The Houston Astros entered the 2026 playoffs with the worst win-loss record of any team ever to reach the postseason, and on Tuesday night at Daikin Park, that reputation caught up with them. The Chicago White Sox beat Houston to take a 1-0 lead in their American League Wild Card Series.
Houston had needed a win in game 162 just to reach October, and got there by riding a bullpen game and a 29th home run from Christian Walker in a 9-0 victory. The Astros tried the same approach against Chicago, starting long reliever A.J. Blubaugh and following with Bryan King and Miguel Ullola. This time it did not hold up against the American League’s most powerful offense.
Chicago scored first without recording a hit. Two walks and a throwing error by Walker set up a sacrifice fly from Munetaka Murakami that made it 1-0. In the second inning, the White Sox began hitting for real: a Chase Meidroth single and a hit-by-pitch on Colson Montgomery put two runners on for Sam Antonacci, who drove in the go-ahead runs to put Chicago ahead 3-0.
A solo homer from Montgomery and a two-run shot from Nelson Velazquez, mixed in with shaky Astros pitching, pushed the lead to 6-2. Rookie right-hander Grant Taylor closed things out with 2.1 scoreless innings and five strikeouts.
The game reflected how the two teams played all season. Chicago’s lineup took advantage of a below-average Houston bullpen, while a rookie again played a starring role. Hagen Smith, who has just 28 innings of big-league experience, threw three scoreless innings and allowed only two baserunners. Montgomery added his home run, and Antonacci again delivered at the top of the order. Murakami scored twice and drove in a run.
Chicago, which carries the 25th-highest payroll in baseball, is now nine innings from winning the series. The win was the White Sox’s first postseason victory since 2021 and marks a striking turnaround for a franchise that finished 41-121 in 2024. The team’s front office points to targeted free-agent signings and player development from a deep farm system as reasons for the shift.
Houston, meanwhile, showed the inconsistency that defined its 81-81 regular season. Tuesday’s contest was a bullpen game for both sides, but Wednesday brings a more traditional pitching matchup, with the Astros facing elimination.
Hunter Brown, who returned from injury to post a 3.19 ERA, will start for Houston. Chicago counters with another young standout, Sean Burke. A win for Chicago would put the White Sox in position to face the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS.
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