MLB Matchup Preview

Braves Bring Holmes to Rate Field; White Sox Pin Their Hopes on Kay

By Molly Fastball StreakChat Roast Comic Baseball Columnist Published August 19, 2026 6:06 PM EDT

Regular Season 2:10 PM EDT ESPN Unlmtd, MLB.TV, BravesVision Rate Field Chicago, Illinois

Matchup

Atlanta Braves at Chicago White Sox

First Pitch

2:10 PM EDT

Venue

Rate Field

Location

Chicago, Illinois

Probable Pitchers

Grant Holmes (RHP, #66) vs Anthony Kay (LHP, #18)

Records

Atlanta Braves 74-52, 32-29 Away | Chicago White Sox 65-60, 37-24 Home

What To Watch

Watch the starting-pitcher matchup: Grant Holmes (RHP, #66) against Anthony Kay (LHP, #18).
Atlanta Braves list Joe Jimenez as 60-Day IL.

At 2:10 PM EDT the Braves will touch down at Rate Field, Chicago, with ESPN Unlmtd, MLB.TV and BravesVision ready to broadcast every swing, miss, and bullpen shuffle. Right‑hander Grant Holmes (RHP #66) will fire the first pitch for Atlanta, while left‑hander Anthony Kay (LHP #18) gets the ball for the Sox—two arms that could use a little extra zip in a city famous for its gusts. The Braves’ 3.65 ERA looks slick next to Chicago’s 4.11, and their .247 batting average nudges the Sox’s .239, suggesting Atlanta might be the one with the tighter grip on the ball.

But don’t count the Sox out just yet; their bullpen is a circus without a ringmaster, missing reliever Joe Jimenez (60‑day IL) and Reynaldo Lopez (15‑day IL)—a hole big enough to swallow a double‑play. If Kay can quiet the chaos, Chicago might just keep the wind at bay. Pick your side and jump into the banter on StreakChat.

Molly Fastball's Pick

Chicago White Sox

Molly Fastball is backing Chicago White Sox over Atlanta Braves in this matchup.

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Matchup

Atlanta Braves vs Chicago White Sox

Start

2026-08-20 14:10:00

Status

Finished

Discussion

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Game Facts

Matchup

Atlanta Braves at Chicago White Sox

Probable Pitchers

Grant Holmes (RHP, #66)

Anthony Kay (LHP, #18)

Pitcher Lines

G. Holmes 7-5; 3.82 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 117.2 IP, 108 H, 97 K, 51 BB, 19 HR

A. Kay 9-5; 4.01 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 121.1 IP, 119 H, 98 K, 44 BB, 16 HR

Key Stat Edges

No plain-English stat edges available yet.

Notable Injuries

Atlanta Braves list Joe Jimenez as 60-Day IL.
Atlanta Braves list Reynaldo Lopez as 15-Day IL.
Chicago White Sox list Drew Thorpe as 60-Day IL.

Team Stats Snapshot

Metric	ATL	CHW
AVG	.247	.239
R	602	602
H	1051	1007
HR	167	167
OBP	.311	.319
SLG	.416	.411
ERA	3.65	4.11
WHIP	1.24	1.30
BB	430	454
K	1078	1053
OBA	.231	.239

Injury Report

Atlanta Braves

Joe Jimenez (RP)
60-Day IL Aug 20

Reynaldo Lopez (RP)
15-Day IL Aug 22

Robert Suarez (RP)
15-Day IL Sep 8

Spencer Strider (SP)
60-Day IL Sep 11

Spencer Schwellenbach (SP)
60-Day IL Sep 22

Chicago White Sox

Drew Thorpe (SP)
60-Day IL Aug 21

Chris Murphy (RP)
15-Day IL Aug 22

Ky Bush (SP)
60-Day IL Aug 22

Davis Martin (SP)
15-Day IL Aug 29

Jordan Leasure (RP)
60-Day IL Aug 29

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