HOUSTON -- The Astros must find a way to snap their home playoff losing streak if they want to keep their season alive. The White Sox are looking to celebrate their first playoff series victory since a World Series win over the Astros in 2005 at the same ballpark.
Much will be at stake in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series on Wednesday afternoon at Daikin Park, with the White Sox looking to sweep the Astros and advance to the AL Division Series for the first time since 2021. Houston’s 6-3 loss to Chicago in Game 1 on Tuesday was its eighth in a row at home in the postseason, which dates back to Game 1 of the 2023 ALDS.
“The message is clear: We got to win tomorrow,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “I don't need to tell them that; they know. We've had our backs against the corner before and I think that's when we are our best, when we fight back.”
History is on the White Sox side. Visiting teams have won 12 of 15 series (80%) in which they have gone ahead 1-0, in the Wild Card, including nine sweeps. However, the most recent rally by a home team that lost Game 1 happened just last year, when the Yankees came back against the Red Sox.
“We came here to win the series and the first part of that is getting this first win, which is great,” Chicago manager Will Venable said.
When is the game and how can I watch it
First pitch for Game 2 of the White Sox-Astros Wild Card Series is set for 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Daikin Park. The game will be broadcast on Peacock and NBCSN.
The Wild Card Series will be available in Spanish on Universo, while Univision Radio will provide Spanish language audio coverage. ESPN Radio will provide live national coverage of all 2026 MLB Postseason games, beginning with the Wild Card Series.
Who are the starting pitchers?
White Sox: Sean Burke, RHP
Key stat: 11-7, 3.34 ERA, 185 strikeouts over 172 1/3 innings
Venable wouldn’t commit to Burke until after Tuesday’s victory, although Burke always seemed like the logical option before it was officially announced. Burke has been the team’s steadiest starter this season, and following a bullpen game where closer Grant Taylor threw a career-high 54 pitches, the White Sox would like the right-hander to go as deep as possible.
Astros: Hunter Brown, RHP
Key stat: Brown is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts (13 innings) vs. the White Sox this season
Brown, who finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting last year, hasn’t been as effective this season, though he’s still the man Houston wants on the mound in an elimination game. He went 6-4 with a 3.19 ERA in 20 starts (107 1/3 innings) in the regular season, but missed 2 1/2 months early in the year with a shoulder strain. He’s struggled with his four-seam command at times, which is why his BB/9 ballooned to 4.61 this year, although Brown had a 2.45 ERA with 13.1 K/9 in his final six starts of the season.
What might the starting lineups look like?
White Sox: With a right-hander going again Wednesday in Brown, look for the White Sox to keep a similar lineup to Tuesday’s victory. Colson Montgomery hit ninth for the first time this season and homered, so if it’s not broken, don’t try to fix it.
1. Sam Antonacci, LF
2. Kyle Teel, C
3. Miguel Vargas, 3B
4. Munetaka Murakami, 1B
5. Andrew Benintendi, DH
6. Tristan Peters, CF
7. Braden Montgomery, RF
8. Chase Meidroth, 2B
9. Colson Montgomery, SS
Astros: Brown is a ground-ball pitcher, so expect Espada to start Nick Allen at second base in place of Jose Altuve, who’s statistically one of the worst defensive second baseman in the league. Altuve could start at designated hitter and Yordan Alvarez could make a start in left field, where he started 24 games in the regular season.
1. Jeremy Peña, SS
2. Yordan Alvarez, LF
3. Isaac Paredes, 3B
4. Jose Altuve, DH
5. Yainer Diaz, C
6. Christian Walker, 1B
7. Lucas Spence, CF
8. Cam Smith, RF
9. Nick Allen, 2B
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
White Sox: Taylor said he’s available after throwing 2 1/3 innings Tuesday, but it would seemingly only happen in a series-clinching situation. Otherwise, everyone but rookie Hagen Smith, who threw three scoreless as Tuesday’s starter, will be ready to help the White Sox clinch their first playoff series since ‘05.
Astros: Considering they used eight relievers in a bullpen game in Tuesday’s Game 1 loss, Houston’s bullpen is still in pretty good shape. The only arms who may not be available after their Game 1 workload are AJ Blubaugh (27 pitches), Bryan King (22), Miguel Ullola (31) and Josh Hendrickson (37). Lefty Bennett Sousa threw only 13 pitches, setup man Bryan Abreu threw 11 and closer Josh Hader threw 11. Tatsuya Imai wasn’t used at all and could give Espada multiple innings if Brown’s start goes awry.
Any injuries of note?
White Sox: No injuries to report.
Astros: Key left-hander Steven Okert is out for this series while he rehabs from a right hamstring strain.
Who is hot and who is not?
White Sox: Every starter reached base at least once in Tuesday’s victory, with Braden Montgomery and Meidroth producing two hits apiece. Randal Grichuk came off the bench to knock out two hits, building off his strong showing in the regular season. Colson Montgomery hit 31 home runs this year, so his long ball was not a surprise, but he hit only eight homers after the All-Star break to go along with a .557 OPS.
Astros: Outfielder Spence went 1-for-4 with a run scored in Game 1 and has hit safely in four of his last five games, batting .368 (7-for-19) with four home runs and nine RBIs in that span. The top three hitters in Houston’s batting order -- Peña, Alvarez and Paredes -- each went 1-for-4 in Game 1.
Anything else fans might want to know?
• Nelson Velázquez's pinch-hit homer in Game 1 was the fourth in Astros postseason history, and the first since Chris Burke in Game 1 of the 2005 NLCS at St. Louis.
• Astros third baseman Paredes has hit safely in all five of his career postseason games, going 6-for-15 with a double and a walk.
• Abreu’s 36 career postseason strikeouts are two away from matching right-hander Kelvin Herrera (38) for the most strikeouts by a Dominican-born reliever in MLB postseason history.
• White Sox left fielder Antonacci became the sixth player in White Sox history to record multiple RBIs in his postseason debut.
• White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery became the eighth player in White Sox history to homer in his postseason debut and first since José Abreu in the 2020. At 24 years and 214 days old, he became the second-youngest player in White Sox history with a postseason home run, trailing only outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who homered in Game 1 of the 2020 AL Wild Card Series at Oakland at 23 years, 59 days old.