Burke vs Gavin Williams in Game 5 The White Sox Try to Close Out the Guardians in Cleveland

White Sox vs Guardians at a glance

The Chicago White Sox (84-78) visit the Cleveland Guardians (85-77, AL Central champions) in the deciding Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at 8 PM ET (5 PM PT) at Progressive Field, on TBS and truTV. The series is tied 2-2: Chicago won the first two in Cleveland, Cleveland won the next two in Chicago. Sean Burke is expected to start for Chicago against Gavin Williams, who threw about 18 pitches in relief in Game 4. The winner plays Tampa Bay in the ALCS starting Monday.

First pitch and TV

Saturday, Oct. 10, 8 PM ET, 5 PM PT. TBS and truTV.

Ballpark

Progressive Field, Cleveland. Outdoor.

The series

White Sox 3-0 and 4-3 in Cleveland, Guardians 9-3 and 9-5 in Chicago.

Starters

Expected Sean Burke for Chicago: 11-7, 3.34 ERA, 185 strikeouts; 5.1 innings and one run in Game 2. Expected Gavin Williams for Cleveland: 14-8, 3.76 ERA, 248 strikeouts; 11 strikeouts in Game 2. CBS calls Cleveland’s choice unsettled and names Parker Messick, Tanner Bibee and Foster Griffin as alternatives.

The price

No sportsbook line was posted at our read. Kalshi had Cleveland at 55¢ bid, 57¢ ask and Chicago at 43¢, 45¢, read 11:55 PM PT Thursday.

Out

Out Cleveland 1B Rhys Hoskins (lower back, off the ALDS roster), RHP Colin Holderman (wrist). Chicago RHP Luis Castillo (shoulder), C Joey Bart (hand).

The matchup that decides it

The late innings: Chicago’s bullpen gave away a 4-3 lead in Game 4, and Cleveland’s top two relievers have pitched in all four games.

The storylines

Cleveland is chasing a rare comeback

Only 10 teams have rallied from 0-2 to win a best-of-five, and the 2015 Blue Jays are the only one to lose twice at home, win twice on the road and close it out at home (CBS Sports).

Williams says he is ready

After throwing in relief in Game 4: “I’m good to go. It doesn’t matter.” (Gavin Williams to WKYC, via CBS Sports)

A White Sox quirk

Chicago has not clinched a postseason series at home since the 1906 World Series but is 5-0 in potential road clinchers, 2020 aside (CBS Sports). Game 5 is on the road.

Cleveland left Hoskins off

The Guardians chose a 12th pitcher over Rhys Hoskins partly because Chicago carries five left-handed relievers (MLB.com).

Sources: CBS Sports, MLB.com, Chicago Sun-Times.

White Sox vs Guardians injury report

From MLB.com’s ALDS roster story (Oct. 3) and Bleacher Nation’s injury report (Oct. 7), read Oct. 9. Lineups come out on game day.

How the series got here

Game 1, Oct. 3, in Cleveland: White Sox 3, Guardians 0

Munetaka Murakami hit a two-run homer off Parker Messick in the fourth. Grant Taylor threw four scoreless innings with six strikeouts, and five Chicago pitchers combined on a three-hitter.

Game 2, Oct. 5, in Cleveland: White Sox 4, Guardians 3

Burke allowed one run in 5.1 innings; Braden Montgomery hit a two-run double. Williams struck out 11 in the loss.

Game 3, Oct. 7, in Chicago: Guardians 9, White Sox 3

Jo Adell’s bases-clearing triple in the third turned it.

Game 4, Oct. 8, in Chicago: Guardians 9, White Sox 5

Chicago led 4-3 after five. Cleveland’s big sixth came off Anthony Kay and Taylor, who faced six batters and retired none. José Ramírez homered and drove in three.

Chicago swept Houston in the Wild Card Series and won the season series 7-6. Cleveland won 24 of its final 34 games (Sun-Times).

Where White Sox vs Guardians gets decided

Burke against the Cleveland lineup

Cleveland hit .115 in the two games in Cleveland (7 for 61), then scored 18 runs in Chicago.

Why it matters: Burke allowed one hit in 5.1 innings in Game 2, the start Chicago needs again.

Williams’ arm after relief work

He led the league with 248 strikeouts and struck out 11 in Game 2, but threw about 18 pitches two days before Game 5.

Why it matters: a short start pushes innings onto a bullpen whose top two arms have pitched every game.

Grant Taylor in the late innings

Four scoreless innings in Game 1; six batters and no outs in Game 4.

Why it matters: Chicago’s bullpen has been the swing piece of the series.

Murakami and the Chicago power

The White Sox hit 211 homers this season to Cleveland’s 162.

Why it matters: Game 1 turned on one Murakami swing; Cleveland hit its first two postseason homers only in Game 4.

Ramírez and Adell with men on

Adell has two triples and drove in five runs across Games 3 and 4.

Why it matters: Cleveland went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position in Games 1 and 2, then 5 for 17 in Game 3 (MLB.com).

Kalshi against the books

Kalshi had Cleveland at 55¢ to sell and 57¢ to buy at 11:55 PM PT Thursday: the market gives the Guardians about a 56% chance at home. Sports Betting Dime converts that to Cleveland −150, Chicago +133. No sportsbook line or total was posted at our read.

Run totals have climbed every game: 3, 7, 12, 14. The Cleveland starter announcement is the news most likely to move the price; if Williams gives way to Messick (12-9, 2.56 ERA), expect a move.