Which team will end playoff drought?
A’s will have their hands full against White Sox
No. 7 Chicago White Sox (35-25) at No. 2 Oakland Athletics (36-24)
SERIES SaHEDULE: >> Game 1— Tuesday, noon (PT); Game 2 — Wednesday, noon (PT); Game 3 (if necessary) — Thursday, time TBA
POSSIKLE STARTERS >> White Sox — Lucas Giolito (4-3, 3.48), Dallas Keuchel (6-2, 1.99), Dylan Cease (5- 4, 4.01); Athletics — Sean Manaea (4-3, 4.50), Chris Bassitt (5-2, 2.29), Mike Fiers (6-3, 4.58).
HOW THEY GOT HERE >> The White Sox lost to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday and fell to third place in
the American League Central after the Cleveland Indians beat the Pittsburgh Pirates. The A’s clinched the AL West on Sept. 22, and became the No. 2 seed when they beat the Seattle Mariners and the Minnesota Twins lost to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. WHO’S HOT >> White Sox — Keuchel’s ERA over 11 starts and 63 1/3 innings this season was bettered only by Cleveland’s Shane Bieber, who led all starting pitchers with a 1.63 ERA. AL Most Valuable Player candidate José Abreu’s three-run double Saturday gave him a Major Leaguebest 60 RBIs in 59 games before Sunday. Prior to Sunday, Chicago had MLB’s fifth-best ERA at 3.72. A’s — Sean Murphy has reached base safely in all 16 of his games this month and is hitting .277 (13-for- 47) with 13 runs, two doubles, five
home runs, nine RBI and 12 walks since Sept. 4; Bassitt threw seven shutout innings Friday vs. Seattle and over his last four starts, is 3- 0 with a 0.34 ERA with 25 strikeouts.
WHITE SOX TEAM HITTING (PRIOR TO SUNDAY) >> Batting average — .260 (6th in MLB); OPS — .777 (8th); Home runs — 94 (3rd); Total bases — 910 (3rd).
A’S TEAMHITTING(PRIORTO SUNDAY) >> Batting average — 224 (26th in MLB); OPS — .714 (19th); Home runs — 70 (18th); Total bases — 739 (22nd).
WHITE SOX TEAM PITCH
ING (PRIOR TO SUNDAY) >>
ERA — 3.72 (5th in MLB); Strikeouts — 514 (14th); Opponents’ batting average — 226 (5th); WHIP — 1.25 (12th).
A’S TEAM PITCHING (PRIOR TO SUNDAY) >> ERA — 3.84 (6th in MLB); Strikeouts — 490 (22nd); Opponents’ batting average — .242 (15th); WHIP — 1.24 (11th).
ALL-TIME PLAYOFF SERIES >>
This will be the first time the White Sox and the A’s
will meet in a playoff series. The White Sox have not won a playoff round since 2005 when they beat the Houston Astros in the World Series. The A’s have not won a playoff round since 2006 when they beat the Minnesota Twins in AL Divisional. Se
ries. The White Sox have lost nine of their last 12 games. The A’s went 3- 5 over the last week of the season. T he winner of the series will play either No. 3 Minnesota or No. 6 Houston in the second round at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.