Plus: Chicago Bears running game looms as huge factor vs. Green Bay Packers — but will Kyle Monangai play? • Column: Chicago Blackhawks need to develop Kevin Korchinski, but how can they do that if he’s not on the ice?
Sports Friday, October 9, 2026 | | |
| | | | | Good morning, Chicago. White Sox right-hander Grant Taylor had effectively been manager Will Venable’s get-out-of-jail-free card. The 24-year-old had been the team’s best reliever this season, and in the playoffs, Venable has been able to deploy him as the ace of a team relying daily on bullpen games. Taylor hadn't allowed an earned run in 7 2/3 innings across three appearances in the postseason, including a four-inning save in Game 1 of the ALDS. But it caught up with him and the White Sox at the most inopportune time last night. Taylor faced six hitters, failed to record an out, threw more balls (10) than strikes (eight) and surrendered four runs in a six-run sixth inning that torpedoed the White Sox in a 9-5 loss to the Guardians in Game 4 at Rate Field. The loss forced a winner-take-all Game 5 on Saturday in Cleveland. White Sox reliever Grant Taylor exits in the sixth inning against the Guardians in Game 4 of an AL Division Series on Oct. 8, 2026, at Rate Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Has Taylor been overused facing the Guardians three times in four games? “No,” Taylor answered matter-of-factly. Was he gassed from the 103 pitches he had thrown in his trio of postseason games? “Body felt good,” Taylor said. “Stuff felt good. Just didn’t execute.” It takes two to tango, and the Guardians felt the repeated looks they’ve had against Taylor and the rest of the White Sox bullpen has benefitted them. | | | | After a pair of devastating losses in clinching situations at the Rate, the Chicago White Sox face a difficult task in Game 5 of the ALDS in Cleveland. | | | | | Chicago Bears running backs Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift have been dominant through four weeks, but they’re still running into problems in the red zone. | | | | | Kevin Korchinski seemed poised for a role in the Chicago Blackhawks defense. Instead he has been a healthy scratch with no sign of that changing. | | | | | As a rebuilding team, the Chicago Bulls have a lot of needs. But perhaps more than anything else this season, they need Matas Buzelis to have his breakout moment. | | | | | The Chicago White Sox fell short in their bid to win the AL Division Series for the second straight night, losing 9-5 to the Guardians on Thursday. Game 5 is Saturday in Cleveland. | | | | | Chicago White Sox reliever Grant Taylor imploded during a six-run sixth inning Thursday as the Cleveland Guardians forced a decisive ALDS Game 5 with a 9-5 win. | | | | | Illinois is being intentional about the recovery from foot surgery of David Mirković, who’s expected to be the centerpiece of their bid to return to the Final Four. | | | | | Bo Horvat scored twice and the New York Islanders beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 on Thursday. Frank Nazar scored for the Hawks, who lost for the fourth time in five games. | | | |
