Venue: Rate Field (Guaranteed Rate Field), Chicago, Illinois.
Scheduled first pitch: 7:40 p.m. ET.
TV: Chicago Sports Network / Rockies.TV (and related regional/streaming options).
This is the opener of a three-game interleague series (first meeting of the 2026 season between the clubs).
Records: Colorado Rockies 57-102 (5th in NL West); Chicago White Sox 82-77 (2nd in AL Central, in contention for division/wild-card positioning with late-season urgency). White Sox are strong at home (46-32); Rockies struggle on the road (25-53).
Scheduled first pitch: 7:40 p.m. ET. TV: Chicago Sports Network / Rockies.TV (and related regional/streaming options).
Probable starting pitchers:
Colorado: Tomoyuki Sugano (RHP, 12-11, 5.36 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 91 K in 147.2 IP). Elevated ERA and home-run rate this season; has shown some road capability but remains hittable.
Chicago: Sean Burke (RHP, 10-7, 3.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 178 K in 167.0 IP). Solid season with strong strikeout numbers and recent September success (including quality starts).
Current Weather Forecast (Rate Field)
Cool evening conditions expected, with temperatures around the low-to-mid 60s°F at first pitch (reports near 62°F in some forecasts). Partly cloudy skies, light winds (~5 mph), and low precipitation chance (near 0% in available projections). Comfortable for late September baseball with minimal weather interference expected.
Injury Reports
Rockies: Kris Bryant (DH, back/lumbar issues, 60-day IL); Willi Castro (INF/OF, heel/foot, 10-day IL); longer-term absences include McCade Brown (shoulder, 60-day), Chase Dollander (elbow, 60-day), Pierson Ohl (elbow, 60-day), Welinton Herrera (elbow, 60-day), and RJ Petit (elbow, 60-day). Active roster relies on available depth amid a lost season.
White Sox: Joey Bart (C, hand, 10-day IL); Prelander Berroa (RP, elbow, 60-day IL); Tanner Murray (INF/OF, shoulder, 60-day IL); Luis Castillo (SP/RP, shoulder, 15-day IL, recent placement); longer-term IL includes Ky Bush (elbow), Jordan Leasure (flexor/elbow), Brooks Baldwin (elbow), and Mike Vasil (elbow). Core lineup remains competitive for contention.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups & Notes
Burke (RHP with solid command and K ability) faces a Rockies lineup featuring TJ Rumfield (.297 AVG range with doubles/power), Cole Carrigg (hot recently with multi-hit games including a 4-hit effort), Hunter Goodman, Jake McCarthy, and others. Rockies have a respectable OBP (.323, among better ranks) but high team ERA. Sugano faces White Sox bats led by Chase Meidroth (.275 AVG with doubles/HR), Randal Grichuk (hot in recent stretch), and supporting power (team has shown ability to hit multiple HRs). White Sox rank solid in runs and HR total. Rate Field can play neutral-to-hitter friendly depending on conditions; Burke’s edge should help suppress Colorado’s offense.
Recent Team Forms
Rockies: Poor stretch (2-8 last 10 in reports, outscored significantly, high team ERA ~5.90 in that span); recent loss to Diamondbacks after Carrigg’s 4-hit game. Season-long struggles continue.
White Sox: Solid 6-4 last 10 (outscoring opponents, team ERA ~4.13 in stretch); motivated by playoff race (trailing AL Central leaders closely with head-to-head tiebreaker advantages noted). Strong home form.
Series History
No prior 2026 meetings (first matchup of the season). Historical interleague results vary, but current form and standings heavily favor Chicago in this series.
Betting Trends
White Sox strong at home and as heavy favorites against weak opponents; Rockies poor on the road and overall. Burke’s superior numbers support the favorite lean and potential cover.
GAME ODDS
Colorado Rockies 8
Chicago White Sox – 225
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, September 24, 2026
