The Tampa Bay Rays host the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg for a 1:40 PM ET first pitch. Griffin Jax gets the ball for Tampa Bay opposite Chicago's Anthony Kay in what shapes up as a pitching matchup worth watching. With the regular season deep into its second half, every game at The Trop carries real weight in the standings race, and the Rays will be leaning on Jax to deliver a quality start in front of the home crowd.
Pitching Matchup: Griffin Jax vs. Anthony Kay
Griffin Jax draws the Sunday afternoon assignment for Tampa Bay. Jax has experience working out of both starting and relief roles at the big-league level, and his ability to attack hitters with a varied arsenal makes him a legitimate weapon whenever the Rays hand him the ball. How deep he can go into this game will be a key variable for a Rays pitching staff that prioritizes keeping the bullpen fresh over a long season.
Anthony Kay gets the nod for Chicago. Kay is a left-handed arm who has shown the ability to mix pitches and keep offenses off-balance when he is locating. The Rays lineup will need to stay disciplined early, work counts, and look to expose any command inconsistencies before Kay finds a rhythm.
Keys to Watch for the Rays
- Jax's command in the strike zone: His effectiveness hinges on getting ahead in counts and limiting walks. Free passes against any lineup accelerate pitch counts and shorten outings.
- Offensive patience against Kay: Left-handed starters can give Tampa Bay fits if the lineup starts chasing early. Working deep counts and forcing Kay to throw strikes will be critical.
- Bullpen availability: Depending on how Jax fares, the Rays will need their relief corps ready. Managing that arm inventory through a Sunday day game matters for the week ahead.
- Capitalizing at home: Tropicana Field provides a familiar setting for the Rays. Using the home environment to jump on early mistakes and build momentum is something Tampa Bay has shown the ability to do.
Broadcast Information
Sunday's game can be seen locally on Rays.TV and in the Chicago market on Chicago Sports Network. Radio coverage is available on WDAE 95.7 FM for Rays fans and ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM for White Sox listeners. Spanish-language coverage airs on WQBN 1300 AM.
Prediction
This is a winnable game for Tampa Bay at home. Jax has the tools to keep Chicago's offense manageable, and if the Rays offense shows patience against Kay and puts together quality at-bats early, the runs should come. Expect a competitive, lower-scoring affair that the Rays take by a margin of one or two runs. Give the edge to Tampa Bay, 4-2.
