Sunday’s series finale between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field serves as a critical juncture for both clubs, each seeking to generate forward momentum after an inconsistent start to the 2025 season. The Red Sox come into the contest with a 7–9 record and the bitter taste of a sloppy, error-plagued outing fresh in their minds, having committed five defensive miscues in a loss that drew harsh media scrutiny and a vocal response from manager Alex Cora. Boston’s inconsistencies have stemmed not just from defensive lapses, but also from streaky offense and rotation questions, although the latter appears to be steadied by the presence of left-hander Garrett Crochet, who will be making an emotionally charged start against his former club. Crochet has been stellar through his first appearances in a Red Sox uniform, posting a 1.45 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 18.2 innings, and his mix of velocity and late movement gives Boston a clear edge on the mound. His ability to attack hitters with confidence and precision has elevated the rotation’s ceiling, and Sunday will mark a personal milestone as he returns to face the White Sox, the team that drafted and developed him. Opposing him on the bump will be rookie right-hander Shane Smith, who has impressed in his own right with a 1.54 ERA, showcasing poise beyond his years and giving Chicago a legitimate shot to limit Boston’s potent bats.

The matchup is further intensified by recent lineup changes implemented by Cora, who is aiming to tighten up the defense and re-energize an offense that has looked powerful in spurts but lacks day-to-day consistency. The Red Sox are led at the plate by Wilyer Abreu and Kristian Campbell, who have combined for some of the hottest offensive starts in the league, with Abreu slashing .378/.703 and Campbell producing at a .341 clip with extra-base power. Boston’s top-of-the-order productivity has been solid, but the bottom half of the lineup continues to be a question mark in terms of sustained run production, and Sunday’s matchup against a promising but inexperienced arm in Smith presents both risk and reward. The White Sox, now sitting at 4–10, are attempting to extract positives from a frustrating opening month that has featured more questions than answers but also some silver linings. Offensively, they are led by Andrew Benintendi, who has been one of the few steady contributors, and they’ve seen promising flashes from Chase Meidroth, whose plate discipline and composure in his MLB debut showed long-term upside. Chicago’s issues remain centered around inconsistency in the bullpen and poor situational defense, both of which have undone several competitive outings. The over/under for this matchup is set at eight runs, and considering the quality of the starting pitching, this has the makings of a tightly contested game likely decided by execution in the middle innings and bullpen reliability. For Boston, this is a test of resilience—an opportunity to clean up fundamentals, lean on their pitching, and escape Chicago with a series win and some restored momentum. For the White Sox, it’s a chance to capitalize on their opponent’s shakiness, protect home turf, and provide a spark to a season that badly needs one. Either way, this game offers more than just another regular-season result—it’s a potential turning point for both teams.