The Chicago White Sox return to Guaranteed Rate Field on Sunday, August 23, 2026, for a 2:10 PM ET first pitch against the New York Mets. Sean Newcomb gets the start for Chicago against New York's Nolan McLean in a regular-season interleague matchup that gives the South Siders a chance to make a statement in front of the home crowd. The game airs on Chicago Sports Network and ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM locally, with SNY carrying the broadcast on the Mets side.

Pitching Matchup: Sean Newcomb vs. Nolan McLean

Newcomb draws the Sunday afternoon assignment for the White Sox. The left-hander will need to navigate a Mets lineup that features genuine big-league firepower from top to bottom. Newcomb's ability to attack the strike zone early and keep the ball in the yard will be the defining factor in how long he lasts against New York's lineup.

McLean gets the nod for the Mets. He is a name worth watching as the Mets bring him to the South Side — how he handles a lineup that Chicago is building around will tell you something about where both clubs stand heading deeper into the summer.

Chicago White Sox Starting Lineup

• 1. Sam Antonacci, LF
• 2. Munetaka Murakami, 1B
• 3. Miguel Vargas, 3B
• 4. Andrew Benintendi, DH
• 5. Braden Montgomery, RF
• 6. Colson Montgomery, SS
• 7. Chase Meidroth, 2B
• 8. Tristan Peters, CF
• 9. Jake Rogers, C

New York Mets Starting Lineup

• 1. Francisco Lindor, SS
• 2. Bo Bichette, 3B
• 3. Carson Benge, RF
• 4. Luis Robert Jr., LF
• 5. Eric Wagaman, 1B
• 6. Christopher Morel, DH
• 7. Marcus Semien, 2B
• 8. A.J. Ewing, CF
• 9. Luis Torrens, C

Keys to Watch in Sunday's Game

Containing Francisco Lindor and the Top of the Mets Order

Lindor leads off for New York and is the engine that makes this Mets offense go. If Newcomb can limit Lindor's on-base opportunities and keep Bo Bichette from doing damage in the two-hole, the White Sox have a legitimate path to keeping this one close. Letting those two get comfortable early is a recipe for a long afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Luis Robert Jr. Returns to the South Side

There is no way around it — Luis Robert Jr. hitting fourth in the Mets lineup means he will be a central storyline all game. Robert is a former White Sox outfielder, and his presence in the visiting lineup adds an unmistakable layer to Sunday's matchup. Newcomb will need a plan for him, and the Guaranteed Rate Field crowd will have plenty to say every time he steps to the plate.

Murakami and Vargas Setting the Table

The two and three spots in Chicago's order — Munetaka Murakami at first base and Miguel Vargas at third — are key to generating traffic for cleanup hitter Andrew Benintendi. If those two are reaching base and working counts against McLean, the Sox offense becomes a genuine threat. Braden Montgomery and Colson Montgomery further down the order give Chicago additional pop if the lineup gets rolling.

Prediction

This is a winnable game at home, and the Sox should treat Sunday afternoon as an opportunity. Newcomb needs to be sharp against a Mets lineup with legitimate talent — Lindor, Bichette, Robert, and Semien are not names you can coast against at any point. Chicago's lineup has the pieces to produce against an unproven arm in McLean. Expect a competitive game that comes down to which rotation arm controls the strike zone longer. Edge: White Sox, 4-3.