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Author Of The Caleb Williams Hit Piece Is Still Trying To Drive A Wedge Between Him And Ben Johnson

By
Erik Lambert
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caleb williams
Sep 28, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) looks on before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

Chicago Bears fans probably remember the name, Tyler Dunne. He is the owner and primary columnist of GoLongTD.com. A longtime reporter who was a beat writer for the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers, he published a massive three-part story about the dysfunction of the Bears franchise. The first part covered quarterback Caleb Williams, from his pre-draft interactions with the team to the firing of Matt Eberflus. Dunne cited sources who claimed he was difficult to work with, often tuning out coaches and failing to put in the necessary work during practice. It was even claimed that Williams had dyslexia.

Conversely, Dunne had high praise for head coach Ben Johnson, stating that he was probably the only hope Chicago had of becoming a winning organization. It was also highly implied that the two would never work together. Williams didn’t have the work ethic or play the way Johnson preferred.

So you can imagine Dunne’s disappointment when the two led the Bears to a top-10 offense and a division title, and beat his beloved Packers in the playoffs. One would think this would’ve shut him up. Sadly, Dunne is still trying to justify that article, this time by suggesting that Case Keenum’s excellent game against Philadelphia might give Johnson second thoughts about Williams.

Caleb Williams has nothing left to prove.

He showed last year that he and Johnson could work beautifully together. The 59 points on opening day were a pretty strong reminder, too, with Williams posting 4 touchdowns and 70% completion. It is painfully obvious that Dunne is clinging to what little credibility he has left among Bears fans. It took a crippliing blow once it became clear that all the “sourced” claims about Williams’ work ethic and commitment were complete BS. Johnson had nothing but praise for the young quarterback on that end from the moment they began working together.

This latest stunt by Dunne is clearly intended to suggest that the two still aren’t a good match. As if accepting the sources of a former Packers reporter was ever wise. It is probably time that he accepts that his story was flawed. Maybe some of the information he got was accurate, but not nearly enough to make the rest of it worth publishing. Caleb Williams made mistakes in 2024, but the coaches around him made way more. One can probably guess that most of the anonymous sources Dunne talked to were the guys who got fired. Of course, they were going to blame Williams.

Don’t expect Johnson to bite.

As sharp as Keenum looked on Monday night, he is not naive. This is a 38-year-old veteran who executed a really good game plan. He didn’t carry the Bears to victory; he guided them. That is what separates the two. Williams is the type of quarterback who can put a team on his shoulders and will lead them to success. He did that multiple times last season. Sure, the offense may not always operate with unerring precision, but it works plenty well enough to score boatloads of points.

It feels like Dunne used Williams’ tough outing in week two against the Minnesota Vikings as an opportunity to raise concerns. After all, struggling against the #1 defense in the league in a torrential downpour is unacceptable. This is the epitome of trying to revive a dead horse. Dunne needs to accept reality. Whatever narrative he’d tried to create blew up in his face. What he’s doing now is just sad.

Why Kyler Gordon Might Not Be The Only Player In Ben Johnson’s Doghouse Anymore

By
Erik Lambert
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kyler gordon
Sep 28, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) cannot make a catch against Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. (3) during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Cornerback Kyler Gordon has been a frequent topic surrounding the Chicago Bears for months. It all started when he failed to report for training camp, citing a then-undisclosed injury. This carried through all of August, including the preseason, and Gordon eventually ended up on the PUP list to start the regular season. He missed the first three games and only now saw his 21-day practice window open. One person who hasn’t enjoyed talking about Gordon throughout the process is Ben Johnson.

While he hasn’t had anything derisive to say about the cornerback, it’s been plain as day that the Bears’ head coach isn’t happy with him. Any time he’s been asked for an update, Johnson has provided one or two-word answers and moved on. Not many people are in his doghouse, but Gordon seems to have set up residence there.

Now? He may no longer be the only one. Johnson was recently asked about what’s going on with wide receiver Rome Odunze to start the season. The coach made his displeasure evident.

Kyler Gordon should be grateful for Odunze.

