Allison: Colson Montgomery just broke a single-season strikeout record, and now he’s staring down the barrel of the Houston Astros in the first round of the playoffs? This is the most unlikely, electric Wild Card matchup in baseball history.
Derek: It really is. The White Sox are here. 84 wins. Second in the AL Central. And they’re playing a team that made the postseason without a winning record. It’s chaos.
Allison: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Allison, and this is your daily deep dive into the game we love. Joining me as always is our resident analyst, Derek.
Derek: Hey everyone. Good to be here. We’ve got a huge night ahead of us. The White Sox at the Houston Astros. Game One of the Wild Card Series. It’s 21:00 UTC tonight.
Allison: Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the pitching matchup, I want to do a quick shout-out to you guys. If these daily breakdowns are part of your morning commute or your evening wind-down, a small tip via the link in the episode description is what keeps them coming. It helps keep the show free and daily for all of us. Thank you.
Derek: Appreciate it. Alright, let’s talk about what’s happening tonight. We have three things coming up. First, the pitching probable and why the White Sox rotation has to hold up. Second, how Munetaka Murakami and the lineup match up against Houston’s defense. And third, a bold prediction on whether Chicago can steal this series.
Allison: Let’s start with the big picture. Derek, last night we talked about the resilience of this team after beating the Rockies 4-2. Now, overnight, the landscape shifts. They’re not just finishing the regular season; they’re entering the playoffs.
Derek: Right. And the headline from ESPN says it all: 'A pair of unlikely playoff teams collide.' The Astros are the first team to reach the postseason without a winning record. That tells you something about the parity in the league right now. But don’t underestimate the White Sox. They won 84 games. They finished second in the Central.
Allison: So, let’s talk about who starts tonight. We know Colson Montgomery had a rough year at the plate, but his defense is elite. Who is the White Sox starting pitcher looking to? Is it Erick Fedde?
Derek: That’s the logical choice. Fedde is a workhorse. He’s been there. But look at the roster. You’ve got Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith, Davis Martin. All young arms. The White Sox are betting on upside here. Against Houston, though, you need experience.
Allison: But wait, didn’t we see Jacob Misiorowski lead the majors in ERA, strikeouts, and opponents' batting average this year? That’s Brewers. Not Houston. So Houston doesn’t have that ace. What does their rotation look like?
Derek: Correct. Misiorowski is in Milwaukee. Houston’s strength isn’t necessarily one dominant starter, it’s depth and bullpen management. But tonight, whoever starts for Houston needs to contain Munetaka Murakami. You cannot let him get comfortable in the middle of the order.
Allison: And speaking of Murakami, remember two days ago? Two home runs against Colorado. The momentum is real. How does the White Sox staff plan to handle the Astros’ hitters? They’re used to facing high-powered offenses.
Derek: They are. And the Astros have Yordan Alvarez. He just won the batting title. That’s a guy who can take any pitch and turn it over. If the White Sox pitcher gives him anything in the zone, it’s going to be trouble. Pitching around him? Maybe. But he’ll take the ball out of the park.
Allison: So the key for Chicago is getting early outs. Getting ahead in the count. Because if they fall behind, Alvarez and the Astros’ lineup will punish them. What about the umpire crew? MLB announced Jordan Baker, Bill Miller, Alan Porter, and Mark Wegner as crew chiefs. Does that matter?
Derek: In the playoffs, every call is magnified. But generally, these are experienced crews. They’ll want to keep the game moving. For the White Sox, it’s about execution. Don’t give them easy walks. Don’t give them extra-base hits. Keep the score close.
Allison: Exactly. And if they can get that first win, the energy in Houston—well, actually, they’re the away team, so the energy in Chicago will be going through the roof. Let’s move to the lineup. Derek, we’ve talked about Murakami. What about Colson Montgomery?
Derek: Montgomery is the story. He broke the single-season strikeout record. Ouch. But he also wants to focus on the 'positives.' He’s a shortstop. His glove is Gold Glove caliber. In the playoffs, defense wins games. If he makes the plays, it takes pressure off the pitcher.
Allison: Right. And he’s young. Second year in the majors. He’s not going to fold under pressure. He’s going to try to contribute. Who else is in the mix? We have Luisangel Acuna at short too? No, Montgomery is SS. Acuna is SS? Wait, the roster lists both.
Derek: The roster lists Luisangel Acuna and Colson Montgomery both at SS. That’s interesting. Probably means Acuna is ready for emergency duty or defensive replacements. But Montgomery is the everyday player. Chase Meidroth is at second base. That’s a solid infield.
Allison: Okay, so the infield is set. Outfield has Sam Antonacci, Brenton Doyle, and Braden Montgomery. Wait, Braden Montgomery? Is that related to Colson?
Derek: No relation. Different family. Braden Montgomery is in right field. He’s a rookie. Brenton Doyle is in center. He had that clutch hit last night against Colorado. That momentum carries over. Doile is a speedster, an outfielder who can change the game with his legs.
Allison: Speed changes everything. Especially in the playoffs where margins are thin. If Doyle gets on base, he’s a threat to steal. To go from first to third. To put pressure on the catcher. Houston’s catchers need to be sharp.
Derek: Absolutely. And don’t forget Drew Romo and Kyle Teel behind the plate for Chicago. They need to frame pitches perfectly. They need to control the running game. It’s a chess match between the dugouts tonight.
