The White Sox have done something they have never done before: clinched a postseason spot in back-to-back seasons. The first game of their doubleheader against Cleveland on Thursday, September 23 did the job with a 7-2 win. At the same time, the White Sox clinched the AL Central Division title, something they haven’t done since 2008. Fans and players alike are extremely excited about this year’s team and their ability to do something special. 

With last year’s shortened season, the White Sox finished with a record of 35-25 and a 0.583 winning percentage. Not a bad season, however, the Sox were ready to make another push and improve yet again. Currently the Sox sit at a 91 – 68 record with 3 games left in the regular season. They don’t have much to worry about these last couple of games and so you likely won’t see much from the big pitchers or any other vital player. The focus has now shifted to the first round of the playoffs where the White Sox will face off against the Houston Astros. As of right now, the Astros have the two seed in the American League, so they will have Home Field Advantage against the three-seeded Sox. When you look at their roster, the White Sox have a very strong and promising team, and fans can remember several times this season when various players came up clutch. However, there have been  moments where the Sox have dipped. For example, they lost their season series against the Tigers and Rangers, both teams outside of the playoff picture. The Astros have had similar struggles, including losing 4 straight games leading up to the final week of the regular season. Either team getting on a hot streak and carrying that momentum through the playoffs could win them the American League. White Sox fans should feel confident in their team, as the players seemed hyped and ready to get to work come October. Chicago has a strong starting rotation and even stronger closers in their bullpen who could really get hot. Players like Yasmani Grandal, Tim Anderson, and Jose Abreu have had hot bats throughout the season, and it’s likely we will have a lot of them this October. If you’re lucky enough to see some playoff action in person this year, the White Sox have announced a black-out theme for the entirety of the White Sox’s time in the playoffs. The clubhouse is certainly feeling the hype leading up to that first postseason game, and fans should as well. There’s an air of hope and excitement on the South Side, so get ready for some October magic.