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Thursday’s MLB postseason schedule: ALDS Game 1s

CWS vs. HOU, and BOS vs. TB

Tampa Bay Rays v New York Yankees
Wander Franco of the Tampa Bay Rays plays against the Yankees, Oct 3, 2021.
Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Chicago White Sox @ Houston Astros

We’re officially out of wild card season and that means... ALDS Game 1s today! First the Chicago White Sox will face off against the Houston Astros. I obviously don’t need to mention that we’re rooting for the White Sox here.

The White Sox were the first team to clinch their division in 2021, winning the AL Central 93-69 for the year. In 2020 they found themselves in the AL Wild Card game but lost in that series to the A’s in just three games.

Lance McCullers Jr. will take the mound for the Astros in Game 1, and he’s won two games this year against the White Sox (pitching 2.08 against them). The White Sox will need to not only break through and get to the Astros bullpen, but pick up their defense if they’re going to have a shot against the Astros. They’ve got some young, fun players on the team who promise to make the most of their postseason run.

Combine that with the oldest active manager and Hall-of-Famer Tony La Russa leading the charge, the White Sox feel confident they’re on the path to winning it all this year:

Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays

Then the Red Sox will take on the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox made it through on Tuesday night, beating out the Yankees 6-2. It was the first time the two rivals have played in a winner-takes-all Wild Card Game.

This is the Rays third consecutive year in the postseason, who again won the AL East this year. It’s also the third time since 2008 that the Rays will face the Red Sox in the postseason. And though the conversation about the 100-win club has focused on the Dodgers-Giants this year, the Rays won exactly 100 games this season (to the Red Sox 92-70).

The Rays will start out with Shane McClanahan (10-6, 3.43 ERA) and they’ll hope their dynamic offense will back him up. 20 year old phenom Wander Franco should be fun to watch as he has been all season both offensively and defensively:

Game Info

Teams: Chicago White Sox @ Houston Astros

Time: 1:07 p.m. Pacific on FS1

Pitching: CWS: Lance Lynn (11-6, 2.69 ERA)

Hou: Lance McCullers Jr. (13-5, 3.16 ERA)

Teams: Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays

Time: 5:07 p.m. Pacific on FS1

Pitching: Bos: Eduardo Rodriguez (13-8, 4.74 ERA)

TB: Shane McClanahan (10-6, 3.43 ERA)