It was a tale of two bullpen games in Tuesday’s wild-card opener between the Houston Astros and the Chicago White Sox. One was much better than the other, as the White Sox cruised to a 6-3 victory in Houston. With the victory, the White Sox are one victory away from advancing to the American League Division Series, just one season after their third consecutive season with more than 100 losses. Both teams entered Tuesday’s first wild-card game having exhausted their rotation options with attempts to make the playoffs at the end of the season. That meant relievers on the mound started the game for both sides. The White Sox immediately pounced on Astros starter AJ Blubaugh, who didn’t get out of the first inning. Blubaugh allowed just one run, but finished after two outs, thanks to his third walk and his 27th pitch. Only 13 of those pitches were strikes. In the second, Chicago loaded the bases and added two more runs on Sam Antonacci’s single off Bryan King. By the end of the second, the White Sox had scored three runs against three Astros pitchers. Meanwhile, Hagen Smith set the tone on the mound for Chicago. The rookie reliever pitched three scoreless innings to start the game and set up Chicago’s bullpen for success. The White Sox built their lead to 5-0 in five innings before a two-run homer by pinch-hitter Nelson Velázquez put the Astros on the board in the bottom of the frame. But it was too little, too late, as Chicago’s five runs were enough to secure the victory. In the end, the White Sox tallied 11 hits and 4 walks off eight Astros pitchers. The Astros responded with 6 hits and 2 walks off five White Sox pitchers. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday in Houston, where the starters are expected to return to the mound. The White Sox have not announced a starter, but Sean Burke (3.34, 11-7 ERA) is a likely candidate with a chance to close out the series. The Astros will turn to Hunter Brown (3.19 ERA, 6-4) with their season on the line. Live coverage has ended 29 updates Wednesday, September 30, 2026 12:26 am UTC Jack Baer Wednesday, September 30, 2026 12:23 am UTC Jack Baer The White Sox take Game 1 in a double-bullpen game and will look to win the series on Wednesday. Grant Taylor gets the final 7 outs on a career-high 54 pitches. Wednesday, September 30, 2026 12:20 am UTCJack BaerGrant Taylor walks Christian Walker, but consecutive strikeouts by Lucas Spence and Cam Smith have the Astros down to the final out. Wednesday, September 30, 2026 12:15 am the ninth to maintain the deficit at 3 runs. It looks like Grant Taylor will stay despite having already thrown 36 pitches in 1.1 innings. He will face the bottom of the Astros order. Wednesday, September 30, 2026 12:11 am UTC Jack Baer With one out and no one on base, Munetaka Murakami challenges a first-pitch strike call with an outside fastball. He loses it, so Chicago will only have one ABS challenge left at the end of the inning, which is nothing considering how well catcher Kyle Teel used them in the bottom of the eighth. Wednesday, September 30, 2026 12:09 am UTC Jack Baer Yainer Díaz surely seemed to think he walked there and argued with the umpire as Grant Taylor walked off the mound. Wednesday, September 30, 2026 12:07 AM UTCJason Owens The Astros added a run on a José Altue grounder that curiously was ruled an error when first baseman Munetaka Murakami took his foot out of the bag while reaching out to catch the throw. The start of a possible rally brought fans in Houston to their feet. But the Astros stranded two thanks to a Grant Taylor strikeout on Yainer Diaz and left the bottom of the eighth with a 6-3 deficit and in need of some late-game heroics. eighth. But what they need most from here are runs, with a 6-2 deficit and six outs to make up for it. Tuesday, September 29, 2026 11:41 pm UTC Jason Owens Houston got a runner in the bottom of the seventh with a walk, but nothing else. The game reaches the top of the eighth with Chicago holding a 6-2 lead and Houston in desperate need of some offense. Tuesday, September 29, 2026 11:29 pm UTCJason Owens The White Sox added another run in the seventh, but a double play again ended their chance to score more. Credit to Munetaka Murakami again. The rookie slugger reached with a leadoff