Our Chicago White Sox vs Houston Astros preview covers the odds, run line, total, probable pitchers, first pitch time, TV channel and where to watch for Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The No. 6-seeded Chicago White Sox (84-78) visit the No. 3-seeded Houston Astros (81-81) at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, to open the best-of-three series. First pitch is 5:00 PM ET (4:00 PM CT). TV: Peacock / NBCSN.
Wild Card storyline: The AL West champion Astros (81-81) are the AL’s No. 3 seed. They clinched the division on the final day, beating the Athletics while Texas lost. The White Sox (84-78) are the No. 6 seed, one game behind Cleveland in the AL Central. The probable pitchers are Hagen Smith (3-3, 1.29) for the White Sox and AJ Blubaugh (5-3, 3.66) for the Astros. DraftKings lists the Astros at -123 on the moneyline and the White Sox at +102, with the total at 8.
Chicago White Sox vs Houston Astros Odds, Run Line & Game Info
| Matchup | Chicago White Sox @ Houston Astros |
|---|---|
| Series | AL Wild Card Series, Game 1 (best-of-three, all games at Daikin Park) |
| Seeds | Chicago White Sox No. 6 | Houston Astros No. 3 (AL) |
| 2026 Records | Chicago White Sox 84-78 | Houston Astros 81-81 |
| Run Line | CHW +1.5 (-194) | HOU -1.5 (+159) |
| Moneyline | Chicago White Sox: +102 | Houston Astros: -123 |
| Total | O/U 8 (o-117 / u-103) |
| Venue | Daikin Park (Houston, Texas) |
| Date / Time | Tuesday, September 29, 2026 — 5:00 PM ET |
| TV / How to Watch | Peacock / NBCSN |
| Probable Pitchers | Chicago White Sox: Hagen Smith (3-3, 1.29) | Houston Astros: AJ Blubaugh (5-3, 3.66) |
| Managers | Chicago White Sox: Will Venable | Houston Astros: Joe Espada |
| 2026 Season Series | Astros won the 2026 season series 5-2 |
Odds via DraftKings (through ESPN) as of Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, ~7:25 PM PT. Opening line: Astros -146 / White Sox +121, total 8 (DraftKings open; SI, Sept. 27). Lines move, so check your sportsbook before first pitch. Official Wild Card Series rosters are due Tuesday morning.
White Sox vs Astros Wild Card Series Context
Format: The AL Wild Card Series is a best-of-three, and all three games are at Daikin Park, home of the higher-seeded Astros. Game 1 is Tuesday at 5:00 PM ET, Game 2 is Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 5:00 PM ET, and Game 3, if necessary, is Thursday, Oct. 1 (time TBD). Games 1 and 2 are on Peacock and NBCSN. The winner advances to the ALDS against the No. 2-seeded Cleveland Guardians.
Head-to-head: Houston went 5-2 against Chicago in 2026. The Astros took two of three at Rate Field in July, then won three of four at Daikin Park in a series that spanned late August into early September (MLB.com).
Postseason history: This is the teams’ third postseason meeting and first in the Wild Card Series. Chicago swept Houston in the 2005 World Series, and Houston beat Chicago in four games in the 2021 ALDS (NBC Sports, MLB.com). The Astros have lost seven straight home playoff games dating to 2023 (MLB.com).
Chicago White Sox Preview: Wild Card Game 1
Season in review: Under manager Will Venable, the White Sox (84-78) led the AL Central for much of the season before settling for the final AL wild card (MLB.com). It is Chicago’s first postseason trip since 2021. Per NBC Sports, the White Sox are only the fourth team in MLB history to make the playoffs the season after losing 100 games. Chicago went 7-3 over its last 10 games but just 36-45 on the road.
