The Cleveland Guardians will try to keep their postseason hopes alive on Wednesday when they face the Chicago White Sox in Game 3 of the American League Division Series, while Chicago looks to complete a sweep and advance to its second consecutive playoff series victory.

After dropping the first two games at home, Cleveland enters the matchup facing elimination despite winning the American League Central for the second straight season. The Guardians were also eliminated in last year's postseason after capturing the division title, and another early exit would mark a disappointing finish to an otherwise successful regular season.

Guardians Turn to Foster Griffin

Left-hander Foster Griffin is expected to play a key role for Cleveland, either as the starting pitcher or in a bulk-relief role. Griffin finished the regular season with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP, ranking among the league's top pitchers in both categories.

He has enjoyed success against Chicago this year. While pitching for Washington earlier in the season, Griffin threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Cleveland will likely rely on its pitching depth as it attempts to force the series back for another game.

White Sox One Win Away

The White Sox have become one of baseball's biggest surprises. After enduring more than 300 losses over the previous three seasons, Chicago is now on the verge of reaching the American League Championship Series.

The club has built a commanding 2-0 series lead thanks to resilient performances and dramatic comeback victories. While simply reaching the postseason represented significant progress, Chicago now has an opportunity to continue its remarkable turnaround.

Pitching Plans Remain Uncertain

Chicago has not officially announced its starter for Game 3. Rookie Hagen Smith has been mentioned as a possible option, although the White Sox are expected to rely heavily on a bullpen game.

The team's pitching staff has frequently used multiple relievers throughout the season, with Sean Burke, Anthony Kay, and Davis Martin among the arms that could contribute depending on the game's situation.

Electric Atmosphere Expected

With a chance to eliminate the division champions on home field, Guaranteed Rate Field is expected to provide an energetic atmosphere as White Sox fans look to celebrate another postseason milestone.

Chicago enters the game playing with confidence after exceeding expectations throughout the year, while Cleveland hopes its experienced pitching staff can keep the season alive for at least one more day.

Although the White Sox have all the momentum, the Guardians remain determined to avoid elimination and extend the series with a much-needed victory.