White Sox – Chicago’s lineup for its 12:40 CT game at Comerica Park against Detroit features Sam Antonacci leading off again, Miguel Vargas missing the card, and Chase Meidroth making his first career cleanup start. On the mound, Davis Martin looks to rebound after a roug
When the Chicago White Sox lost the series to the Detroit Tigers the day before, the message for this one was clear: salvage the week with a different look, and get Davis Martin back on track.
The game is set for 12:40 CT at Comerica Park, with Chicago entering at 39-36 and Detroit sitting at 32-44. The matchup will be watched via CHSN and followed on ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM.
Chicago’s lineup starts with Sam Antonacci in left field at the top again. repeating the same lead-off spot he’s held recently. Andrew Benintendi follows in designated hitter. a spot that comes with recent production: in his last seven games. Benintendi is slashing .267/.313/.733 with two home runs. Colson Montgomery is placed in the three hole despite a rough stretch. and that’s also where the first notable absence appears.
Miguel Vargas is absent from the lineup. The reason is tied directly to form—over his last seven games, he has slashed .111/.111/.148 with six strikeouts.
The most unusual turn comes later. Chase Meidroth is moved into the cleanup spot for the first cleanup start of his career. He had been in the three-hole in Friday’s loss. but manager Will Venable is giving him the biggest responsibility in the order today. The decision stands out because Meidroth’s 2026 slugging percentage is .392.
Jacob Gonzalez is back in the lineup at first base, but he’s been struggling for at-bats lately. In his last seven games, Gonzalez is 0-for-18, and Chicago will need him to produce something—anything—to keep the offense from stalling early.
The Detroit Tigers lineup is built in a more conventional shape. with Kevin McGonigle at shortstop and Dillon Dingler behind the plate. Kerry Carpenter bats third in right field. followed by Riley Greene as the designated hitter. Spencer Torkelson at first base. and Colt Keith at third base. James Outman is in center field. Trei Cruz hits eighth in left field. and Zach McKinstry rounds it out at second base.
For Detroit, the player drawing most attention is Kerry Carpenter. He is 3-for-10 against Davis Martin with a home run. Otherwise, the top of the order keeps the same familiar structure: McGonigle, Dingler, Carpenter, Greene, and Torkelson fill the first half of the batting order.
The two pitchers were set up as the storylines in their own ways, too.
Davis Martin gets the start for the White Sox. After what the team calls a nightmare outing against the New York Yankees in his last start. Martin is trying to reset his footing. Against New York, he gave up a season-high nine runs in 3.1 innings. His season line now sits at a 3.31 ERA. and the rebound matters not just for this game but for his push back toward the American League Cy Young race. Against Detroit. the matchup is expected to be manageable if he can find his rhythm—Detroit’s offense carries the seventh-worst batting average in baseball.
On the other side, Detroit counters with Keider Montero. Montero has been effective for stretches this season, pitching to a 3.67 ERA in 73.2 innings. But his recent results have dipped: over his last seven games, he has a 4.24 ERA. In his previous appearance on June 16. Montero even came out of the bullpen. pitching just 1.1 innings and giving up an earned run. That recent usage and uneven form could matter against a White Sox lineup that is already adjusting its shape.
For the White Sox, the question isn’t just whether Martin can rebound. It’s whether the lineup changes—Benintendi rewarded, Vargas left out, Meidroth moved into cleanup, Gonzalez back after a cold run—can turn last day’s series loss into a win by the time the first pitch comes at 12:40 CT.
White Sox vs Tigers Comerica Park Davis Martin Keider Montero Miguel Vargas Chase Meidroth Sam Antonacci Andrew Benintendi Kerry Carpenter
Vargas out again? Sounds like he’s cooked.
They keep moving guys around like that fixes everything lol. I didn’t realize cleanup spot was a “first time career” thing though. Detroit usually eats lefties too so not loving this.
Wait so Meidroth is in cleanup because his slugging is only .392??? That seems backwards, like shouldn’t you put your best hitter there. Also Jacob Gonzalez 0-for-18… how is he still getting at-bats? I swear they just throw dudes in and hope.
Comerica Park means Detroit gonna hit 9 homers right? And then Chicago’s like ‘salvage the week’… okay. Why is Sam Antonacci leading off again if he’s not doing anything special? Feels like injuries and bench politics.