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White Sox at Red Sox: Aug 4 Lineups Revealed + Critical Preview
Red Sox Make Blockbuster Trade for Adley Rutschman and Preview Tonight’s Game vs. White Sox
The Big News: Red Sox Land a Superstar Catcher
IMPORTANT POINT: The Boston Red Sox made the biggest splash of the MLB trade deadline on Monday, acquiring three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles.
Think of this like your baseball team trading a few promising rookie players and a backup catcher to get one of the best catchers in the entire league. It’s a "win now" move that shows the Red Sox believe they can make the playoffs this year.
What the Red Sox Gave Up
To get Rutschman, Boston traded away:
- Carlos Narváez — Their current backup catcher in the big leagues
- Anthony Eyanson — A highly rated right-handed pitching prospect
- Kyson Witherspoon — Another top right-handed pitching prospect
ELI5 Explanation: A "prospect" is a young player in the minor leagues who scouts think could become a star someday. Trading two top pitching prospects shows how much the Red Sox value Rutschman.
Two More Trades on the Same Day
The Red Sox weren’t done! They also made two smaller trades:
- Got outfielder Eli White from the Atlanta Braves
- Got reliever Erik Miller from the San Francisco Giants — but had to give up Marcelo Mayer, who was once considered the Red Sox’ #1 prospect
Who Is Adley Rutschman? (And Why Is He a Big Deal?)
- Age: 28 years old
- Bats: Switch-hitter (can hit from both sides of the plate — like being ambidextrous!)
- Honors: Three-time All-Star (picked as one of the best players in the league three times)
- Draft History: The #1 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft
- Current Status: On the Injured List (IL) for the third time this season with left wrist inflammation
INJURY UPDATE: Rutschman is expected to start a rehab assignment soon. This means he’ll play a few games in the minor leagues to prove he’s healthy before joining the Red Sox lineup.
What the Boss Had to Say
Craig Breslow (Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer — think of him as the "General Manager" or head of baseball operations) explained the thinking:
"Over the last month-and-a-half or so, this team has demonstrated just an incredible resilience… and put itself firmly in the playoff picture. They deserve — and our fans deserve — the front office’s efforts to try and find ways to make (the team) better. … You can see a core that should be here for many years into the future."
Translation: "Our players have fought hard and earned a playoff spot. We’re rewarding them by adding talent, and we think this group can win for a long time."
Tonight’s Game: Red Sox vs. White Sox
Game Details
- Date: Monday, August 4, 2026
- Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
- Location: Fenway Park (Boston)
- TV: NESN
- Radio: WEEI-FM 93.7
Starting Pitchers
| Team | Pitcher | Record | ERA | Simple Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Sox | Patrick Sandoval (Left-handed) | 0-0 | 3.32 | New to the team; making his 2nd start for Boston |
| White Sox | Davis Martin (Right-handed) | 9-5 | 3.62 | Solid starter; hasn’t won since June 10 |
ERA (Earned Run Average): The average number of runs a pitcher allows per 9 innings. Lower is better. Both pitchers have good ERAs (under 4.00).
Tonight’s Lineups (Who’s Playing Where)
Chicago White Sox (59-52 record)
- Meidroth — 2nd Base
- Murakami — 1st Base
- Vargas — 3rd Base
- Grichuk — Left Field
- C. Montgomery — Designated Hitter (bats only, no fielding)
- Bart — Catcher
- Doyle — Center Field
- B. Montgomery — Right Field
- Acuna — Shortstop
Boston Red Sox (60-51 record)
- Sogard — 2nd Base
- Rafaela — Center Field
- Abreu — Right Field
- Contreras — 1st Base
- Yoshida — Designated Hitter
- Durbin — 3rd Base
- Duran — Left Field
- Monasterio — Shortstop
- Wong — Catcher
Key Stats & Fun Facts for Tonight
Pitcher vs. Hitter History
White Sox batters vs. Patrick Sandoval (Red Sox starter):
- Colson Montgomery: 2 hits in 2 at-bats (1.000!)
- Braden Montgomery: 1 hit in 2 at-bats
- Luisangel Acuña: 1 hit in 2 at-bats
- Randal Grichuk: 1 hit in 5 at-bats
- Andrew Benintendi (former Red Sox!): 1 hit in 5 at-bats
Red Sox batters vs. Davis Martin (White Sox starter):
- Wilyer Abreu: 2 hits in 7 at-bats
- Masataka Yoshida: 1 hit in 3 at-bats
- Caleb Durbin: 1 hit in 2 at-bats
- Ceddanne Rafaela: 1 hit in 7 at-bats
- Jarren Duran: 0 hits in 7 at-bats (uh oh!)
- Connor Wong: 0 hits in 2 at-bats
Stat of the Day
Sandoval is 0-3 with a 6.41 ERA in four career starts against the White Sox — but he did get a 2-1 win in his Red Sox debut on July 9 against them!
Other Interesting Notes
- White Sox Playoff Push: Chicago hasn’t made the playoffs since 2021, but they currently have a 3-game lead in the AL Central after winning 4 of 5 against the Yankees and Rays.
- White Sox Also Busy: They added starter Luis Castillo (from Mariners) on Sunday, then on Monday got reliever Huascar Brazoban (Mets), outfielder Brenton Doyle (Rockies), and catcher Joey Bart (Braves).
- Former Red Sox Alert: Andrew Benintendi (who played for Boston 2016-2020) now plays for the White Sox and has 12 home runs this season.
- Martin’s Struggles: Davis Martin hasn’t won a start since June 10. He’s 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA in 3 career starts vs. Boston, including a rough outing on July 8 (5 runs in 4 innings).
Summary: What You Need to Know
- Red Sox went ALL IN — Traded top prospects for elite catcher Adley Rutschman
- Rutschman is hurt — On IL with wrist inflammation, but rehab coming soon
- Two more trades — Added Eli White (OF) and Erik Miller (reliever); lost top prospect Marcelo Mayer
- Playoff push is real — Red Sox are 60-51, firmly in Wild Card race
- Tonight’s game — Sandoval vs. Martin at 7:10 p.m. on NESN
- White Sox also loading up — Both teams believe they can win now
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
1. Why did the Red Sox trade top prospects for a player who’s currently injured?
Great question! The Red Sox are betting on Rutschman’s long-term track record (3 All-Star selections, former #1 pick) rather than his current injury. Wrist inflammation typically heals with rest, and he’s only 28 — prime years for a catcher. They believe he’ll be a difference-maker for the playoff push and for years to come.
2. Who is Marcelo Mayer and why does losing him matter?
Mayer was the #4 overall pick in the 2021 draft and considered the Red Sox’ best position player prospect — a shortstop with star potential. Trading him signals extreme urgency to win now. The front office thinks Erik Miller (the reliever they got) helps the current team more than Mayer might help in 2-3 years.
3. What’s a "rehab assignment"?
When a big-league player is hurt, they go to the minor leagues for a few games to test their body in real game action before returning to the majors. It’s like a "trial run" to make sure they’re 100% ready.
4. How do the Red Sox and White Sox stack up for the playoffs?
- Red Sox (60-51): In American League Wild Card hunt, added major talent at deadline
- White Sox (59-52): Leading the AL Central by 3 games, also added several players
Both teams clearly believe 2026 is their year.
5. Where can I watch tonight’s game?
TV: NESN (New England Sports Network)
Radio: WEEI-FM 93.7
First pitch: 7:10 p.m. Eastern Time
Article based on reporting by Cam Kerry (cam.kerry@globe.com) for The Boston Globe, August 4, 2026.
