The 2005 White Sox won the ALCS 4-1 with complete games from Jose Contreras, Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia, and Jon Garland. The bullpen was basically a spectator. Two decades later, second-year manager Will Venable is asking his relievers to carry the load with the White Sox’s ALCS hopes on the line. Ahead of the White Sox-Guardians ALDS clash, Vinnie Pasquantino explained why that bullpen is such a problem.

“The White Sox, in my opinion, are built for these series because they just go to that bullpen. You look at some of the names in the bullpen, and if you’re a casual fan or don’t really know the White Sox, you don’t really think much of it. But having faced these guys, it’s uncomfortable at-bats,” claimed Vinnie Pasquantino on the Rich Eisen Show, per SportsCenter.

Many analysts did even wonder if the pitching staff was running on fumes, but this unique setup could be an advantage in itself.

“You’ve got guys coming out of the bullpen that are just uncomfortable. Brian Hudson, Sean Newcomb, Anthony Kaye, Grant Taylor, who I think is one of the best arms in the league, is at the back end of their bullpen. They don’t really have a closer, but he would be the guy,” the clip further said.

After consecutive seasons of at least a hundred losses, the White Sox rebounded spectacularly. They entered the Wild Card Series with an 84-78 record and knocked off the Houston Astros. The Astros became the first team to be eliminated from the postseason.

Sean Burke opened the Wild Card Series Game 1 with a 3.0 innings. The White Sox collectively posted a 4.12 ERA in the regular season.

However, playing for the Kansas City Royals means that Pasquantino knows the White Sox better than most. The Royals played 13 games against the White Sox this year, with Chicago leading them 9-4. Pasquantino played 10 of them. Pasquantino batted .179 with 1 home run, 10 RBIs, and 4 runs in 10 games against the White Sox in 2026.

From that experience, Pasquantino also noted a disadvantage for the White Sox. He also claimed that it would be a close contest.

“Now, I think the disadvantage for them is that they’re playing a team they played all year. So, if anybody knows them, it’s Cleveland,” said Pasquantino, per SportsCenter. “I think the series is going to go five. I think it’s going to be a tight series throughout. Honestly, whoever plays the little things better is going to win that series, which typically would go to Cleveland in that regard. But I do think the White Sox are alive in the series for sure.”

The White Sox played 13 games against the Guardians during the regular season and won the series 7-6.

Ahead of their game on Friday, manager Will Venable announced that Hagen Smith would open for the White Sox in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Guardians. The approach is similar to what Venable has followed consistently during this season. Including Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, the White Sox have reportedly used openers a league-leading 32 times this year. The strategy has worked for them till now. Now, Venable will use his tried-and-tested method once again in the ALDS.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians have announced southpaw Parker Messick as their Game 1 starter. Gavin Williams will start Game 2 against the White Sox. In his five career appearances against the White Sox, Messick holds a 3-1 record with a 2.56 ERA and 33 strikeouts. In his last start against Chicago in September, Messick allowed 3 runs on 7 hits in 6.0 innings.

Now, the White Sox bullpen needs to unnerve the Guardians as well as they did to Vinnie Pasquantino.