The young receiver had frequent drop issues last season, catching only 44 of the 90 passes thrown his way. The start to this season hasn’t been much better. He’s caught 8 of the 13 passes thrown at him, but one of the most important to date saw him drop a wide-open touchdown from quarterback Case Keenum on Monday night. There was no cluster of defenders around him. No wind blowing or rain falling. The ball hit Odunze squarely in the hands. He watched it all the way in, yet still bobbled and dropped it.

Those are the types of plays you have to have. There are no excuses, as Johnson said. NFL wide receivers are expected to make that catch 10 out of 10 times. Odunze continues to make routine plays look like a chore. Meanwhile, Kalif Raymond, a career reserve until this season, has caught 19 of 21 so far. The only explanation for this is on the mental side. Something is going on with Odunze that is messing with his concentration. This was never a problem in college. He made catches in tight coverage look routine.

Both players are under the microscope now.

Kyler Gordon probably won’t play this week despite practicing in full the moment he returned. That means he’ll only have 13 games left in the season to show Johnson that he still deserves a spot on this roster. While he has been gone, rookie Malik Muhammad has settled into the nickel spot quite nicely. The Bears no longer feel Gordon’s absence as much as they did last season. That alone should make him nervous. His contract won’t protect him starting next offseason. If he can’t produce, he’ll be cut.

Odunze should start worrying about his future, too. The last thing he wants is for Johnson to lose trust in him. The Bears won’t keep a player around that the head coach feels can’t deliver consistently. Contract considerations are about to come up for Odunze, too. This is when teams start talking about a possible extension. Right now, he hasn’t done nearly enough to justify any such deal. Time is running out to change that.

Baseball’s Laughingstock Just Swept Its Way Into the ALDS — And Made History Doing It

By
Mitchell Kaminski
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Sep 30, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; The Chicago White Sox celebrate in the clubhouse after a win against the Houston Astros of game two of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

It had been nearly 21 years since the Chicago White Sox last won a playoff series. On Wednesday, that drought came to an end in the same stadium where their last postseason series victory was completed during Game 4 of the 2005 World Series.

After three consecutive 100-loss seasons, the White Sox have gone from baseball’s laughingstock to one of its darlings. An endorsement from the Pope certainly helps, but Chicago’s 7-3 victory over the Houston Astros to punch its ticket to the ALDS has turned this team into one of the best stories in sports.

It was evident from the start of the AL Wild Card Series that this was not the White Sox of old. Despite their youth and inexperience, Chicago looked poised and composed, never flinching when the lights grew brightest and, despite a lack of depth in the starting rotation, managed to piece things together with bullpen games and openers. As a result the White Sox became the first team in MLB history to hold a lead after every inning of a multi-game postseason series

But perhaps the most impressive part of the White Sox’ sweep of the Astros was how they applied the lessons they learned throughout the regular season. Chicago’s offense limped into September, and that downward slide began with a road trip to Houston to open the month. The White Sox went 1-3 in that series, were outscored 15-10 and struck out 36 times — an average of nine per game.

After looking at how the Astros beat them during the regular season, White Sox hitting coach Derek Shomon placed an emphasis on taking more pitches and forcing the Astros to throw them strikes. In the first at-bat of the series, Sam Antonacci drew a walk to lead off Game 1.

It was the first of eight walks the White Sox drew in the series, including four in Game 2. But the more disciplined approach at the plate did more than simply create free passes; it also helped Chicago’s hitters capitalize when Houston’s ace, Hunter Brown,  gave them something to hit.

Brown entered Wednesday with a 6-0 record and a 2.39 ERA in six career starts against the White Sox. But, much like he did in Game 1, Sam Antonacci set the tone early, leading off with a double. Kyle Teel followed with an RBI single to bring him home, then Miguel Vargas reached on a throwing error. Andrew Benintendi made Houston pay, driving in both Teel and Vargas with the help of another throwing error from Astros outfielder Lucas Spence. Tristan Peters then capped off the inning with another RBI single to give the White Sox a 4-0 lead. 

But Houston refused to go away quietly, nearly erasing Chicago’s early lead with three solo home runs off White Sox starter Sean Burke. Still, two of the biggest keys to the series were capitalizing with runners in scoring position and keeping MVP frontrunner Yordan Alvarez in check. The White Sox passed both tests in the game’s most pivotal moment.

