When the 2026 MLB schedule came out, nobody took notice of a late-June matchup between the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox. While the Guardians would be wrapping up a nine-game road trip, their visit to Chicago was likely seen as a soft landing spot after a difficult stretch.
Instead, approaching the midway point of the season, the three-game series at Rate Field is of utmost importance. It is the first meeting of the season between the Guardians and White Sox, who have been battling for first place in the AL Central for the past two months.
Thanks to recent slumps by both teams, Cleveland enters the opener on Monday with a one-game lead over Chicago. The outcome of these three games could set the tone for the rest of the campaign.
That is why this Guardians matchup against the surprising White Sox is being named by MLB.com among the series to watch this week.
“Both clubs are vying for the AL Central division and will face off for the first time nearly halfway through the 2026 season. The Guardians took 11 of 13 games from the White Sox in 2025, but it’s important to note that this Chicago club is much improved. The Guardians continue to outperform their preseason expectations and look like they could win the AL Central again. The White Sox, meanwhile, are just two years removed from a historically bad 2024 season and are ahead of schedule on their rebuilding timeline,” Brent Maguire wrote.
After winning the division each of the past two years and being an annual contender over the past decade, the Guardians were expected to be in this position at this point of the season. However, they will play the series without three of their top hitters, with Jose Ramirez, Chase DeLauter and Angel Martinez each on the injured list.
Cleveland does have its two best starting pitchers on tap to begin the series, with All-Star candidates Gavin Williams on the mound in the opener, followed by Parker Messick on Tuesday night. Tanner Bibee is set for the finale on Wednesday afternoon.
After losing 100-plus games in each of the past two seasons, the White Sox are a very surprising playoff contender. They have overcome an injury to rookie first baseman Munetaka Murakami, who had hit 20 home runs in his first 57 MLB games.
Chicago will not use its best starting pitcher, Davis Martin, in this series. He pitched Sunday in a loss to the Detroit Tigers that ended a three-game sweep.
Cleveland is also struggling, with four losses in its past six games, so each team will be looking to regain its form and make a statement over the next three days.
NEXT: Guardians Move Up In Latest MLB Power Rankings
