the burden on the rest of Chicago’s bullpen.[1][8] | Grant Taylor recorded his second consecutive save with 1⅓ innings of one-hit work.[8]
Cheatsheet facts: What changed: The White Sox won 4-3 in Cleveland to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five AL Division Series.[1][8] | Why now: Montgomery delivered a two-run double, while Burke allowed one hit across 5⅓ relief innings.[1][8] | Watch next: Game 3 shifts to Chicago on Wednesday, when the White Sox can clinch their first ALCS berth since 2005.[8]
Braden Montgomery’s two-run double and Sean Burke’s one-hit, 5⅓-inning relief appearance carried the White Sox to a 4-3 win over Cleveland and a 2-0 ALDS lead.[1][8] Chicago is 4-0 in the postseason, all on the road, after becoming the first team to reach the playoffs following three consecutive 100-loss seasons.[1][8]
Why it matters: Chicago’s rise is unusually compressed: the club lost a post-1900 record 121 games in 2024 but now needs one victory to reach its first ALCS since its 2005 World Series season.[1][8]
Key insights: The best-of-five format gives Chicago three opportunities to secure the one additional victory needed to advance from its 2-0 position.[1][8] | Burke provided 5⅓ innings of relief while allowing only one hit, reducing the burden on the rest of Chicago’s bullpen.[1][8] | Grant Taylor recorded his second consecutive save with 1⅓ innings of one-hit work.[8]
Cheatsheet facts: What changed: The White Sox won 4-3 in Cleveland to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five AL Division Series.[1][8] | Why now: Montgomery delivered a two-run double, while Burke allowed one hit across 5⅓ relief innings.[1][8] | Watch next: Game 3 shifts to Chicago on Wednesday, when the White Sox can clinch their first ALCS berth since 2005.[8]