MLB Baseball
2026-09-29 - Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : MLB Playoff Wild Card Game 1
Tuesday 29th September 2026 - Scheduled 5pm EST
10pm (British Time)
Preview
The American League West Champions are at least entering the Playoffs without being the first team with a losing record to do that, although the Houston Astros are the first without a winning record. That does not mean anything now and the Astros have finished with the Number 3 Seed and that means being able to host this Wild Card Series.
They have finished with fewer wins than the Chicago White Sox, but Houston earned the right to host the Series as Divisional Winners.
It has been a really good season for the White Sox who have surpassed all expectations and put a bit of speed into the rebuild that saw them slip to the basement of the League before turning things around. Not many would have tipped up this Chicago team in making the post-season in 2026, but the White Sox came very close to winning the American League Central and there is going to be plenty of motivation in the camp to try and take this Playoff run as long as possible.
Both teams had been chasing goals at the end of the regular season and that may have impacted the pitching rotation for the Wild Card Series. It does mean that Game 1 will be played under a bullpen approach with both the Astros and White Sox expected to be going with openers rather than asking the starting pitcher to get through the opposition batting lineup multiple times.
The Astros have AJ Blubaugh opening having made sixty-four appearances for the team this season, although none of those have been in this role. AJ Blubaugh had a couple of difficult outings in recent appearances, but he will take confidence from having thrown 4 Innings against the White Sox without giving up a single run.
It is the first time AJ Blubaugh will be pitching in the Playoff environment and he has been operating with a 10.80 ERA in his last five appearances on the mound.
Chicago will counter by handing the ball to Hagen Smith to open and the rookie has shown plenty of confidence on the mound in his eighteen appearances this season. Only one of those appearances has been in a starting role, but Hagen Smith was a high Draft Pick and the White Sox will be confident the young pitcher can at least help the team make a positive start to the return to the post-season.
Hagen Smith has had to absorb the decision loss in two of his last five appearances for the Chicago White Sox, but the most recent of those losses came in an outing where Smith allowed a single run in 2 Innings thrown.
The Houston Astros have won four of the six games played between these opponents this season, including winning two of three when hosting earlier this month.
Prediction
Both of these teams have been in Playoff mode over the last several days of the Major League Baseball regular season and that has impacted the starting pitching rotation.
Houston will be just glad to be involved in the Playoffs considering they are the first team to enter the Major League post-season without a winning record. However, the team have shown they can play the best Baseball under trying conditions and that will give the Astros confidence.
The Chicago White Sox will not be lacking in that department and they have had the superior bullpen, which could be key in a game where both teams are using openers.
Each batting lineup will feel they have a difference maker, but the Chicago White Sox may have a narrow edge and they can win Game 1 on the road as the underdog.
The Pick :
Houston Astros 4-5 Chicago White Sox
