The road to the World Series is still very much open for the Chicago White Sox.
The South Siders are still alive in the 2026 MLB playoffs and are even advancing to the American League Division Series Round after pulling off a series upset in the AL Wild Card Round by sweeping the Houston Astros.
The White Sox defeated Houston in Game 1 on Tuesday, 6-3, and completed a sweep on Wednesday via a 7-3 victory at Daikin Park in Houston.
With their series win, the White Sox ended a long drought that dates back to the 2000s.
Article Continues Below“The White Sox haven't won a playoff series since beating these Astros in the 2005 World Series. Only the Reds (1995) have a longer active drought without advancing in the postseason. The Sox are 3 outs away from their magical ride continuing,” Jesse Rogers of ESPN wrote just before Chicago got the job done for good in the series.
The White Sox got it going early in Game 2, as they immediately put Houston's back on the wall by scoring four runs in the top of the first inning.
Houston got to within a run of the White Sox after solo home runs from Jeremy Pena, Cam Smith and Jose Altuve in the succeeding innings. But the turning point happened in the sixth inning, where White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth hit a three-run home run to stretch Chicago's lead, 7-3.
The White Sox will look to conquer another series and get closer to the top when they face a very familiar opponent in the ALDS, with their AL Central rivals, the Cleveland Guardians, awaiting them.