The Texas Rangers head to Rate Field on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, for a 7:40 PM ET first pitch against the Chicago White Sox. Jacob deGrom gets the ball for Texas, squaring off against Chicago's Anthony Kay in what shapes up as an intriguing pitching matchup. For a Rangers club chasing wins deep into the regular season, every start from deGrom carries weight — and this one is no different. Coverage is available on Rangers Sports Network, presented by Progressive, as well as 105.3 The Fan for radio listeners.

Probable Starters: Jacob deGrom vs. Anthony Kay

deGrom on the mound is always the headline. When healthy, the right-hander is one of the most electric arms in baseball, and the Rangers will lean on him to keep Chicago's lineup quiet through the middle innings. The White Sox counter with Anthony Kay, a left-hander who gets the ball at home.

Chicago sends out a lineup with some recognizable names. Munetaka Murakami slots in at first base and bats second, giving the Sox a power threat early in the order. Miguel Vargas hits third at third base, while the Montgomery brothers — Braden in right field batting fourth and Colson at shortstop batting fifth — give Chicago a pair of intriguing middle-of-the-order options. Drew Romo catches and bats ninth for the White Sox.

Keys to Watch for the Rangers

• deGrom's command: When deGrom is on, he limits traffic on the bases and works deep into games. His ability to get ahead in counts and finish hitters will be the single biggest factor in Texas's chances Tuesday night.
• Handling the Montgomery duo: Braden and Colson Montgomery give Chicago back-to-back threats in the three and four holes of the lineup. Getting through that stretch without damage will be critical for Texas pitching and defense.
• Murakami's power: The Japanese slugger is a legitimate run-producing threat. Pitching around him carelessly could prove costly, but challenging him with premium stuff is also a risk. How the Rangers attack him will be worth watching from the first at-bat.
• Rangers' offensive response: Texas will need to put together quality at-bats against Kay and keep the pressure on. Stranding runners early has a way of making a good pitching performance feel hollow by the late innings.

Prediction

When deGrom is right, the Rangers are a difficult team to beat, and Tuesday's road trip to Rate Field feels like a spot where Texas can steal a win. The White Sox lineup has enough pieces to make things uncomfortable, particularly with Murakami and the Montgomery brothers capable of doing damage in bunches. But if deGrom commands his fastball and secondary offerings the way he's capable of, the Rangers should be in control for the bulk of this one. Texas wins a tight one, 3-1.