Astros trail White Sox heading into AL Wild Card Game 2
The Houston Astros trail the Chicago White Sox 1-0 in the AL Wild Card Series after a 6-3 Game 1 loss at Daikin Park on Tuesday. Game 2 is set for Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET and airs on Peacock and NBCSN, with Houston needing a win at home after boos from a surprisingly sparse crowd.
Key Takeaways
- The White Sox lead the AL Wild Card Series 1-0 after beating the Astros 6-3 in Houston on Tuesday.
- Game 2 is Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBCSN, with Chicago visiting Daikin Park again.
- Announced attendance for Game 1 was 34,011 in a 40,963-capacity park, and fans booed early deficits.
- Houston finished the regular season 81-81, becoming the first division winner at .500 or worse to reach the playoffs.
Game 1 flipped early momentum against the Astros. Chicago jumped ahead 3-0 in the first two innings, drawing boos from a thinner-than-usual postseason crowd at Daikin Park, then closed out a 6-3 win to seize series control.
That result raises the stakes for Wednesday. Houston must even the series at home or risk a short exit from an injury-plagued season that ended 81-81. For more coverage across sports and emerging media trends, visit the Future Tech & AI Wonders hub on BlasterPost.
When is Astros vs White Sox Game 2, and how can you watch?
Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series starts Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET. The White Sox return to Houston while holding a 1-0 series lead after Tuesday’s 6-3 victory.
Coverage is on Peacock and NBCSN. Starting lineups and the pitching matchup are detailed in the MLB.com Game 2 FAQ.
Why were Astros fans so quiet—and so critical—in Game 1?
According to ESPN, large sections of Daikin Park sat empty for the opener, especially in the upper deck, even as the bottom two levels looked fuller. The announced crowd was 34,011, well short of the park’s 40,963 capacity.
Right-hander AJ Blubaugh threw the first pitch at 4:10 p.m. local time. Fans who did attend booed as Houston fell behind 3-0 in the early innings. Reliever Bennett Sousa also heard boos after spiking two breaking pitches in the seventh.
First baseman Christian Walker told The Athletic the reaction was “extremely frustrating as a home player,” saying the club needed cheers and energy, not boos. Sousa said Houston fans are “spoiled” by deep October runs and that the team must earn that support again.
What makes this Astros playoff appearance unusual?
Houston returned to the postseason after missing it last year, finishing 81-81—the worst record of any team in this playoff field, per CBS Sports, and the first club to reach October without a winning record in a non-shortened season.
The franchise’s recent bar remains high. The Astros have reached the playoffs nine times in 10 years, made seven straight American League Championship Series from 2017-23, and won World Series titles in 2017 and 2022. Players pointed to that history when discussing fan impatience after the early deficit.
Regular-season attendance averaged 30,519 (14th in MLB), so empty October seats stood out. Wednesday’s Game 2 is Houston’s chance to even the series and force a decisive Game 3.