With Chicago clinging to a one-run lead in the fifth inning, Houston had runners on first and second with one out and Alvarez coming to the plate. Will Venable turned to left-hander Anthony Kay, calling on him for his first relief appearance of the season after spending the year primarily as an opener.

Kay quickly fell behind 3-0 in the count but battled back and got Alvarez to fly out to left field. But Kay wasn’t out of the woods yet. After walking Isaac Paredes, he found himself in bases loaded jam against Jose Altuve, a man with 119 postseason hits to his name. 

Kay needed just two pitches to escape. He opened the at-bat with a fastball before finishing Altuve with a changeup low in the zone, inducing a flyout and escaping the inning without allowing a run.

That sequence appeared to reignite the White Sox offense, which had gone hitless since the first inning. In the top of the sixth, Andrew Benintendi led off with a walk before being replaced by Luisangel Acuña as a pinch runner. Acuña immediately stole second, and Tristan Peters followed with another walk, setting the stage for a perfectly executed double steal.

Chase Meidroth opened his at-bat by squaring to bunt, drawing Houston’s third baseman in toward the grass. That left the corner infielder out of position when Acuña took off for third, allowing him to slide in safely without a throw one pitch later. More importantly, the double steal put two runners in scoring position, giving Chicago another opportunity to add crucial insurance runs.

Meidroth only needed a single, but the 25-year-old second baseman has a flair for the dramatic. He got a slider from Bryan Abreu and launched it 390 feet to left field for a three-run homer. Meidroth knew it was gone the moment he made contact, flipping his bat, pumping his fist and screaming as he rounded the bases, sending the White Sox dugout into a frenzy.

With the game firmly in hand, Venable turned to another starter, Erick Fedde, to slam the door. Fedde delivered, recording the final six outs to secure the 7-3 victory and complete the White Sox’ sweep of the Astros.

The game perfectly encapsulated the White Sox season. They found contributions up and down the roster, answered every challenge Houston threw at them and, when the moment demanded it, executed. Now another challenge awaits: a chance to settle unfinished business against the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS.

Dillon Thieneman Achieved An NFL First. He Got Jalen Hurts To Break Character

By
Erik Lambert
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dillon thieneman
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts goes into a rage after Dillon Thieneman intercepts Andy Dalton in the end zone.

Everybody felt that Dillon Thieneman had all the traits of a future stud in the NFL when the Chicago Bears drafted him 25th overall. They probably didn’t expect him to be this good so soon. Through three games, Theineman leads the Bears in tackles and passes defended. On Monday night, he grabbed his first career interception. It came in the first half with the Bears leading 7-0. The Philadelphia Eagles were in the middle of a drive that had gone 95 yards and was knocking on the door of the end zone.

There was one concern. Quarterback Jalen Hurts was on the sideline being examined for a concussion. He’d taken a fierce hit from linebacker D’Marco Jackson a couple of plays earlier. That forced backup Andy Dalton into the lineup. After Thieneman prevented a Saquon Barkley touchdown with a big tackle at the 2-yard line, it set up 3rd and 2. Dalton took the snap and looked to receiver Dontayvion Wicks in the back of the end zone. Thieneman read the play and cut in front of Wicks for the pick.

Dillon Thieneman authored the signature moment of the game.

Chicago took advantage of that turnover to go on a drive that ended in a field goal to make it 10-7. That would end up being the winning points. Philadelphia scored a touchdown right at the end of the half, but they were shut out in the second. The Bears rolled to a 27-7 victory. Of the many big plays they authored in that game, Thieneman’s interception felt like the biggest. Few understood that more than Hurts. Is it possible the Eagles’ quarterback sensed the danger?

According to reports, the quarterback was begging to go back into the game as the drive was in progress. However, his examination wasn’t complete. So he stood near the blue medical tent as Dalton threw the interception. It was then that the national audience got to see a side of Hurts they had never seen before: furious.

@espn

Tough timing 😬 #jalenhurts #eagles #nflfootball

♬ original sound – ESPN

Anybody who has covered the Eagles quarterback for long enough knows he’s notorious for being even-keeled and unemotional in games. His expression never changes. So, to get a reaction like that from him tells you how big the moment was. To know that Dillon Thieneman was the author makes it all the more tasty.

