
September 24th, 2026
The Chicago White Sox became the first team to reach the playoffs right after consecutive 100-loss seasons, securing at least one of the three AL wild-card spots by defeating the Kansas City Royals 9-1 on Thursday.
They could yet clinch the AL Central.
The White Sox entered the day a single game adrift of the Cleveland Guardians.
Chicago has three games remaining at home against the last-place Colorado Rockies, while the Guardians conclude their series in Boston on Thursday night before flying to Kansas City, where they coincidentally have three left against the Royals.
The White Sox's win mathematically eliminated Baltimore from postseason contention.
Kyle Teel homered and reached base five times, while five different White Sox players drove in runs.
David Sandlin (3-2) conceded one run on five hits across six innings against the very club that had drafted him out of Oklahoma four years earlier.
Randy Dobnak (3-5) surrendered six runs — four of them earned — for Kansas City.
He additionally committed two errors while retiring merely four batters.
Salvador Perez homered for the Royals, reaching the 20-home-run mark in a season for a club-record 10th time.
The first couple of innings summed up what the White Sox have done so masterfully this season: they capitalised on mistakes.
Sam Antonacci opened the scoring with a single; Teel reached base on a bunt when Dobnak's throw sailed wide of first, and Miguel Vargas promptly followed with an RBI single.
Andrew Benintendi then contributed a sacrifice fly, and after Vargas stole second to move into scoring position, Tristan Peters drove him home with yet another single, extending the lead to 3-0.
Further chaos unfolded in the second inning: Braden Montgomery led off with a single, Dobnak issued a walk to Antonacci, and the right-hander then threw to no one covering first base, committing his second error of the game.
This enabled Montgomery to score with ease from second.
By the time Dobnak plunked Teel and Vargas added another RBI single, the champagne was probably already on ice in the clubhouse.
The White Sox improved to 82-77, a franchise record for wins by a club coming off three consecutive 100-loss seasons.
They head home having won four of their last five, with their first playoff berth since 2021 secured and a division title still within their grasp.
The White Sox conclude their regular season against the Rockies, with RHP Sean Burke (10-7, 3.40 ERA) slated to take the mound on Friday night.
The Royals are poised to play host to the Guardians on Friday night, with left-hander Noah Cameron (9-8, 3.92) slated to take the mound.
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September 24th, 2026

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