Key numbers: Chicago scored 776 runs and allowed 720. The team hit .236 with a .726 OPS and 211 home runs, third in the AL, and posted a 4.12 ERA (MLB Stats API, NBC Sports). All-Star rookie Munetaka Murakami hit 35 homers. Miguel Vargas added 33 homers, 31 doubles, 22 steals, 101 walks and 93 RBIs. Both Murakami (.154) and Colson Montgomery (.158) have slumped since Aug. 1 (MLB.com).
Injuries: 2B Chase Meidroth (left hamstring) is expected to play Tuesday. Venable said he may not be 100% (Chicago Sun-Times). ESPN lists C Joey Bart (hand fracture, 10-day IL), Prelander Berroa and Tanner Murray (60-day IL), and C Jake Rogers (paternity).
Houston Astros Preview: Wild Card Game 1
Season in review: Joe Espada’s Astros came back from an early-season deficit to win their eighth AL West title in 10 seasons. They are back in the playoffs after missing them in 2025 (MLB.com). Houston went 81-81, including 39-42 at home. The Astros scored 734 runs and allowed 766. The team hit .242 with a .732 OPS and 226 homers and posted a 4.45 ERA (MLB Stats API).
Key players: DH Yordan Alvarez won the AL batting title with a .316/.432/.601 slash line, 42 homers, 106 RBIs and 109 walks, and he led the majors in OPS (NBC Sports, MLB.com). Against the White Sox this year he went 4-for-20, and Chicago walked him at a 27.6% rate (Chicago Sun-Times). Jeremy Peña hit .353 with five homers over the final 12 games. Closer Josh Hader finished with a 1.01 ERA and went 26-for-26 in save chances (MLB.com).
Injuries: Center fielders Daulton Varsho (wrist) and Brice Matthews (knee) went on the IL last week and are unavailable for this series. 3B Isaac Paredes fouled a ball off his knee Saturday. He played Sunday, but Houston called up Raynel Delgado for infield coverage (MLB.com). ESPN also lists Mike Burrows (elbow, 60-day IL), Steven Okert (hamstring) and Enyel De Los Santos (knee).
Starting Pitchers: Hagen Smith vs AJ Blubaugh (Bullpen Games)
White Sox: Hagen Smith (LHP, 3-3, 1.29 ERA) — 18 appearances (one start), 28.0 IP, 41 strikeouts, 16 walks, 0.96 WHIP (MLB Stats API). Venable confirmed a bullpen game. The rookie lefty, the No. 5 overall pick two years ago, has never pitched more than three innings in a game. He has held left-handed hitters to a .194/.256/.278 line (Chicago Sun-Times). The White Sox used an opener or bullpen game an MLB-leading 31 times this season. Sean Burke is likely lined up for Game 2 (MLB.com), and Grant Taylor (2.25 ERA, 106 K in 84 IP), Sean Newcomb, Bryan Hudson and Noah Schultz are among the bullpen options.
Astros: AJ Blubaugh (RHP, 5-3, 3.66 ERA) — 64 relief appearances, 96.0 IP, 94 strikeouts, 42 walks, 1.23 WHIP (MLB Stats API). Houston is also going with a bullpen game. Blubaugh led all relievers in innings and had an MLB-high 27 relief outings of two-plus innings. He threw four scoreless innings against the White Sox in three appearances this year (MLB.com). Hunter Brown starts Game 2 on normal rest (CBS/RotoWire). Setup man Bryan Abreu and Hader close out the bullpen.
How to Watch Chicago White Sox vs Houston Astros – Wild Card Game 1
Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
First pitch: 5:00 PM ET (4:00 PM CT)
Venue: Daikin Park, Houston, Texas
TV / Streaming: Peacock and NBCSN (Tom McCarthy with Steve Stone and Geoff Blum, reporter Britney Eurton; Adam Ottavino on “Inside the Pitch”). SAP on Peacock. ESPN Radio has national radio coverage.
Game 2 is Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 5:00 PM ET, and Game 3, if necessary, is Thursday, Oct. 1. Check the run line, moneyline and total above against your sportsbook before the September 29, 2026 first pitch, and look for official rosters and lineups closer to game time.