The Chicago White Sox return to Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday, August 13, 2026, hosting the Cincinnati Reds for a 2:10 PM ET afternoon contest. Davis Martin gets the ball for Chicago against Cincinnati left-hander Andrew Abbott. With the regular season well into its second half, every game carries playoff-race weight, and this one is no exception. The game airs locally on Chicago Sports Network and on the radio via ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM, with Spanish-language coverage on 107.9 La Ley.

Pitching Matchup: Davis Martin vs. Andrew Abbott

Davis Martin draws the start for the Sox, looking to give Chicago length and keep the Reds' lineup in check. Martin has shown flashes of reliability as a back-end starter, and his ability to work through a lineup multiple times will be tested against a Cincinnati offense that can do damage in multiple ways.

Andrew Abbott takes the mound for Cincinnati. The left-hander is a difficult assignment for any lineup, and his presence forces White Sox hitters to be disciplined early in counts. The Sox will need to work pitches and find ways to get Abbott into trouble before his stuff plays up in the later innings.

Chicago White Sox Lineup

• Chase Meidroth — 2B
• Randal Grichuk — DH
• Miguel Vargas — 1B
• Braden Montgomery — RF
• Brenton Doyle — CF
• Colson Montgomery — 3B
• Edgar Quero — C
• Sam Antonacci — LF
• Luisangel Acuña — SS

Cincinnati Reds Lineup

• Elly De La Cruz — SS
• Sal Stewart — 1B
• JJ Bleday — LF
• Tyler Stephenson — C
• Eugenio Suárez — DH
• Dane Myers — CF
• Héctor Rodríguez — RF
• Matt McLain — 2B
• Ke'Bryan Hayes — 3B

Keys to Watch

Containing Elly De La Cruz

Elly De La Cruz leads off for Cincinnati, and he is the kind of player who can single-handedly change a game before the Sox even settle in defensively. His combination of speed and raw power makes him a threat in every plate appearance. Martin and the Chicago defense need to be sharp and limit the big inning that De La Cruz can spark.

The Montgomery Brothers

Braden Montgomery bats cleanup and Colson Montgomery holds down the six-hole for Chicago. Having both in the lineup gives the Sox a pair of young bats in premium spots. How they perform against Abbott's lefty arsenal will go a long way toward determining whether the Sox offense generates enough to win.

Edgar Quero Behind the Plate

Quero slots in at catcher, and his game-calling relationship with Martin matters as much as his bat. The two need to be on the same page to keep Cincinnati's middle of the order — Stephenson, Suárez, and McLain — from doing too much damage.

Luisangel Acuña Hitting Ninth

Acuña batting ninth essentially gives Chicago a second table-setter. If he gets on base ahead of Meidroth and Grichuk, the Sox have a chance to string together pressure at the top of the order early and often.

Prediction

This is a winnable game at home for the White Sox. Martin needs to be efficient through five or six innings, and the lineup needs to make Abbott work deep into counts. If Braden Montgomery can do damage in the cleanup spot and the bullpen holds serve, Chicago takes this one. White Sox 4, Reds 3.