The Chicago White Sox are playing in their first-ever “win or go home” game in franchise history.
Well, this is what we signed up for when the Chicago White Sox declared a rebuild. We knew that if it worked, they would make the playoffs and be put in high-stress situations. That is what has happened here in the Wild Card Series of the 2020 postseason. The White Sox won game one of this three-game series and then lost game two. That means they have to play in a winner take all game three. It should be a very exciting event for a fanbase waiting for moments like this for a very long time.
The funny thing is that the White Sox are 120 years old and they have never played in a winner take all playoff game before. Any time something is a “franchise first or franchise-record” for them it is crazy because of how long they have been in existence.
Some people might remember “The Blackout Game” between the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins in 2008. That was a winner take all game for the American League Central Division but it wasn’t a playoff game. Game 163s are regular-season games so this one will be the first.
The Oakland Athletics have played in nine of them in the Billy Beane era. They are winless in those nine games so the hope is that the White Sox can keep that trend going. They have lost a game of that nature two years in a row now as they lost the Wild Card game in 2018 and 2019. The White Sox need to take advantage of that mindset that they have and get this thing done.
Despite losing the ballgame, the White Sox might have the momentum from it. They were in a position to take the lead with their final out after being down 5-0. That doesn’t mean they will come out firing in this game but it is much better than if they just rolled over yesterday. We don’t know what the lineups will look like or even who is starting yet but it should be an exciting finish nonetheless. The loser will obviously go home and the winner will face the Houston Astros in the American League Division Series.