Stop pretending the White Sox are just happy to be there. They are betting underdogs heading into Houston, but that label ignores how they actually got here. This team did not stumble into the postseason; they clawed their way in after losing more than 320 games across three straight 100-loss seasons from 2023 to 2025, according to reports. That number sounds wild, but it is the only way to understand why this year feels so different.
The Cubs might have the shiny MVP and the home-field dreams, but the Sox have something else. They have grit. While the Cubs gaped at a doubleheader loss in Boston and flew 2,000 miles to San Diego, the White Sox won back-to-back-to-back series against the Tigers, Royals, and Rockies. That is not luck. That is a team that decided to stop losing right when it mattered most.
A Season of Two Very Different Stories
It is only the fourth time in history that both Chicago teams made the playoffs, per the Chicago Tribune. The other times were 1906, 2008, and 2020. But the stories leading up to these dates could not be more different. The Cubs finished second in their division for the fourth straight year. After dropping over 100 games in each of the past three seasons, the White Sox managed a rare reversal.
People doubted them from day one. Back on Opening Day in Milwaukee, the Sox lost 14-2 to the Brewers. Many thought it was the same old story. While others voiced opinions, general manager Chris Getz and manager Will Venable remained silent regarding the win count. Darrin Jackson, a radio analyst, believed reaching 80 wins was feasible. Self-proclaimed psychic Steve Stone, a TV analyst, informed the Chicago Sun-Times that the Sox would exceed outside expectations “well above”.
Currently prepared to meet a .500 Astros squad holding the title of worst division champion in major league history, they have arrived. The Sox are the underdogs because of their past, not their present form. They finished strong when the Guardians woke up one mid-September morning and turned into the 1927 Yankees. Cleveland might end their own drought, but the Sox are not just waiting around to lose.
Why This Series Will Be a Grind
The road to the next round is not easy, and the broadcast deal makes it harder for fans at home. Games 1 and 2 for the White Sox against the Astros are set for 4 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, but you cannot see them on regular TV. Fans must watch on Peacock or NBC Sports Network, which means many will miss the action unless they pay extra or have specific cable packages, according to reports.
Despite the TV headache, the team has a clear message. Chase Meidroth, the second baseman, possessed the boldness to trust in this streak from the beginning. The team knows what they are up against. As one voice in the clubhouse put it, “We’re going to compete our asses off.” That is the only attitude that works in a best-of-three series against a veteran squad.
The White Sox are not the favorites, and the odds are stacked against them. But they are the only team in Chicago that finished the regular season on a hot streak. They won three series in a row to get here.