Hurts is in uncharted territory right now.

He’s enjoyed unbridled success with the Eagles since the moment he was drafted. They’ve reached two Super Bowls and won a Lombardi trophy along the way. During that time, he has beaten almost every team in the league. None has ever really been able to claim they have his number. That might be changing. This is now the second time in a row that the Bears have not only beaten him but also embarrassed him. He managed just 15 points in the meeting last year, with most of his stats coming in garbage time. This year, it was even worse. He barely cracked 150 yards with an interception.

Hurts hates to lose. Knowing it has now happened against the same team twice must be burning him up. Not that the Bears care. They went into Monday night intent on sending the league a message, and they succeeded. Much of the credit must go to Thieneman, who was stellar all game long. If this trend holds for the entire season, this team may have finally found a star.

Some Unfortunate Braxton Jones News May Impact The Bears’ QB Decision

By
Erik Lambert
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braxton jones
Bears left tackle Braxton Jones hits the Soldier Field turf holding his knee during a play against Philadelphia.

The Chicago Bears didn’t escape that big win over Philadelphia unscathed. Head coach Ben Johnson provided an unfortunate update on Braxton Jones. The Bears’ left tackle, who’s played really well over the past three weeks, left the game with a knee injury. He is now considered week-to-week, a clear signal that he will not play this Sunday against the New York Jets. This brings the status of Ozzy Trapilo directly into focus. While the former 2nd round pick has been back practicing since last week, Johnson refused to say whether he is ready to return.

If not, then that means Theo Benedet is in line to get the start this weekend. That is problematic. While the former undrafted free agent has proven to be a quality presence in the running game, the same can’t be said in pass protection. He allowed 26 pressures in just 334 snaps last season. When he came in to replace Jones on Monday night, he allowed 3 pressures in just 17 snaps. You never want to say someone is a liability, but Benedet being in the lineup may complicate things.

No Braxton Jones may influence what the Bears do at quarterback.

If Johnson feels the protection from Benedet won’t be reliable, he may decide the team needs one of two things. Either he’ll need a quarterback who can get the ball out quickly, or one who can move around to avoid pressure. Given how he thinks, one would bet it’s more the former. That means Case Keenum is likely to get his second straight start. He did a good job with the offense even after Jones went down. So the Bears already have proof of concept. He understands how to throw the ball on time and in rhythm.

That said, he is not a move. If the team isn’t confident the receiver can get open consistently against New York’s man-heavy coverage, then they need a quarterback that can buy some time with his legs. Tyson Bagent has the advantage in that department. He isn’t Caleb Williams by any means, but he’s shown enough mobility to get out of immediate trouble. Johnson has expressed the utmost confidence in him at every opportunity. It would make logical sense to slot him into the lineup if they don’t trust the protection.

One has to feel bad for Jones.

He did everything he possibly could to get himself ready for this season. It was his last real opportunity to show not just the Bears but other teams that he could be a reliable left tackle. Blocking skill was never the concern with him. It was health. He just couldn’t stay on the field for a full season. First, it was a neck issue, then a broken leg, and last year it was a knee. Seeing him go down like that after such a promising first few weeks was depressing. The guy works so hard. He doesn’t deserve that kind of bad luck.

Alas, the NFL isn’t known for being merciful. It can be cruel. The future is uncertain for Braxton Jones. Still, his contributions to the team’s 2-1 start should not be forgotten. Trapilo is nearing his return. If not this week, you can probably expect him back against the Packers. Jones did what he was asked to do. Hold things down long enough for him to return. This may not have been in the plan, but it was enough.

Craig Counsell Makes A Change to Game 2 Lineup for the Chicago Cubs

By
Aldo Soto
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Sep 25, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw (6) hits a single against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

After Michael King shut out the Chicago Cubs in Game 1, Craig Counsell made one change to the starting lineup for Game 2 on Wednesday night. Alex Bregman is back at DH, but this time rookie Pedro Ramirez won’t start at third base. Instead, Counsell is going to Matt Shaw at the hot corner as the Cubs face elimination at Petco Park.

