White Sox brace for big homestand, beginning with Braves

Despite slumping to a 2-4 road trip to Minnesota and Philadelphia, the Chicago White Sox boast 34 victories -- a total they didn't reach last season until July 19.

Squarely in the American League Central hunt entering Tuesday's visit from the Atlanta Braves, the White Sox are eager to return to Chicago for a six-game homestand against the Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.

The White Sox hope their fans can add oomph against the clubs with the two best winning percentages in baseball.

"When Rate Field has 38,000 or 39,000 people, it's a hard place to play," said White Sox right-hander Davis Martin. "I hope Chicago shows up. ... On the road, it's a different story. At home, the crowd and the energy, we feed off that."

Chicago lost two of three at Philadelphia over the weekend and was unable to keep pace in the late innings during Sunday's 9-5 defeat in the series finale.

Veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk delivered a go-ahead, pinch-hit, two-run single in the fifth inning to give Chicago its last lead at 5-4.

Grichuk homered twice against Philadelphia in a loss Friday and is batting .385 (5-for-13) with four RBIs in June. The White Sox put him near the top of the lineup whenever they face a left-handed starter and rush him into a game as soon as a lefty reliever toes the slab.

"He is a guy that is feeling very good at the plate," Chicago manager Will Venable said. "He is a huge weapon for us."

Atlanta enjoyed pinch-hitting heroics of its own on Sunday. Michael Harris II cleared the bases with a pinch-hit double in the seventh inning to secure a 3-2 victory that cemented a three-game sweep of the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.

As with Martin in Chicago, Harris can attest to the boost raucous supporters can provide.

"Just coming in and knowing I got to do a job," Harris said Sunday. "Big-time situation, just kind of staying poised. I fed off the crowd today. Once I came in to pinch-hit, it was really loud -- it sounded like a playoff game. I couldn't let them down."

With four straight series victories, the Braves haven't disappointed lately. Pirates pitching limited Atlanta to three hits on Sunday, but the MLB-leading Braves still prevailed for their eighth win in 10 games.

Matt Olson, who leads the Braves with 17 home runs and 47 RBIs, went 0-for-4 Sunday but had three multi-hit efforts during Atlanta's 5-1 homestand.

Atlanta will try to win a sixth straight series opener on Tuesday as it turns to righty Grant Holmes (4-2, 3.86 ERA).

Holmes contributed a quality start for the second time in his past four outings during Wednesday's victory against the Toronto Blue Jays. He scattered two runs and five hits in six innings with two walks, one hit batter and four strikeouts.

Holmes has not faced the White Sox in his career.

Chicago will rely on righty Erick Fedde, who made five appearances and four starts with the Braves last season.

Fedde (1-5, 4.94) pitched five scoreless innings on Wednesday at Minnesota to earn his first victory since Aug. 9, 2025, as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Fedde stopped a streak of six straight outings with at least one home run allowed. He spaced two hits, one walk and two strikeouts against Minnesota but has struggled against the Braves in his career, going 0-6 with a 9.59 ERA in 12 appearances (11 starts). He has surrendered 16 homers in 50 2/3 innings against Atlanta.

--Field Level Media