White Sox: The AL Central winner is off to a good postseason start

The Chicago White Sox are not in the 2022 Major League Baseball Postseason. Everyone assumed that they would be going into the season but they ultimately failed to get there. It was surprising for a while to see them play so poorly compared to expectations but the flaws were obvious.

The team that took their spot as the American League Central Division champions is the Cleveland Guardians. They won the division by 11.0 games and it was largely helped by a late-season surge that included a three-game sweep over the White Sox.

The Guardians were not one of the two division winners that were awarded a bye to the ALDS as the New York Yankees and Houston Astros both had better records. As a result, they had to play in the Wild Card round.

It shook out where they were matched up with the Tampa Bay Rays to open the playoffs and they were the first game of the postseason. The Rays are always a tough opponent but everyone in Cleveland can be confident in their Guardians team who always plays the game the right way.

The Chicago White Sox watched their big division rival win a playoff game.

Shane Bieber got the start for the Guardians while Shane McClanahan was on the mound for the Rays. That is as good of a playoff matchup as you can ask for in the American League. Each of them will finish in the top ten of Cy Young voting.

Bieber gave up one run and McClahahan gave up two. That was the difference in the game as the Guardians took game one by a final score of 2-1. They now have a 1-0 series lead.

White Sox fans will be shocked to hear that the two Guardians runs came from a two-run blast by Jose Ramirez. That is an all too familiar scene for anyone who watches their team play the Guardians that much. He is one of the best players in baseball and is putting that on display on the big stage.

Game two will start at 11:07 AM on Saturday for anyone trying to watch some AL Central baseball more in the postseason. The Guardians will use Triston McKenzie as he goes up against Tyler Glasnow. This is another outstanding pitching matchup.

If the Guardians win, at least the White Sox will have lost to a team that won a playoff round. If the Rays come back and win the series, it will be nice to see those guys out too. For now, just enjoy the amazing baseball that is being played.

Game one was a spectacular battle that was won by the big White Sox division rival. If game two is that exciting and intense, baseball is winning.