Matchup edge
Form edge: Chicago White Sox, 4-1 in the last 5 games against 3-2 for Cleveland Guardians.
Matchup to watch: Chicago White Sox’s attack (index 107) against Cleveland Guardians’ defence (index 92).
Matchup to watch: Cleveland Guardians’ attack (index 93) against Chicago White Sox’s defence (index 99).
Recent form: last 5
Chicago White Sox: 4 wins and 1 loss in the last 5, with 26 runs scored and 17 conceded.
| Oct 3, 2026 | at Cleveland Guardians | W | 3–0 |
| Sep 30, 2026 | at Houston Astros | W | 7–3 |
| Sep 29, 2026 | at Houston Astros | W | 6–3 |
| Sep 27, 2026 | vs Colorado Rockies | W | 4–2 |
| Sep 26, 2026 | vs Colorado Rockies | L | 6–9 |
Cleveland Guardians: 3 wins and 2 losses in the last 5, with 26 runs scored and 20 conceded.
| Oct 3, 2026 | vs Chicago White Sox | L | 0–3 |
| Sep 27, 2026 | at Kansas City Royals | L | 2–3 |
| Sep 26, 2026 | at Kansas City Royals | W | 11–5 |
| Sep 25, 2026 | at Kansas City Royals | W | 12–9 |
| Sep 24, 2026 | at Boston Red Sox | W | 1–0 |
Results before kickoff, newest first.
Head-to-head
In the last 5 meetings on record, Chicago White Sox won 3, Cleveland Guardians won 2.
| Oct 3, 2026 | Cleveland Guardians | 0–3 | Chicago White Sox |
| Sep 16, 2026 | Cleveland Guardians | 6–3 | Chicago White Sox |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Cleveland Guardians | 7–6 | Chicago White Sox |
| Sep 14, 2026 | Cleveland Guardians | 3–7 | Chicago White Sox |
| Aug 9, 2026 | Chicago White Sox | 5–3 | Cleveland Guardians |
Season so far
Chicago White Sox are 12th of 30 on win rate after 162 games (84-78).
Cleveland Guardians are 11th of 30 on win rate after 162 games (85-77).
| # | Team | P | W | L | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Chicago White Sox | 162 | 84 | 78 | 776:720 |
| 11 | Cleveland Guardians | 162 | 85 | 77 | 678:667 |
Team season model
- Chicago White Sox attack index 107: 7% more scoring per game than the league average.
- Chicago White Sox defence index 99: 1% less conceded per game than the league average.
- Chicago White Sox rate 8th of 30 on results-based strength, rising over their last 5 games.
- Cleveland Guardians attack index 93: 7% less scoring per game than the league average.
- Cleveland Guardians defence index 92: 8% less conceded per game than the league average.
- Cleveland Guardians rate 13th of 30 on results-based strength, rising over their last 5 games.
Index 100 is the league average per game. Above 100 in attack means more scoring; below 100 in defence means fewer conceded.
Team news
Chicago White Sox
- Jake Rogers (C): paternity, personal. The White Sox placed Rogers on the paternity list Saturday. (ESPN, Sep 26, 2026)
- Luis Castillo (SP): 15-Day-IL, right shoulder. The White Sox placed Castillo on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right shoulder impingement. (ESPN, Sep 24, 2026)
- White Sox to start rookie reliever Smith in Game 1 vs. Guardians — Reliever Hagen Smith will start for the White Sox against the Guardians in what will be a battle of rookie left-handed pitchers in Game 1 of the ALDS. (ESPN, Oct 3, 2026)
Cleveland Guardians
- Colin Holderman (RP): 15-Day-IL, right wrist. Holderman will undergo season-ending surgery on his right wrist, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports. (ESPN, Oct 1, 2026)
- White Sox to start rookie reliever Smith in Game 1 vs. Guardians — Reliever Hagen Smith will start for the White Sox against the Guardians in what will be a battle of rookie left-handed pitchers in Game 1 of the ALDS. (ESPN, Oct 3, 2026)
Headlines gathered October 3, 2026 from the outlets named. Third-party reporting, not verified by SportAnalyst.
What the full preview covers
- Key factors: the matchups and numbers that shape this game.
- Player form: recent output from the players who matter most.
- Team news: injuries and availability from the latest reports.
- Analyst chat: ask follow-up questions about this game (All-Access).
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