(All times EDT) Game 1, Tuesday, at Chicago (8:19 p.m., FOX); Game 2, Wednesday, at Chicago (8:19 p.m., FOX); Game 3, Friday, at Anaheim (8:10 p.m., FOX); Game 4, Saturday, at Anaheim (8:15 p.m., FOX); x-Game 5, Sunday, at Anaheim (8:15 p.m., FOX); x-Game 6, Tuesday, at Chicago (8:20 p.m., FOX); x-Game 7, Wednesday, at Chicago (8:20 p.m., FOX).
3B Chone Figgins (.290, 8, 57, major league-high 62 SBs), SS Orlando Cabrera (.257, 8, 57, 21 SBs), DH Garret Anderson (.283, 17, 96), RF Vladimir Guerrero (.317, 32, 108, .394 on-base percentage), C Bengie Molina (.295, 15, 69), LF Juan Rivera (.271, 15, 59), 1B Darin Erstad (.273, 7, 66), CF Steve Finley (.222, 12, 54), 2B Adam Kennedy (.300, 2, 37).
LF Scott Podsednik (.290, 0, 25, 59 SBs), 2B Tadahito Iguchi (.278, 15, 71), RF Jermaine Dye (.274, 31, 86), 1B Paul Konerko (.283, 40, 100, 98 runs), DH Carl Everett (.251, 23, 87), CF Aaron Rowand (.270, 13, 69), C A.J. Pierzynski (.257, 18, 56), 3B Joe Crede (.252, 22, 62), SS Juan Uribe (.252, 16, 71).
RH Jose Contreras (15-7, 3.61 ERA, 11-2, 2.96 in second half), LH Mark Buehrle (16-8, 3.12, 10-2 at home), RH Jon Garland (18-10, 3.50 ERA, 5-6 since All-Star break), RH Freddy Garcia (14-8, 3.87, 10-3 on road, 4-5 at home).
RH Francisco Rodriguez (2-5, 2.67, tied for AL lead with 45 saves in 50 chances, 91 Ks in 67 1-3 innings), RH Scot Shields (10-11, 2.75, 7 saves, 98 Ks in 91 2-3 innings), RH Brendan Donnelly (9-3, 3.72), RH Kelvim Escobar (3-2, 3.02, working out of bullpen since coming back from shoulder surgery), RH Ervin Santana (12-8, 4.65 in 23 starts).
RH Dustin Hermanson (2-4, 2.04 ERA, 34/39 saves), RH Bobby Jenks (1-1, 2.75, 6/8 saves, 50 strikeouts in 39 1-3 innings), RH Cliff Politte (7-1, 2.00 ERA), LH Neal Cotts (4-0, 1.94), LH Damaso Marte (3-4, 3.77, 4/8 saves), RH Luis Vizcaino (6-5, 3.73), RH Orlando Hernandez (9-9, 5.12).
Angels won final four meetings, including a three-game sweep in Chicago from Sept. 9-11. Los Angeles scored 32 runs in those four victories. ... Garland was 0-2 with 6.92 ERA against Angels, who handed him his first loss after eight consecutive wins to begin the season. ... Angels RHP John Lackey was 2-0 with 2.57 ERA in three starts against White Sox. ... Anderson hit .310 with three HRs and eight RBIs, but Guerrero was limited to only three games against Chicago. ... Everett was 5-for-32 (.156) against the Angels. ... Figgins had four SBs and scored eight times against White Sox. Podsednik also got on base against Los Angeles, hitting .375 but with just one steal.
AL West champion Angels (95-67) advanced by beating Yankees on Monday night in Game 5, the only division series that went the distance. They overcame the early departure of injured ace Bartolo Colon to reach the championship series for first time since winning 2002 World Series. However, rotation is in bad shape due to injury and illness. ... After an up-and-down season, Angels won 14 of last 16 to eliminate AL West foe Oakland, then - on final day of regular season - earn home-field advantage for opening round. They are in first postseason as the Los Angeles Angels; owner Arte Moreno riled up Anaheim officials this year by replacing the Anaheim in front of the team name with Los Angeles, although downtown L.A. is more than 30 miles up the freeway. ... Guerrero, last year's AL MVP, remains one of most dangerous hitters in the game. ... Figgins, who started at six positions, is the catalyst. ... Kennedy, who was hurt and missed playoffs when Boston swept Angels in first round a year ago, provides punch from No. 9 spot.
Chicago (99-63) swept defending World Series champion Boston in opening round for first postseason series win since its last World Series championship in 1917. ... White Sox had a 15-game lead in AL Central on Aug. 1 that dwindled to 1 1/2, but won eight of last 10, including final five, to hold off late charge from Cleveland and earn first division title and playoff berth since 2000. ... Chicago's 99 wins were its most since 1983, and one shy of club record set in 1917. ... Contreras became staff ace after altering his release point in second half, going 11-2 after the break with 2.96 ERA. He won his last eight starts. ... White Sox built lead on pitching, defense and manufacturing runs, with Podsednik breaking out to the major league lead in stolen bases before groin injury slowed him down. Offense has struggled without a true No. 3 hitter after Frank Thomas broke another bone in his foot. Thomas hit 12 homers in only 105 at-bats. Everett was batting third but went into late slump and was dropped in lineup, much to his chagrin. ... Manager Ozzie Guillen made it a lively season with his outspoken comments and said he might retire if team wins World Series.
_ No Rest For The Weary. Angels will be fighting through fatigue after two cross-country flights in the first round. They lost Game 4 at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, then flew overnight before eliminating Yankees in Anaheim on Monday night. Meanwhile, the White Sox have been resting since finishing their sweep of the Red Sox on Friday, and have their rotation set up the way they want it with Contreras at the top.
_ Small Ball On The Big Stage. Both teams specialize in manufacturing runs to make up for lack of much power beyond Guerrero and Konerko. The team that gets its catalyst on more, the Angels with Figgins or Chicago with Podsednik, should have an advantage.
_ Too Ill To Take The Hill? The Angels' rotation is a mess entering the ALCS. Besides Colon's injury, which forced Santana to pitch into a long relief role in Game 5, Jarrod Washburn was scratched from his Game 4 start because of illness, forcing Lackey to start on three days' rest.
_ Closing Time. The White Sox have turned to 24-year-old rookie Jenks as their closer, and he preserved two of their wins in the first round. The Angels know plenty about relying on a youngster out of the bullpen: Rodriguez won five games at age 20 during the 2002 postseason.
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