The Chicago White Sox return to Guaranteed Rate Field on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, for a 7:40 PM ET matchup against the Texas Rangers. Sean Burke gets the ball for Chicago opposite Rangers left-hander MacKenzie Gore in what shapes up as an intriguing pitching duel. With the regular season in its final stretch, every game carries weight, and the Sox will need a strong home performance to make this one count. Catch the action on Chicago Sports Network or listen on ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM.

Pitching Matchup: Sean Burke vs. MacKenzie Gore

Sean Burke draws the start for the South Siders. The right-hander has shown flashes of the arm strength that made him a notable prospect, and home starts at Guaranteed Rate Field give him a chance to build on that. The Sox will need Burke to work deep into the game and limit traffic on the bases against a Rangers lineup that can do damage in multiple ways.

On the other side, MacKenzie Gore brings legitimate stuff to the mound. The left-hander has the ability to miss bats with a sharp breaking ball and a fastball that can climb the zone, which means Chicago's hitters will need a disciplined approach from the first pitch. Getting Gore into a pitch count early is the clearest path to knocking him around.

Chicago White Sox Starting Lineup

• Miguel Vargas — 3B
• Munetaka Murakami — 1B
• Randal Grichuk — DH
• Chase Meidroth — 2B
• Braden Montgomery — RF
• Brenton Doyle — CF
• Jake Rogers — C
• Tristan Peters — LF
• Luisangel Acuña — SS

Keys to Watch for the White Sox

Murakami in the Middle of the Order

Hitting second, Munetaka Murakami is a presence the Rangers cannot ignore. His power potential against left-handed pitching is something Gore will have to account for early. If Murakami gets a pitch to drive, the Sox need him to make Gore pay.

Grichuk and Meidroth Setting the Tone

Randal Grichuk slots in as the designated hitter batting third, giving the lineup a veteran presence in the heart of the order. Chase Meidroth hitting cleanup is a statement of how the Sox view his development. How those two handle Gore's secondary stuff will go a long way toward determining Chicago's offensive output.

Burke Limiting Damage Early

The first two innings will tell the story for Burke. If he can get through the Rangers' order the first time with minimal damage, his stuff gives him a real chance to carve through six innings. Any early crooked numbers, though, and the Sox bullpen gets tested in a game they need to win.

Prediction

This one figures to be tighter than a run or two either way. Gore is a legitimate arm and will not hand Chicago anything easy. But the Sox are at home, Burke has the repertoire to match up, and the lineup has enough in it to scratch across some runs. Give the edge to Chicago in a close, competitive game — White Sox 4, Rangers 3.