Chicago

White Sox

Montgomery did his damage in the sixth inning of this one, crushing a 1-2 splitter from Trey Yesavage for a 388-foot (106.3-mph EV) solo shot that extended the White Sox’ advantage to 2-0. He also singled in the ballgame, finishing the afternoon 2-for-4. On the season, the 24-year-old shortstop is slashing .224/.307/.477 to go along with 24 homers and 57 RBI.

Montgomery delivered a run-scoring single off of Trey Yesavage in the sixth inning that increased the White Sox’ lead to 3-0. He also singled in the fourth inning but was left stranded there. With his two-hit attack, the 23-year-old rookie outfielder is now hitting .241/.305/.414 with three homers, 17 RBI and a 26/10 K/BB ratio through his first 128 plate appearances with the White Sox.

Taylor came on with a 3-0 lead to protect but instantly made things more interesting by allowing two straight singles to open the inning, bringing the tying run to the dish. He then got Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to line out to right field before getting Kazuma Okamoto to bounce into a game-ending double play to quell the threat. Taylor has clearly supplanted Seranthony Dominguez as the White Sox’ primary closer and should be utilized in all fantasy leagues at this stage.

Burke punched out five opposing hitters on the afternoon while allowing just one base on balls. Both of the hits that he did allow were singles and the Jays never seriously threatened against him. He got 12 whiffs on 98 offerings on the afternoon, registering a strong CSW of 32 percent. For the season, he now sits at 7-4 with a 3.20 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 120/34 K/BB ratio over 112 1/3 innings through his first 20 appearances (16 starts). He’ll look to replicate this fine effort when he tangles with the Astros on Saturday.

It appears to be nothing more than a routine day of rest for the 24-year-old second baseman. Sam Antonacci will cover second base in his absence while Randal Grichuk draws a start in left field and will bat seventh against Blue Jays’ right-hander Trey Yesavage.

Martin, who opened up 9-2 through 13 turns, is now winless in his last six starts, even though he’s pitched very well in three of those games. He allowed four hits, walked two and struck out five today. He’ll pitch at home against Houston next Friday.

With 14 RBI in his 15 starts since coming off the injured list, Teel is timing his hits well. However, he’s batting just .198/.275/.323 with a 39 percent strikeout rate through 69 plate appearances. His bat speed is actually well up from last year, but if, as the numbers suggest, he’s sacrificing contact to make that happen, it’s might not be worth it.

Vargas checked out fine after being hit by a pitch on the left hand during the eighth inning of Friday’s blowout win in Toronto to kick off the second half. The 26-year-old middle-of-the-order force is at third base and hitting third following the injury scare.

Thorpe will be pitching in his first game action since July 31, 2024. The 25-year-old former top pitching prospect has been working his way back after undergoing Tommy John surgery last March. He’ll require several weeks without any setbacks to build up his stamina and pitch count before he’s remotely close to making it back to Chicago. There’s a chance he’s ready to contribute for the ascending White Sox at some point in the later stages of the second half.

White Sox manager Will Venable downplayed concern while speaking to reporters following the contest. Vargas will undergo precautionary evaluation after after being hit in the left hand by a 93.3 mph sinker in the eighth inning of a one-sided affair. He was lifted for pinch-runner Luisangel Acuña at the time, finishing 1-for-4 with a run scored. The 26-year-old, who launched a solo homer during his first career All-Star Game appearance earlier this week, has blossomed into Chicago’s middle-of-the-order force, hitting .245/.356/.490 with a career-high 21 homers, 59 RBI and 11 steals in 95 games this season.