Houston Astros (95-67) vs. Chicago White Sox (93-69)

Schedule (PDT): Game 1, today, at Houston, 1:07 p.m. (FS1); Game 2, Friday, at Houston, 11:07 a.m. (MLB); Game 3, Sunday, at Chicago, 5:07 p.m. (FS1); x-Game 4, Monday, at Chicago, TBD (FS1 or MLB); x-Game 5, Wednesday, at Houston, TBD (FS1). x-if necessary.

Season series: Astros won 5-2.

How they got here: Houston won the AL West by 5 games over Seattle. Chicago won the AL Central by 13 games over Cleveland.

Astros summary: Houston is in the playoffs for the fifth straight year and looks to return to the World Series for the second time in three seasons. The Astros won the AL West for the fourth time in five years after finishing second to Oakland during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Houston led the majors with a .276 batting average, .339 OBP, 863 runs and 1,496 hits. Ranked second in the majors by striking out just 1,222 times. Pitching staff was fourth in the AL with a 3.76 ERA. 1B Yuri Gurriel led the AL with a .319 batting average.

White Sox summary: Chicago is making consecutive postseason appearances for the first time in franchise history after winning the AL Central for the first time since 2008. Chicago was swept in a four-game series at Houston in June but took two of three from the Astros at home in July. The White Sox swept the Astros in the 2005 World Series, when Houston was in the National League, in the only previous postseason matchup between the teams. LHP Carlos Rodon set career bests for wins (13), strikeouts (185) and ERA (2.37) and was 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts against Houston this year.