The New York Yankees are rolling into Chicago with a full head of steam, opening a pivotal four-game series against the struggling White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. With the calendar flipping toward September and playoff races tightening, every game counts—and the Yankees know it. After sweeping the Washington Nationals in convincing fashion, New York is looking to capitalize on a golden opportunity: a chance to rack up more wins against a team sitting at the bottom of the American League standings.
The Yankees entered the August 28, 2025, opener trailing the Boston Red Sox by just one game for the top Wild Card spot and sitting 4.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East. The Red Sox had already notched a win earlier in the day, putting extra pressure on New York to keep pace. The White Sox, meanwhile, are enduring a tough campaign, posting a 48–85 record and the worst winning percentage (.361) in the league. That said, Chicago has already surpassed last year’s win total—a small silver lining in an otherwise challenging season.
Thursday night’s pitching matchup featured Will Warren on the mound for the Yankees, looking to rebound after a rough outing against Boston in which he surrendered five runs over four innings. Before that stumble, Warren had put together a string of solid starts, and he’ll be aiming to recapture that form against a White Sox lineup that has struggled mightily to produce runs. Warren, now 7–6 with a 4.47 ERA, has already found success against Chicago this year, holding them to two runs over 5.1 innings in a July matchup. For the Yankees, a strong start from Warren could be crucial, especially given recent bullpen inconsistencies.
Opposing Warren, Davis Martin took the ball for Chicago. Despite the team’s woes, Martin has quietly been one of the few bright spots for the White Sox. The right-hander entered the contest with a 5–9 record and a 3.93 ERA, and he had allowed just two runs over his last 11 innings against Kansas City and Minnesota. Now in his third season with Chicago, Martin’s approach is all about pitching to contact—a risky proposition against a Yankees lineup known for its power. Still, Martin’s 17 home runs allowed in 112 innings highlight his vulnerability to the long ball, something the Yankees’ sluggers were surely eyeing after a six-homer outburst in their last game against Washington.
The starting lineups reflected both teams’ current ambitions and challenges. For the Yankees: Trent Grisham led off in center field, followed by Ben Rice behind the plate, Aaron Judge as designated hitter, Cody Bellinger in left, Giancarlo Stanton in right, Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second, Paul Goldschmidt at first, Ryan McMahon at third, and Anthony Volpe at shortstop. The White Sox countered with Mike Tauchman in right, Miguel Vargas at first, Kyle Teel catching, Lenyn Sosa at second, Andrew Benintendi in left, Edgar Quero as DH, Curtis Mead at third, Brooks Baldwin in center, and Chase Meidroth at shortstop.
Statistically, the Yankees have been a juggernaut on offense. As of late August, they ranked first in the majors in both runs scored (5.20 per game) and walks (3.87 per game), while also placing eighth in hits. The White Sox, in contrast, were near the bottom in most offensive categories, including batting average and runs scored. The Yankees have also dominated the recent head-to-head matchup, going 5–1 in their last six meetings with Chicago and 10–5 in their last 15 road games against the White Sox. If trends are any indicator, New York’s bats could be poised for another big night.
Recent form certainly favors the Yankees. They entered this series on a 4–1 stretch over their last five games and had won six straight on the road. The offense has been on fire, with the team scoring 11, 5, and 10 runs in their most recent victories over the Nationals. The total score has gone over in nine of New York’s last 11 games, underscoring just how potent their lineup has been. There are no major injuries reported for either team, giving both managers a full roster to work with as the season enters its final weeks.
For the White Sox, Davis Martin’s recent success has been a rare highlight. His ability to limit damage in his last two starts offers some hope, but the challenge tonight couldn’t be starker. The Yankees’ lineup features several dangerous hitters with home run projections: Aaron Judge (0.20), Giancarlo Stanton (0.18), Cody Bellinger (0.13), and Paul Goldschmidt (0.11) all pose a significant threat to go deep at any moment. On the mound, Warren’s task is clear: keep the White Sox off the scoreboard early and give the offense a chance to build a lead.
Looking ahead, the Yankees’ schedule doesn’t get any easier. After this series, they’ll face the Astros, Blue Jays, and Red Sox—a gauntlet that will test their playoff mettle. But for now, the focus is on taking care of business against Chicago. As one analyst put it, “After a sweep of the Nationals, they have a golden opportunity to put up three or more wins this weekend against the Chicago White Sox, a team 29 games back in the AL Central.”
The rest of the series features intriguing pitching matchups: Carlos Rodón, coming off a 2.66 ERA over his last four starts, will face Yoendrys Gómez on Friday; Cam Schlittler, who hasn’t allowed a run in his last two starts, takes on All-Star rookie Shane Smith Saturday; and Luis Gil, returning from injury with strong numbers, battles Martín Pérez—who boasts a 2.02 ERA since coming back from the IL—on Sunday.
First pitch for tonight’s game was scheduled for 7:40 PM Eastern at Guaranteed Rate Field, with mostly sunny skies, 22°C (71°F), and low humidity providing ideal baseball weather. Fans could catch the action locally on YES (for Yankees supporters) and CHSN (for White Sox faithful), with out-of-market streaming available via MLB.TV.
This series opener sets the stage for a crucial weekend. The Yankees’ playoff hopes are very much alive, and every game against a struggling opponent is a chance to gain ground. With both teams at full strength and plenty on the line, all eyes are on Chicago as the Yankees look to keep their hot streak alive and the White Sox aim to play spoiler. Stay tuned—this one’s just getting started.
