Jose Urquidy Starts as White Sox Host Rangers in Series Opener

Right-handed pitcher Jose Urquidy takes the mound on Monday, August 24, 2026, making his first traditional Major League Baseball start in nearly three years as the Chicago White Sox host the Texas Rangers at Rate Field.

Chicago enters the three-game series holding a 68-62 record and a three-and-a-half game lead in the AL Central. The team turns to Urquidy to provide starter length following heavy workload demands on their bullpen staff.

Urquidy last made a conventional major league start on September 29, 2023, with the Houston Astros before undergoing his second career Tommy John surgery. After joining Chicago via trade, he picked up two relief wins, including six scoreless frames against the Chicago Cubs.

Addressing the evolved landscape of major league hitting and pitching velocity, Urquidy reflected on his approach to remaining competitive after his recovery.

"Hitters are more powerful, pitchers too; throwing a lot of pitches 100 mph," said Urquidy, White Sox starting pitcher. "I’m just trying to be athletic, with energy, spinning the ball well. That’s something I have to do to survive here."

To navigate line-ups, the veteran right-hander relies on mixing up his timing, using quick pitches, long holds, and pacing his work within the pitch clock constraints.

"If I see I got 14 seconds on me, or 10, or more than that, I have 10 seconds to do whatever I want," Urquidy said, White Sox starting pitcher. "I will take my time. I will breathe more.

I will check a grip here. I will think what I’m gonna do next."

The opposing Texas Rangers bring a 65-66 record into the series, tied for the AL West lead with Houston. Right-hander Kumar Rocker gets the start for Texas, carrying a 4-10 record and a 4.46 ERA on the season.

Roster adjustments continue for Chicago elsewhere, as rookie pitcher Shane Smith works through Triple-A adjustments following a shoulder issue and an increased workload from last season. White Sox senior advisor to pitching Brian Bannister detailed the mechanical adjustments Smith made during the offseason.

"He made some compensations that felt good to him, but I think took away some of the kind of magic elements he had in his delivery, and the variance in his movement, and a lot of the things that allowed him to have that All-Star season last year," said Brian Bannister, White Sox senior advisor to pitching. "We were starting to get back to that, and then he was dealing with the shoulder stuff."

In other team news, catcher Kyle Teel begins a Triple-A rehab assignment on Tuesday to test his left ankle. White Sox bench coach Walker McKinven outlined the club's plan to reintegrate Teel into the major league lineup.

"We’ll ease him back, understanding how his season has gone from an injury standpoint," said Walker McKinven, White Sox bench coach. "But Kyle’s important. Kyle’s going to play."

Additionally, infielder Sam Antonacci set a new White Sox franchise record on Sunday after being hit by a pitch for the 24th time this season. First pitch between the White Sox and Rangers is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. CST.