Allison: Chess match. I love that. Okay, let’s pause here. Stick with us. Next, we’re talking about the bullpen. Who is closing for the White Sox? And can they hold up against Alvarez and company? We’ll be right back.
Allison: Welcome back. We’re talking about the White Sox at the Astros. Last night, Randal Grichuk and Brenton Doyle went deep against Colorado. The offense is waking up. But the question remains: can the bullpen survive five innings of Houston’s bats?
Derek: It’s a valid concern. Look at the relievers. Huascar Brazoban, Tyler Davis, Jordan Hicks, Bryan Hudson, Sean Newcomb, Trevor Richards, Grant Taylor. That’s a lot of arms. But who is the closer? Who is the setup man?
Allison: Jordan Hicks. His name keeps coming up. High velocity. Stuff is scary. But does he have the command for a nine-inning playoff game? Or is he more of a short-inning weapon?
Derek: He’s a weapon. But you don’t use him for eight innings. You use him in the seventh or eighth to bridge the gap. Bryan Hudson is another option. He’s been solid. David Sandlin is in the mix too, though he’s listed as a starter sometimes. The usage patterns are fluid.
Allison: Fluid is good in the regular season. In October, you need stability. If the starter goes six strong, you need a reliable ninth inning arm. Can Huascar Brazoban step up? He’s got experience.
Derek: Brazoban has done well in relief spots. But the issue is workload. If they burn through the bullpen early, they’re in trouble. Houston knows how to exploit tired arms. They’ll swing for the fences.
Allison: And injuries? We’ve been tracking the injury list all week. Are there any new developments heading into this series? The brief mentions managing a depleted roster.
Derek: The brief notes they’ve managed a significant injury list throughout the year. Anthony Kay, Sean Newcomb, Trevor Richards—all on that roster. Some might be day-to-day. But for tonight, it looks like the core group is healthy enough to play.
Allison: Good. Because if they’re missing key pieces, it changes the strategy. Without those arms, they have to rely more on the starters. Which brings us back to Erick Fedde. If he can go seven innings, the game is theirs.
Derek: Seven innings is the goal. But against Houston, even six is a victory. They need to limit damage. Launch angle data suggests Houston hits the ball hard. Chicago’s pitchers need to induce ground balls. Keep the ball on the ground.
Allison: Ground balls. Defense. That’s where Colson Montgomery and the rest of the infield come in. If they make the plays, the pitchers stay calm. It’s a chain reaction. One bad play leads to another.
Derek: Exactly. Plate discipline is key too. For the White Sox hitters, they need to be selective. Take the walk. Work the count. Wait for the mistake. Houston’s pitchers are tough. You can’t chase fastballs down and in.
Allison: Selectivity. Patience. That’s the mantra. Andrew Benintendi, Miguel Vargas, Randal Grichuk—they’ve all shown flashes of power. Grichuk specifically, last night was huge. Can he carry that into the playoffs?
Derek: He can. Clutch performers tend to stay clutch. Grichuk is a veteran. He knows how to handle the moment. If he gets hot, Houston has to respect him. That opens up opportunities for others.
Allison: Openings. That’s all we need. One opening. One mistake. One error. Let’s dig deeper into the matchup angles. Derek, what’s the biggest risk for the White Sox tonight?
Derek: Overthinking. They’re a young team. They’ve never been here. The pressure is immense. They need to stick to their process. Trust their training. Don’t try to be heroes. Just play fundamental baseball.
Allison: Fundamental baseball. Simple, but hard to execute. Okay, we have one segment left. Keys to the series. And a bold prediction. What’s your gut saying, Derek?
Derek: My gut says the White Sox win Game One. Not because they’re better, but because they’re hungry. The Astros are complacent. They made the team without a winning record. They think they’re safe. The Sox have nothing to lose.
Allison: Nothing to lose. That’s a powerful mindset. But can they sustain it? Winning one game in a best-of-three series is half the battle. What’s the key to taking the series?
Derek: Bullpen management. If Chicago can keep the game close through six, and then use their fresh arms effectively, they can pull it off. Also, Monty’s defense. If he makes a highlight-reel play, it lifts the whole team.
Allison: Highlight-reel play. Yes. And Murakami’s power. If he gets one fly ball over the fence, the atmosphere in Houston changes. Even if it’s an away crowd, the TV audience will feel it.
Derek: TV audience feels it. Exactly. My bold prediction? The White Sox win the series. Two games to one. It’s going to be gritty. It’s going to be messy. But they’ll find a way.
Allison: Two games to one. Bold. I like it. I’m sticking with my prediction from last time: they’ll be competitive. But I’m upgrading that to a series win. Why? Momentum. Grichuk. Doyle. Montgomery’s glove. It all adds up.
Derek: Momentum is real. But so is Houston’s talent. It’ll be close. Very close. But I’m with you. White Sox advance.
Allison: Alright, listeners. Here’s what we’ve got. White Sox at Astros. Wild Card Series. Game One tonight. Key players: Colson Montgomery, Munetaka Murakami, Randal Grichuk. Keys: Defense, bullpens, patience at the plate.
Derek: Don’t miss it. Tune in at 21:00 UTC. Watch for the ground balls. Watch for the power. It’s going to be a great series.
Allison: If you enjoyed this preview, please subscribe, rate, and review us on your favorite podcast app. Share it with a friend who loves the White Sox. Help us grow the network.
Derek: We appreciate you. See you tomorrow for Game Two coverage.
Allison: Go White Sox!