Ramirez, like most of the Cubs lineup on Tuesday, looked bad against the Padres. However, the rookie infielder has been struggling since the start of September, batting .203 in the final month of the regular season. His rookie campaign ended with poor numbers against right-handed pitching, as Ramirez recorded a slash line of .237/.298/.364 versus righties.

As for Shaw, he’s done most of his damage throughout his young career facing left-handed pitchers. In 2026, Shaw was limited to 104 plate appearances vs. right-handed pitchers, and he struggled, going 18-for-90, posting a 79 wRC+ with a slash line of .200/.284/.356 and three home runs. He returned from the injured list in late August, and since then the right-handed batter has posted a .209/.340/.395 slash line in 55 plate appearances. That includes going 3-for-21 against righties.

Shaw is 1-for-4 in his career against Nick Pivetta, the Padres’ Game 2 starter. Other than the switch at third base, the Cubs lineup is the same as Tuesday night.

Kevin Gausman is starting on the mound for the Cubs, but he’s not feeling 100% healthy after banging up his left shoulder last week at Wrigley Field against the Miami Marlins. It’ll be all hands on deck for the Cubs, who are trying to overcome enormous odds in this best-of-three series. Teams who win Game 1 of the Wild Card since 2022 are 15-1 in the opening round of the postseason.

Chicago Cubs Game 2 Starter Kevin Gausman Still Doesn’t Feel 100% Healthy

By
Aldo Soto
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The Chicago Cubs have announced that right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman will start Game 2 against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night. A week ago, the veteran pitcher injured his left shoulder at Wrigley Field when he made a great play to record an out at third base, but unfortunately, he landed awkwardly and banged up his non-throwing shoulder.

It wasn’t a guarantee that Gausman would be added to the Cubs’ playoff roster after his bullpen session on Sunday, but it still didn’t clear him of discomfort. Yet he made the 26-man roster and will gut it out for as long as he can. It turns out Gausman still doesn’t feel close to 100% as he prepares for tonight’s elimination game in San Diego.

Via the Chicago Tribune.

“We’re going to find out…It feels all right, good enough to go out there and give it everything I got. So that’s what I’m going to do.”

“The weird thing is I’ve had shoulder injuries before, but it’s always been the right one, so this one’s been a little different,” Gausman said. “Trying to feel out the movements and what I’m maybe going to have to change a little bit out there to be able to do what I want to do. … It’s been a little crazy.”

So, you should expect the Cubs to have another starter ready to come in from the bullpen at any point if Gausman can’t go long, whether because of early struggles or shoulder issues. There’s a good chance that Craig Counsell turns to Clay Holmes or David Peterson at some point tonight regardless, as the Cubs face elimination against the Padres.

Teams that have lost Game 1 of a Wild Card Series since the format changed to a best-of-three series in 2022 are 1-15.

Kevin Gausman Awkward Injury

Right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman made an incredible play, lunging toward Heriberto Hernández, who tried to reach third base after an infield single by Griffin Conine. Michael Busch fired to Gausman, who raced to third as the Cubs infield left the base uncovered.

Gausman recorded the out, but unfortunately banged up his left shoulder against the Miami Marlins less than a week before the playoffs.

After the game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed that something went wrong in Gausman’s left shoulder. For now, the team can only treat the discomfort and see how Gausman feels in a few days.

Gausman spoke to reporters and said that he had previously dislocated his left shoulder while he played high school baseball. This incident against the Marlins wasn’t the same type of injury, but the pitcher did say he “banged it pretty good.”

Via MLB.com.

“Felt fine until I stood up to check the other runner, and it kind of felt like the left shoulder was pretty weak at that point. It still feels pretty weak, but we’ll just kind of see how it feels tomorrow, get some treatment, and hopefully it’s just a couple-day thing.” -Kevin Gausman

The right-hander struck out seven batters in 5.2 innings. He walked one, allowed six hits, and gave up one costly mistake to Kyle Stowers, who hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning. Still, it was another solid start by Gausman, who has now allowed two or fewer runs in his last three starts at Wrigley Field.

