AL DIVISION SERIES: WHITE SOX VS GUARDIANS

October 8, 2026

Will Venable

Rate Field

Chicago White Sox

Postgame 4 Press Conference

Guardians 9, White Sox 5

Q. Will, this has been a White Sox team that has had a better home record than away record during the regular season but has done a complete 180 here in the postseason. Has the environment played a factor at all into these last two games? What's it been like to lose some of that success here at home?

WILL VENABLE: I don't think it's played a role. It's been an amazing environment, our fans coming out and giving these guys a ton of energy. I thought we did a really good job today after yesterday where maybe some moments sped up on us a little bit. I thought we did a really good job of really embracing the energy, and our fans have been supportive and come out all year.

You can look at whatever the home and road record has been, but we feel comfortable here playing at home and are excited to play in front of these amazing fans.

Q. Will, Sean Burke, Game 5 in Cleveland, I'm assuming?

WILL VENABLE: He will be pitching in Game 5, yes.

Q. Will, obviously, the sixth inning was the turning point there. What did you see from Grant Taylor? It didn't look like he had much of what he usually has in terms of strikeout stuff tonight.

WILL VENABLE: Yeah, you've got to credit the Guardians. I think they've had a really good approach against him all year. Obviously, the first game of this series, Grant carved them up pretty good and kind of looked at them before that. Today, really good approaches. Not trying to do too much, putting the ball in play. So we've got to give him some credit.

Q. With Burke, you know yet if he'll start and what's kind of the pitching plan for that game?

WILL VENABLE: We're going to talk about it. We've got to evaluate where we're at with some other arms and then we'll formulate a plan.

Q. Will, with the sixth inning, you mentioned with Taylor and some of the other relievers that have been used so far in the series, what have you seen especially the last two games from the hitters, from the Cleveland hitters against your relievers, having seen them multiple times?

WILL VENABLE: They're making really good swing decisions. They're making contact. We talked about how good a job they do of doing that. When you walk guys, they make you pay. We were able to get away with it a couple times the first couple games. These last two, just weren't able to.

Again, we know that coming in. It's part of the game plan as we're talking through the path to beating these guys. And, you know, they've done a really nice job of making good swing decisions and making us pay for those walks.

Q. Will, knowing it's all hands on deck now for both clubs, what, if any, solace do you take with making Smith work quite a bit and then getting Williams into the ballgame?

WILL VENABLE: Yeah, small victories there, I think. I also think that those guys will be ready to go. As we've battled back and forth with these guys, obviously fitting that it's going to come down to this. It's been how the back and forth has been all year.

So, yeah, there's some small win in making Cade pitch 30, 40 pitches, whatever it was, two up and then getting Gavin in the game as well.

Q. Will, I know you were complimentary of the fans and I know you wanted to win at home. Did you feel the weight of trying to close out the series, given that the city had been waiting for such a long time to celebrate a playoff series win here?

WILL VENABLE: No, I don't think so. Certainly, that's something that we wanted to give our fans. I think we just want to win this series however possible, and wherever that is, we'll take it. Obviously, to do it here would be special, but we knew this was going to be a grind, and I don't think that there was added pressure with our players to play any differently than we played the whole season.

Q. Will, knowing how many arms you guys used and Cleveland used and knowing that there would be a very quick turnaround from Saturday to Monday, how do you make sure that guys are getting enough rest and that they'll be in okay shape if you guys would win?

WILL VENABLE: Same thing we've done all year. These guys will get their treatment. They'll put themselves in the best spot possible to be ready to go. Tomorrow we'll come here and have a quick workout. The guys will throw. We'll have some live BPs for the guys who haven't touched the mound some, and we'll be ready to go. These guys have done it all year. We've asked a lot of our bullpen, obviously, and nothing will change. All hands on deck, Game 5.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks a lot, Will.