In the Playoff Pulse series, our MLB editor takes on a hot October topic.

The White Sox and Angels avoided playoff oblivion Sunday night, but the odds remain long that either team will be able to advance to the American League Championship Series. Still, it's been done before. The Yankees came back from a 2-0 deficit in the division series against Oakland and the very Red Sox that Los Angeles is facing have climbed out of a similar hole twice.

So which trailing team has the best chance at coming all the way back to win their series?

First, let's take a look at the Game 4 pitching matchups. Of course, the team with the best chance to win two games will have the best shot at coming back in the series, but Monday's games are of paramount importance. After all, there is no Game 5 without a victory in Game 4.

The White Sox probably have a better shot at winning Monday. They will send Gavin Floyd to the mound against the decidedly average Andy Sonnanstine. Floyd has probably been Chicago's second best pitcher most of the year. He helped the Sox to victory in their must-win makeup game against Detroit last Monday.

The Angels, on the other hand, will send ace John Lackey to the mound, but he'll have to tangle with Boston's Jon Lester. The Red Sox left-hander had outstanding numbers at Fenway Park this year and he dominated Los Angeles in Game 1. Lackey has been abysmal at the oldest ballpark in the majors during his career.

But fast forward to Game 5 and the tables are turned. The White Sox would have to head back to Tropicana Field, the toughest venue for opposing teams in the majors this year, for a potential winner-take-all matchup. Worse yet, Ozzie Guillen would tab either Javier Vazquez, who has wilted down the stretch, or Mark Buehrle, who would have to go on short rest, for the assignment. Neither option is particularly comforting.

The Halos would send Ervin Santana back to the mound in a potential Game 5 against Daisuke Matsuzaka. Santana was hit pretty hard by the Red Sox in Game 2, but he has been, on balance, a better pitcher than Matsuzaka all season long, particularly since the Japanese hurler often leaves the bullpen with nine or 12 outs to get at the end of the game.

The Angels will face a formidable opponent Monday night in Lester and Fenway has been a house of horrors for Lackey, but Lackey is Los Angeles' ace. He gave the Red Sox fits in Game 1 and his last start in Boston was a near no-hitter. His chances in Game 4 appear much better than Buehrle's or Vazquez's in a potential Game 5.

For that reason, the Angels seem like a better bet to surge past the Red Sox and into the ALCS.

Yesterday's Hero: Mike Napoli had two home runs and scored the winning run in extra innings for the Angels. Honorable mention to everyone in Boston and Los Angeles' bullpen, Pat Burrell and John Danks.

Yesterday's Goat: Josh Beckett was thoroughly disappointing, but it's hard to tell if he was rusty or still feeling the effects of a strained oblique. Dishonorable mention to Jeff Suppan and Torii Hunter.

Quick Hits: Beckett's problems were entirely related to control. Even on some of his strikeouts he was missing his spots badly. The Red Sox have to hope they survive the ALDS and his Game 3 start was effectively a tuneup for the rest of October. ... Torii Hunter is entertaining to watch and has a great attitude, but he's far too eager to impress right now. ... Sunday's win was huge for the Phillies beyond the obvious implications. They avoided using Cole Hamels again in the NLDS, setting him up for a Game 1 start against the Dodgers Wednesday.