MLB Game Preview: Chicago White Sox (40-69) vs. Los Angeles Angels (53-56)

Game Details

• Date: Friday, August 1, 2025
• Time: 9:38 PM ET
• Venue: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
• Broadcast: Bally Sports West, NBC Sports Chicago, MLB.tv
• Season Series: Fourth meeting of 2025

Team Overview & Momentum

Chicago White Sox (40–69)

• Division Standing: 5th in AL Central
• Recent Form: 6–4 in last 10 games
• Road Record: 16–37
• Key Players:
  • Miguel Vargas: 13 HR, 44 RBI, .227 AVG
  • Luis Robert Jr.: 11 HR, 36 BB, .213 AVG
  • Lenyn Sosa: Team-high .278 AVG
• Pitching Starter: Shane Smith (expected return from IL, 3–7, 4.26 ERA)
• Team Trends:

• .286 AVG over last 10 games
• Outscored opponents by 19 runs in that span
• 8–4 since All-Star break

Los Angeles Angels (53–56)

• Division Standing: 4th in AL West
• Recent Form: 4–6 in last 10 games
• Home Record: 28–26
• Key Players:
  • Taylor Ward: 25 HR, 78 RBI, .484 SLG
  • Nolan Schanuel: .277 AVG, 3 doubles in last 10 games
  • Zach Neto: .273 AVG, 15 HR, 21 doubles
• Pitching Starter: Tyler Anderson (2–6, 4.41 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 87 K)
• Team Trends:

• 31–11 when out-hitting opponents
• 155 team home runs (4th in MLB)
• .233 team AVG, .408 SLG

• Pitching Matchup:

• Anderson: 0–2, 8.50 ERA in 4 career starts vs. White Sox
• Smith: Returning from ankle injury, 3.94 ERA in last 10 games

Key Storylines

• White Sox Rebuild Progress: Chicago has shown signs of life post-break, sweeping the Pirates and winning series vs. Tampa Bay and Philadelphia.
• Angels’ Wild Card Push: Despite injuries, L.A. remains just 4.5 games out of the final AL Wild Card spot.
• Trade Deadline Moves:
  • White Sox: Traded Adrian Houser and Austin Slater; retained Luis Robert Jr.
  • Angels: Held onto key veterans including Mike Trout, Kenley Jansen, and Tyler Anderson
• Injury Watch:

• White Sox: Shane Smith (ankle), Chase Meidroth (thumb), multiple pitchers on IL
• Angels: Mike Trout (3 HR shy of 400), Jorge Soler, Anthony Rendon, and others on IL