White Sox vs Astros playoff schedule, broadcast details as Wild Card Series begins

The 2026 MLB regular season has come to an end, and the Chicago White Sox have reached the Postseason for the first time under the new format. Though they came up one game short of winning the AL Central and could certainly point to some tough losses they wish they could have back, the White Sox will now shift their focus to Houston, where they’ll play a Wild Card series against the Astros beginning this week. Under the current format, which began in 2022, the teams will play a best-of-three series in Houston, and the winner will advance to play the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS. Here’s everything you need to know about this week’s playoff series

Monday will be a day off for the White Sox as they prepare for the Postseason, but all four Wild Card series will begin on Tuesday. The Braves and Phillies will be in the early slate with the White Sox and Astros beginning at 4pm Central. To nobody’s surprise, the Red Sox and Yankees get the primetime slot, with the Cubs and Padres getting the late games as the lone West Coast series. All three (if necessary) games of each series will begin at the same time. 

White Sox-Astros Wild Card series won't be easy to access for fans

As far as the TV Network goes, the White Sox catch an unfortunate break. All four Wild Card series will be broadcast on Peacock, and the Braves/Philles and Red Sox/Yankees series will also be broadcast on NBC. For the Chicago teams, the alternate broadcast is on NBCSN, a cable-specific channel that’s much less available than the main network. It will require users to either have a cable package or subscribe to Peacock to access the games. Peacock no longer offers a free trial, but interested folks can subscribe to one month of the premium service for $12.99.

With MLB’s new format, Wild Card teams are only guaranteed two games. If the White Sox win or lose both Tuesday and Wednesday, there will be no game Thursday. Should they beat the Astros twice and advance to the ALDS, they’d open the second round Saturday in Cleveland. Advancing to the ALDS would also guarantee the White Sox at least one home playoff game, and it would take place Wednesday, October 7th at Rate Field. Should the ALDS go past three games, Game 4 would be Thursday, October 8th in Chicago. 

White Sox fans will hear a familiar voice in the broadcast booth for the Wild Card series. Color commentator Steve Stone will be in the booth for the entire series alongside Phillies play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy, Astros color commentator (and White Sox World Series hero) Geoff Blum, former MLB reliever Adam Ottavino, and reporter Britney Eurton. 

The White Sox open the Wild Card series as +125 underdogs against Houston despite having a better regular season record. They finished the season 2-5 against Houston, but are surely happy to have a shot to make that meaningless and avenge the 2021 team, who lost to Houston 3-1 in the ALDS. Tune in Tuesday to see if the Southsiders can

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