The White Sox arrived in Tampa Bay having successfully fought for their survival in three straight games. By prevailing in a one-game tiebreaker against the Twins to win the AL Central, they earned a date with the Rays in the American League Division Series. The Sox come into Tropicana Field, a stadium that was built for them, to play against an expansion team making its first postseason appearance in its 11-year history.
The Rays went from the worst record in baseball one year to AL East champs the next, thanks in large part to an impressive core of hitters headlined by rookie sensation Evan Longoria.