Davis Martin (9-3, 3.00 ERA) makes the trip to Cleveland to face Slade Cecconi (4-6, 4.18 ERA) in what shapes up as the best individual pitching duel of this early-July stretch. First pitch is 6:40 PM ET at Progressive Field.
The backdrop is a legitimate division race. Chicago leads Cleveland by 2 games, and this series opens with the Guardians needing wins just to stay in the conversation. The problem for Cleveland is that their best player isn't on the field — Jose Ramirez underwent surgery for a left hamate fracture in mid-June, had his stitches removed Tuesday, and the earliest he's back is after the All-Star break. The Guardians salvaged a 9-4 win over Texas on Wednesday to close out that series, but running without Ramirez against a White Sox team that's been legitimately good is a different animal.
Martin's 2026 has been one of the AL's real pitching stories. He entered this season with a career 4.32 ERA over parts of 3 big-league years and nobody was penciling him in as a rotation cornerstone. Now he's 9-3 with a 3.00 ERA, posting an elite K-to-BB ratio built around a cutter and a kick-changeup that's holding opponents to a .161 batting average. His last start — 5.1 shutout innings against Kansas City on June 27 — ended as a no-decision, but he hasn't been easy to score on all year. The White Sox win games when he pitches, which is the simplest way to put it.
- Day-To-DayHagen Smith SP — Smith will be shut down for two weeks after being diagnosed with a left shoulder impingement, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
- Day-To-DayTim Elko 1B — no
- Day-To-DayMason Adams RP — The White Sox announced that Adams underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
- 7-Day ILEverson Pereira RF — Pereira (concussion) is making progress in his recovery but is still experiencing concussion symptoms, MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILMunetaka Murakami 1B — White Sox manager Will Venable said Sunday that Murakami (hamstring) is increasing the intensity of his hitting and running at about 80 percent intensity, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILTyler Gilbert RP — The White Sox placed Gilbert on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a left shoulder impingement.
- 60-Day-ILAustin Hays LF — Hays has been pulled off his rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte due to a recurrence of left calf soreness, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILJordan Leasure RP — Leasure (forearm) said Friday that he will be shut down from throwing for four weeks, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
- Day-To-DayTanner Burns SP — no
- Day-To-DayCarlos Hernandez RP — Hernandez (shoulder) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
- 10-Day-ILJose Ramirez 3B — Ramirez had stitches removed from his left hand Tuesday and could soon begin swinging a bat as the next step in his rehab process, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILAngel Martinez LF — Martinez (foot) has shed his walking boot, is playing catch and hitting off a batting tee, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Cecconi gives Cleveland something to work with. His surface-level 4.18 ERA doesn't capture what's happened in June — a 1.88 ERA across nearly 29 innings after he introduced a new slider that opposing hitters have batted just .059 against with a 36% whiff rate. His last start was 6 shutout innings against Seattle on 87 pitches, and he walked out with the win. He's not Martin, but he's trending up at the right time. The question is whether a lineup missing Ramirez can generate enough to turn Cecconi's recent form into a meaningful result.
The total market has told a clear story here — the under line moved significantly in the lead-up to first pitch, which makes sense when you stack both starters' recent outings. Neither allowed an earned run in his last start, both are limiting baserunners, and Cleveland's offense has a meaningful hole in it. This is a divisional game that means something in the standings, which tends to tighten things up rather than open them up.