Astros host the White Sox in Game 1 of AL Wild Card Series

Updated Sep. 29, 2026 4:02 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Chicago White Sox (84-78, second in the AL Central during the regular season) vs. Houston Astros (81-81, first in the AL West during the regular season)

Houston; Tuesday, 5 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: White Sox: Hagen Smith (3-3, 1.29 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 41 strikeouts); Astros: A.J. Blubaugh (5-3, 3.66 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 94 strikeouts)

LINE: Astros -126, White Sox +106; over/under is 8 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros host the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series.

Houston has a 39-42 record in home games and an 81-81 record overall. The Astros have the fourth-best team slugging percentage in the majors at .418.

Chicago has a 36-45 record in road games and an 84-78 record overall. White Sox pitchers have a collective 4.13 ERA, which ranks eighth in the AL.

The teams meet Tuesday for the eighth time this season. The Astros are up 5-2 in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Yordan Alvarez leads the Astros with 42 home runs while slugging .601. Jeremy Pena is 15 for 47 with a double, a triple, three home runs and seven RBIs over the past 10 games.

Miguel Vargas has 33 home runs, 101 walks and 93 RBIs while hitting .250 for the White Sox. Chase Meidroth is 15 for 37 with four doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 5-5, .277 batting average, 3.33 ERA, outscored opponents by 22 runs

White Sox: 7-3, .256 batting average, 4.15 ERA, outscored opponents by 22 runs

INJURIES: Astros: Steven Okert: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Daulton Varsho: 10-Day IL (wrist), Jake Meyers: 60-Day IL (kneecap), Brice Matthews: 10-Day IL (knee), Cristian Javier: 15-Day IL (groin), Enyel De Los Santos: 15-Day IL (knee), Mike Burrows: 60-Day IL (elbow), Carlos Correa: 60-Day IL (ankle), Brandon Walter: 60-Day IL (elbow)

White Sox: Luis Castillo: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Prelander Berroa: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tanner Murray: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ky Bush: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jordan Leasure: 60-Day IL (flexor), Joey Bart: 10-Day IL (hand), Brooks Baldwin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Mike Vasil: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.