The Chicago White Sox have been using openers throughout the postseason so far, and they will do again on Thursday night at Rate Field.
The White Sox hold a 2-1 series lead over the Cleveland Guardians, and they’ll turn back toward Hagen Smith as he takes the ball for a potential clinching game on the South Side.
Smith opened Game 1 of the team’s series against the Houston Astros and then opened Game 1 against the Guardians, and pitched in relief in Game 3 on Wednesday night.
In those combined appearances, Smith has allowed three hits and one earned run, and has struck out six batters, though he has also walked five.
The White Sox have been using openers exclusively so far in the playoffs, and in fact set a Major League record by winning four consecutive playoff games without a starting pitcher going for more than four innings.
They will try to find that magic again on Thursday with Smith on the mound, but they’ll be facing a formidable opponent as Cleveland counters with Parker Messick in a must-win game for the Guardians.
Messick started Game 1 of the series for the Guardians on Saturday, giving up two earned runs and striking out six batters in 4.1 innings. He ended up taking the loss in a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the White Sox, but this season he has been a tough pitcher to face away from Progressive Field.
The young hurler posted a .198 batting average against away from home, and his ERA was just 2.22 in 16 road appearances, striking out 88 batters in 93.1 innings.
First pitch between the Guardians and White Sox is set for 7 p.m. on the South Side. If the White Sox can win, the Tampa Bay Rays await them in the American League Championship Series, but if the Guardians win, the series will shift back to Cleveland for a winner-take-all Game 5 on Saturday night.
