The White Sox Make A Prodigious Challenge In The MLB Playoff Game Against The Astros: What Happened?

Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable went up for the challenge in an unfamiliar situation in Game 1 of the American League wild card series against the Houston Astros.

After Chicago’s Sam Antonac grounded out to Jose Altuve in the fourth inning, Venable argued that the Astros baseman had violated shift rules, which require infielders to be in the dirt when the pitch is delivered. The video shown in the shot is hard to tell if Altuve’s pen was touching the grass. Convocation

The rules, part of the 2023 package, which also brought a pitch clock and larger bases, require two infielders on each side of second base, with all four in the infield dirt when the pitch is delivered. Fields cannot slide into the outfield grass at a better angle.

Aenean ultricies nisl urn. In the first season of the rule there were 26 violations, two in 2024 and one in 2025. The punishment got tougher on the way. I started as an automatic ball. From 2025, if the offending fielder makes the first play on the ball, the batter takes first base, the runners advance and the fielder is charged with an error.

That is the only 2025 violation that comes into the challenge. Last Sept. 18, Seattle asked to review Dan Wilson after Royals second baseman Michael Massey threw out Dominic Canzone. Replay showed that Massey was not fully in the dirt, Canzone was awarded first, and JP Crawford followed with an RBI double in a 2-0 Mariners win.

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Open the MLB spotlight with exciting Wild Card Series matchups

Philidelphia lines up against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29. 2026 in Atlanta. The MLB postseason arrives as baseball’s fall playoff season has ecstatic fans to watch every moment unfold.

(Edward M. Pio Roda, Getty Images)