Sean Newcomb will be opener in Game 3 of ALDS

No surprise here. Messick has an opportunity to help the Guardians force a winner-take-all Game 5 showdown in Cleveland later this week. The 25-year-old southpaw allowed two runs over 4 1/3 innings during Game 1 of the series. This will be the most important outing of his young career.

Ramírez helped Cleveland stave off elimination at Rate Field with a multi-hit performance after going hitless in six at-bats through the first two games of the best-of-five series. The 34-year-old franchise cornerstone snapped out of his brief postseason funk by scalding a 106.5-mph double off White Sox rookie Noah Schultz in the fifth inning. He swiped second base and crossed the plate thanks to a brilliant slide on a fielder’s choice later in the frame. He extended Cleveland’s lead by supplying a pair of key insurance runs with a triple down the left-field line with two outs in the eighth inning. He also made a phenomenal defensive play at the hot corner to take away a potential bases-loaded hit from Miguel Vargas in the sixth inning. The Guardians need one more victory in Game 4 on Thursday evening to keep their season alive and send it back to Cleveland for a winner-take-all Game 5 on Saturday.

Vargas had the best opportunity to put Chicago back in front, and punch their ticket to an improbable ALCS appearance, when he lined out to Cleveland’s franchise cornerstone José Ramírez with the bases loaded to end the sixth inning. The White Sox still have an opportunity to close out the best-of-five series during a Game 4 showdown at home on Thursday evening.

Adell put Cleveland in front by rocketing a bases-clearing double into the right-field corner against White Sox rookie sensation Hagen Smith with two outs in the third inning. It was the big knock that helped turn the tide for the Guardians in a must-win affair on the road in Chicago to keep their postseason hopes alive.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt wasn’t taking any chances in a must-win affair at Rate Field in Chicago, summoning Smith to protect a four-run advantage in the eighth inning. He needed just eight pitches to fire a perfect eighth before coming back out to work a flawless final frame. He struck out five of the six batters he faced. Smith hasn’t allowed a run in four postseason innings after not allowing a run over his final 15 regular-season innings dating back to August 24.

Making his first appearance in nearly two weeks, Griffin notched seven of the nine outs by strikeout and allowed just three baserunners after entering the contest with two outs in the opening frame following hard-throwing opener Daniel Espino. He generated eight swinging strikes and threw 39 of 53 pitches for strikes in the abbreviated relief outing. He’ll presumably be available to pitch in the final two games of the best-of-five series, provided that Cleveland continues to stave off elimination.

Schultz was one of seven different pitchers to toe the rubber for Chicago in this one. He was the only one to face more than seven batters. The lone run against him came in the fifth when José Ramírez crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice after a double and stolen base put him on third base with only one out in the frame. He struck out one and also issued two walks.

There’s no tomorrow if San Diego doesn’t win tonight. It’ll be another all-hands situation for the Padres after King went two innings to pick up a save in a must-win Game 3 to extend the best-of-five series while Mason Miller was away on paternity leave. The 31-year-old probably won’t be asked to get more than a handful of outs, but he could be a break-glass option if the Padres get in trouble in the middle innings.

Miller is available for a must-win Game 4 showdown in San Diego after missing Game 3 to be with his family for the birth of their first child. The hard-throwing 28-year-old’s return is even more critical with fellow high-leverage specialist Adrian Morejon a virtual gametime decision due to a shoulder issue.

Peralta’s stint on San Diego’s playoff roster lasted roughly 24 hours while All-Star closer Mason Miller was away from the club on paternity leave.