​With Garrett Crochet still on the 60-day injured list and 10-1 Sonny Gray being saved for the Yankees tomorrow, the White Sox have enjoyed the advantage of facing only three back-of-the-rotation lefties in this series. Unfortunately, they managed just one run across the first two games, but perhaps the third game will serve as the proverbial charm. Today’s Red Sox starter is something of an unknown quantity, because Patrick Sandoval hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 2024. That summer marked his departure for Tommy John surgery, which was followed by complications that kept him out for an unusually long stretch. The former Angels veteran has tallied eight minor league rehab starts with so-so results, the longest being 68 pitches, so Boston’s bullpen could factor in early.
The White Sox counter with a left-hander of their own who hasn’t gone deep into games lately. Anthony Kay’s most recent start lasted only four innings, but that wasn’t his fault; Mother Nature intervened after he’d allowed just one run. In the prior outing, though, he didn’t fare as well, exiting in the fourth after giving up seven hits and five runs (three earned) to the lowly Royals. The Miguel Vargas leadoff experiment appears to have been a quick one, with Chase Meidroth back at the top of the lineup against a lefty as usual.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, lean into a lineup heavy on right-handed hitters, with only one batter who has ever faced Kay, and that was for one plate appearance that ended in a strikeout, so perhaps that’s a favorable sign. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. CST, with a forecast of 82 degrees, mostly cloudy skies, and winds around 10 mph blowing out to left field. The usual broadcast duo will be on the call, providing the typical pregame context and in-game updates. This matchup should offer clear intrigue for fans hoping to see how the White Sox fare against a right-handed-heavy Boston lineup and whether Kay can settle into a groove after his most recent, weather-affected appearance.