Rate Field (Guaranteed Rate Field), Chicago, IL.
Scheduled First pitch 7:40 p.m. ET.
Venue and Weather
Rate Field (open-air ballpark on Chicago’s South Side). Forecast for Tuesday evening: Partly cloudy with a chance of showers/thunderstorms possible in the broader area (monitor for delays), game-time temperatures around 76–80°F, light winds. Typical late-summer Midwest conditions; humidity may play a factor.
Starting Pitchers
Reds LHP Nick Lodolo (3-2, 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 50 K in 62.2 IP). Returning from the 15-day IL (left index finger blister); expected to start after a rehab outing. Career vs. White Sox: 1-1, 3.68 ERA in three starts. Higher WHIP this season.
White Sox RHP Sean Burke (7-6, 3.08 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 144 K in 128.2 IP). Solid season with strong strikeout numbers and control. No prior career appearances vs. the Reds noted in previews.
Injury Reports
Reds: Nick Lodolo (returning from 15-day IL, finger blister); Spencer Steer (1B, 10-day IL, wrist); Tony Santillan (RP, 15-day IL, oblique); longer-term/60-day: Hunter Greene (elbow, season-ending UCL surgery), Brandon Williamson (shoulder), Graham Ashcraft (forearm), Blake Dunn (elbow).
White Sox: Chase Meidroth (2B, day-to-day, wrist); Kyle Teel (C, 10-day IL, ankle); Chris Murphy (RP, 15-day IL, flexor); longer-term/60-day: Drew Thorpe, Prelander Berroa, Jordan Leasure, others (elbows/shoulders).
Current/Projected Rosters and Key Contributors
Reds (key active): Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart (25 HR, team leader in power/RBI), Tyler Stephenson, others. Speed and power potential despite overall .229 team AVG.
White Sox: Miguel Vargas, Colson Montgomery, Munetaka Murakami, Chase Meidroth (if available), others. Balanced lineup with home-field production.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Lodolo (LHP returning from blister issues) vs. White Sox hitters (Vargas, Montgomery, Murakami): Lodolo’s curveball grip adjustments will be tested; lefty angle could neutralize some right-handed power.
Burke (RHP, strong K rate) vs. Reds bats (De La Cruz, Stewart): Burke’s command and strikeouts should challenge Cincinnati’s contact issues; De La Cruz’s speed remains a factor on the bases.
Overall: Edge to Burke’s proven 2026 form over Lodolo’s limited/return sample.
Recent Team Forms
Reds: 56-61 overall (27-30 away), 5th in NL Central. 6-4 in last 10 but mixed results; offense inconsistent.
White Sox: 61-56 overall (36-22 home), 1st in AL Central. 5-5 in last 10 after snapping a skid; strong home record and recent pitching.
Series History
First meeting of the 2026 season between these clubs (interleague series). Opens a three-game set at Rate Field (Aug. 11–13). Historical matchups have been competitive in prior years.
Betting Trends
White Sox strong at home; Reds can score in bunches but struggle on the road recently. Burke’s solid ERA supports lower scoring; Lodolo’s return adds uncertainty. Public leans heavily toward the home favorites.
Game Odds
Cincinnati Reds 7.5
Chicago White Sox – 152
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, August 10, 2026