The Ominous Stat Looming Over the Chicago Cubs Elimination Game vs. the San Diego Padres

By
Aldo Soto
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Sep 29, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman (3) reacts after striking out during the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Entering the 2026 playoffs, 15 of the 16 Game 1 winners in the Wild Card round since 2022 have advanced to the Division Series. The Chicago Cubs are now facing elimination in their best-of-three series against the San Diego Padres after losing 8-0 in Tuesday night’s opener.

Not only did the Cubs lose the first game, but the Padres also kept their elite relief pitchers rested as starting pitcher Michael King shut down the Cubs’ offense for seven innings. The righty only allowed a single to Nico Hoerner in the seventh inning and three walks, while striking out eight batters.

Meanwhile, Matthew Boyd gave up a home run on the first pitch he threw to Fernando Tatis Jr., and the Cubs were down 2-0 after four pitches in the bottom of the fourth, following Manny Machado’s solo home run. Now, the Cubs are in survival mode heading into Game 2 that will feature a pitching matchup of Kevin Gausman vs. Nick Pivetta.

The Padres are obviously in a great spot as they won’t be the desperate ones; however, they could also be ultra-aggressive with their bullpen if they grab an early lead. After King pitched seven shutout innings, San Diego only needed 11 pitches from Yuki Matsui and got one inning from Joe Musgrove, who hasn’t pitched since 2024. That means Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam, Bradgley Rodriguez, and David Morgan will be ready to get unleashed in Game 2, fully rested.

That’s why winning the first game of the Wild Card Series since the format changed to a best-of-three round in 2022 has been such a big deal. Not only can the winner of Game 1 play more aggressively in Game 2 with a lead, but even if they lose, the team that ties the series has pretty much exhausted its top relievers by the time it reaches Game 3. In this case, the Cubs are in even worse shape, since the Padres didn’t have to use any of their best relievers in the blowout win.

If you’re the Cubs, you have to think that all hands are on deck. That means Clay Holmes and David Peterson, along with their best relievers, will be used if needed, which would put them in a spot where they’ll have to piece together their pitching staff in a deciding Game 3.

As for the pitching matchups, Gausman is still dealing with some discomfort in his left shoulder. He may go four innings at best on Wednesday. No idea what he can provide while he deals with the shoulder issue. As for Pivetta, he came off the injured list in early September after missing five months with a right elbow flexor strain. The right-hander started four games down the stretch and was great, posting a 1.45 ERA with 18 strikeouts and two walks in 18.2 innings.

Last year, Pivetta struck out nine in five innings, but took the loss after allowing two solo home runs to Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly en route to a 3-1 Cubs win in Game 1 of the 2025 Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field.

Former White Sox Pitcher Takes Shot at Astros Fans

By
Mitchell Kaminski
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Sep 29, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Bennett Sousa (62) throws a pitch in the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Former White Sox pitcher Bennett Sousa wasn’t exactly impressed by the atmosphere at Daikin Park on Tuesday afternoon as the Astros hosted Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series.

The Chicago White Sox cruised to a convincing 6-3 victory in Game 1, outhitting the Astros 11-6. But only 34,011 fans were in attendance, a relatively light crowd for a postseason game. And the atmosphere reflected it.

The environment lacked the energy typically associated with October baseball. When Astros fans did make their presence felt, it was often through boos. According to Chandler Rome of The New York Times, that “incensed” members of the Astros clubhouse, who felt the home-field environment they had scratched and clawed for throughout the regular season had become “apathetic and antagonistic.”

Sousa let his thoughts be known postgame, telling the New York Times: 

“The fans here are definitely spoiled with a lot of ALCS and World Series runs, and we have to earn that right to bring this team back to that position…”That being said, when this team was in their first series 10 years ago, Minute Maid Park was probably packed. It makes a big difference. If we were in Chicago, it’d probably be loud as shit.”  

Sousa apologized to fans on Wednesday for his comments, but he wasn’t necessarily wrong in his assessment. While this year’s Astros don’t quite measure up to the teams that reached the postseason 10 times, won eight division titles and captured two World Series over an 11-season span, the atmosphere at Daikin Park felt more like a regular-season game than a playoff opener.

