What happened: Cleveland gets the White Sox again on Saturday in Game 1 of the ALDS after spending the season facing its AL Central rival. The series opener is set for 1 p.m. ET at Progressive Field on TBS.

Why it matters: Familiarity cuts down the feeling-out phase in a best-of-five and shifts the opener toward execution more than surprise. Cleveland had been waiting on this matchup since the Wild Card round ended, and home field gives the Guardians the first swing in a divisional postseason meeting.

What to watch: Watch how quickly either side forces bullpen choices once the clubs move from months of scouting to October leverage. Game 1 sets the tone for a series between opponents that already know the counters.