Entering their ALDS matchup, the key battle between the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox was destined to pit the vaunted Astros lineup against a dominant White Sox rotation.
Chicago’s pitching staff led the majors in strikeout rate. Houston’s hitters struck out less than any other team’s, and — not all that coincidentally — also boasted the best overall offense. It shaped up as an unstoppable force vs. immovable object situation, but through two games, the unstoppable force that is the Astros’ lineup has clearly advanced.
Houston’s ability to repeatedly put the ball in play has put pressure on the White Sox and now pushed them to the brink of elimination.