It’s another do-or-die MLB playoff game on the South Side of Chicago between two American League Central rivals.

The Guardians tripled their total runs scored in the first two games of this series with a nine-run outing in Game 3 to keep their season alive against the White Sox.

They’ll need to keep the runs coming and get a solid pitching performance in Game 4 to send this series back to Cleveland for a winner-take-all elimination game to face the Rays in the ALCS.

The Guardians will send Parker Messick to the mound for Game 4 while the White Sox will counter with Hagen Smith as their opener.

Guardians vs. White Sox prediction

The White Sox have been white hot at the plate throughout the postseason, leading the playoffs in runs scored and on-base percentage. Playing the Astros in the Wild Card round certainly juiced their stats, but the White Sox have been a good offensive team all season.

They’ve also been one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to plate discipline. Chicago is striking out at a 33.2 percent clip in the playoffs, by far the highest rate among postseason teams.

Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami strikes out during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game three of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Rate Field in Chicago, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

This isn’t new; the White Sox had the second-highest Whiff Percentage (27.5 percent) during the regular season.

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Messick only pitched 4 ⅓ innings in Game 1 of this series and still notched six strikeouts against this lineup. During the regular season, he notched eight and 10 strikeouts in two of his three starts against the White Sox.

The Southsiders are going to keep swinging away and give Cleveland’s pitchers chances to tally up the strikeouts. If Messick can stay in the game long enough, he should be able to get six Ks.

The Pick: Parker Messick Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-135, bet365)

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