Sousa is also familiar with the passion of White Sox fans, having spent his lone season with Chicago in 2022, a year after the team won the AL Central and hosted multiple playoff games. White Sox fans have been desperate for another taste of October baseball ever since, and had Chicago not fallen one game short of the AL Central title this season, there’s no doubt Rate Field would have been rocking for Game 1 of the ALDS.

While much of the frustration from Astros fans was directed at the team’s management, the sparse crowd also raised questions about the expectations surrounding a franchise that has enjoyed so much sustained success. White Sox fans have had their own reasons for being frustrated with ownership, particularly Jerry Reinsdorf, but when Chicago started winning this season, the “sell the team” chants that had routinely echoed through the ballpark disappeared.

Winning is hard, and sustained success should not be taken for granted. If the White Sox take care of business and win their first playoff series since 2005, South Siders will have the chance to show Houston what a postseason atmosphere at Rate Field can look like in the ALDS.

AL Wild Card Game Two Preview: Can The White Sox Pull It Off?

By
Craig Rowland
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Sep 29, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; An overall view of the interior of Daikin Park before game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The White Sox won the battle of the bullpens in game one of the AL Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros, as Hagen Smith delivered the best start of his young major league career. The White Sox had many chances to put the game out of reach and couldn’t do it, but they were still able to pull off the win by three runs.

Now, as we head into game two this afternoon, Sean Burke will take the mound with the chance to send the White Sox to the divisional series, where they would play the Cleveland Guardians. This will be no easy task, as the Astros will send their ace Hunter Brown to counter Burke.

The two faced off earlier this season, as back on July 25th, Burke threw 6 innings, giving up just two runs, while Brown threw seven scoreless innings, striking out seven. The Astros would take that game by a final score of 4-1.

Brown gave up just two hits to a White Sox lineup that featured a majority of the playoff roster, minus Kyle Teel. Tristan Peters and Munetaka Murakami were the only two White Sox to get a hit off of Brown that game. The White Sox will need to step up against Brown tonight if they want a chance to clinch it. If they put in at-bats like yesterday, they will certainly have a fighting chance.

Sean Burke also threw 5.2 scoreless innings against Houston on September 1st. In total, he’s thrown 11.2 innings against the Astros, giving up just two runs. If anyone on the White Sox has had success against the Houston lineup, it’s Burke.

Burke also seems to be motivated, as he dropped a pretty insane quote. From James Fegan of the Chicago Sun Times, Burke said “This is my life. No family—no girl, no kids. This is all I do.” If that doesn’t fire you up for today’s game, I don’t know what will.

The White Sox are certainly going to need a long outing from Burke tonight, as the White Sox used five pitchers in yesterday’s win. At this point, Grant Taylor, Hagen Smith, and likely David Sandlin are all unavailable to pitch today. Jordan Hicks only threw 17 pitches and Sean Newcomb only threw 19, so they could be available if needed.

Outside of Burke, that leaves Erick Fedde, Huascar Brazoban, Noah Schultz, and Bryan Hudson as the relievers likely to see some innings today. It is unclear what the plan is for Davis Martin and Anthony Kay, as they could be candidates to start game three if necessary.

The White Sox have liked to use lefties to try and neutralize Yordan Alvarez, so don’t be surprised if you see Kay come in to get an out or two.

I would imagine we see the White Sox run a similar lineup from yesterday, as they were able to get a lot of guys on base. However, if the White Sox want to go deep into the playoffs, they will need to improve their situational hitting.

Overall, the Astros have a top-heavy lineup. If they can limit the damage from the top 5 hitters and not get caught sleeping on the other guys, they will have a chance to win this game. Most importantly, the White Sox need to put in good at-bats against Hunter Brown and not try and do too much. The Astros bullpen is taxed after throwing 8 arms out there yesterday, so they need to keep eating into their ‘pen.

Brown has put up the worst BB/9 of his career this year, so the White Sox need to be aware of that and make him get deep into the count. If they can get runners on, one clutch hit can change the outcome of the game.

The White Sox are playing with “house money” this year as Chris Getz likes to say. However, they have a chance to make some noise if they can pull off one of these next two games, and if they can play like yesterday, I don’t see a reason why they can’t clinch it today.

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