single, then recovered to score after a single, a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. The run is his second of the day after he came on a walk leading off the fourth inning. The White Sox stranded runners at the corners with Chase Meidroth’s double-play groundout that ended the inning. Chicago leads 6-2 into the seventh inning. Tuesday, September 29, 2026 11:16 pm UTC Jason Owens White Sox relievers Sean Newcomb and David Sandlin combined for a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth that ended with a fly ball by José Altuve. Chicago is now on its fourth pitcher and takes a 5-2 lead into the seventh. Tuesday, September 29, 2026 11:11 PM UTCJason Owens The Astros got a much-needed 1-2-3 sixth from Josh Hendrickson and Logan VanWey, who closed the frame as Houston’s fifth pitcher of the day. Now they need more work from their bats, even facing a 5-2 deficit. Tuesday, September 29, 2026 11:00 PM UTCJason OwensHouston got on the board in the fifth in majestic fashion. With two outs, pinch-hitter Nelson Velázquez launched a towering home run down the left field line off White Sox reliever Sean Newcomb. It was a much-needed injection of offense for the Astros, who come out of the fifth inning with a 5-2 deficit and in much better shape. Tuesday, September 29, 2026 10:50 pm UTCJason Owens The White Sox scored another run, but lost a chance to accumulate after loading the bases again, this time with one out. Munetaka Murakamia singled in the top of the fifth and scored after Josh Hendrickson gave up three straight singles. A Colson Montgomery double-play grounder ended the threat without further damage, but Chicago’s lead is now 5-0 midway through the fifth. Hendrickson needed 29 pitches to complete the inning, and his day is likely over. Tuesday, September 29, 2026 10:33 pm UTCJason Owens After three scoreless innings from starter Hagen Smith, the White Sox turned to reliever Jordan Hicks in the fourth. Hicks pitched a 1-2-3 frame that included a Yainer Diaz strikeout to maintain Chicago’s 4-0 lead through four innings. Tuesday, September 29, 2026 10:31 pm UTC The White Sox received fan mail that arrived differently before today’s game. Hours before their first playoff game against the Astros, the club received a letter from its most famous fan, Pope, a Chicago native. Leo XIV. They soon shared the letter with their fans on social media. Addressed to team owner Jerry Reinsdorf and dated Sept. 9, the letter does not specifically address the playoffs, but rather thanks Reinsdorf for a letter he sent the previous month, extols the bridge-building value of sports and invokes “the abundant blessings of the Almighty” upon Reinsdorf and his loved ones. For more information, read here. Tuesday, September 29, 2026 10:23 PM UTCMiguel Ullola could not get seven outs in a row. Colson Montomgery hit a leadoff home run off the Astros reliever to extend Chicago’s lead to 4-0 in the top of the fourth inning. Ullola made it through the rest of the frame unscathed, but Houston’s hole grew deeper after 3 ½ innings. Tuesday, September 29, 2026 10:14 pm UTC Cam Smith reached first base on a leadoff walk, then reached third on a sacrifice bunt and lineout. But presumptive American League MVP Yordan Alvarez couldn’t bring him home. A groundout to third ended the third inning and Chicago maintains a 3-0 lead. Rookie starter Hagen Smith has done his job with three scoreless innings for the White Sox. His day is probably over after 38 pitches (28 for strikes), 2 hits, 1 strikeout and no walks. Tuesday, September 29, 2026 10:06 pm UTCMiguel Ullola has retired six consecutive White Sox batters since taking over with the bases loaded and no outs in the second. He pitched a 1-2-3 third and has three strikeouts in two innings. More good news for Houston: Ullola’s pitch count is just 16. If he keeps this up, he could offer some extended work. Chicago maintains a 3-0 lead midway through the third. Tuesday, September 29, 2026 10:00 pm UTC Jason Owens Unlike Houston, Chicago’s bullpen play is off to an optimal start. Rookie reliever Hagen Smith pitched a 1-2-3 in the bottom of the second and has retired six of the seven batters he has faced. He’s up to 27 pitches (20 strikes) and the White Sox have a 3-0 lead after two innings.
