White Sox clinch first playoff berth since 2021

Why it matters: The Sox are returning to the postseason for the first time since 2021 — and just the fourth since winning the 2005 World Series.

Zoom in: The Sox endured three straight 100-loss seasons before 2026. Still rebuilding, their young core surprised baseball and spent much of the season atop the AL Central.

• They've faltered down the stretch, surrendering the division lead to the Guardians.

Yes, but: There's still a chance to get it back, with a few games remaining and the Sox owning the season tiebreaker.

The intrigue: Chicago winning the AL Central would secure it the No. 2 seed, a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the best-of-five AL Division Series.

• If the Sox remain a Wild Card team, they'll open the playoffs on the road. The postseason begins Tuesday.

By the numbers: Chicago's stunning turnaround has been powered by their young bats. They're the only team in baseball with three 30-home-run hitters this season: Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery.

• It's only the fourth time in franchise history with three 30-homer hitters, joining the 2004, 2006 and 2008 teams.
• The pitching staff — most notably Sean Burke, Davis Martin and rookie Hagen Smith — has also outperformed preseason expectations.

Wild stat: No bullpen in baseball has worked harder. Sox relievers have thrown an MLB-high in innings with over 730, about 35 more than the next-closest team, while still posting a top-10 ERA.

What's next: The Sox finish the regular season with three crucial games at home against the lowly Rockies, while the Guardians head to Kansas City.

The bottom line: South Side, stand up. The White Sox are back in the playoffs.