White Sox Hold Off Philadelphia, 6-2, as Trade Deadline Approaches

by Jake Lax, July 28, 2025

With the MLB trade deadline just days away, the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies find themselves on opposite sides of the transaction table. The Phillies are preparing to add the finishing touches to a roster built for October, while the White Sox are openly shopping pieces as they look toward the future.

At the center of Chicago’s trade chatter is Luis Robert Jr., a player who has never quite reached his full potential in a White Sox uniform but remains one of the most dynamic outfielders in the game. Whether the Sox exercise his team option or trade him for young talent, Robert’s recent hot streak has only increased his value, as Monday night showed.

Meanwhile, the Phillies, who already boast sluggers like Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, have been linked to trade targets like Eugenio Suárez — and yes, even Robert Jr. himself. After seeing him up close in Chicago, the front office may be more tempted than ever to make a move. Even if Philadelphia decides to stay put, I firmly believe they are a team that will be playing in the NLCS for the Pennant.

Sox Strike First in Series Opener

Monday night’s series opener featured a tough pitching matchup: Cristopher Sánchez for the Phillies, who came in with a 2.55 ERA and nine wins, and Davis Martin for the White Sox, looking to build on a strong second half. Sánchez, a former All-Star and key piece of the Phillies’ dangerously deep rotation that they hope can continue to carry them into October.

Martin made an immediate statement, striking out Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper in order in the first inning. He retired the first seven batters he faced before running into trouble in the third. After a pair of singles and a walk, Harper delivered a two-run double up the middle to put Philadelphia on the board. That was it for the Phillies’ offense — all quiet from there on out.

In the bottom of the third, rookie shortstop Colson Montgomery stepped up with a big swing, launching a two-run home run to right field to tie the game at 2–2. It was his fourth homer of the season since being called up just before the All-Star break, continuing an impressive stretch for the 22-year-old.

Moments later, Luis Robert Jr. gave the White Sox the lead with a towering two-run shot of his own — a swing that may prove to be one of his last in a White Sox uniform. As the trade deadline approaches, Robert continues to build his value with each at-bat, making a deal before Thursday increasingly likely.

The Sox added much-needed insurance in the eighth, courtesy of their young infield duo. Lenyn Sosa and Montgomery each delivered RBI singles, extending Chicago’s lead to 6–2 and giving the bullpen breathing room to close things out.

On The Bump

Davis Martin earned the win with 5 ⅔ innings of strong work, scattering six hits, walking three, and striking out seven against one of the NL’s most dangerous lineups. He also flashed the leather with a diving stop to end the fifth inning.

In the ninth, rookie Grant Taylor shut the door in style, striking out two in a clean three-up, three-down frame to secure the victory.

Cristopher Sánchez was tagged with the loss for Philadelphia, who have now dropped two straight, falling to 60–46. The White Sox, meanwhile, continue to show signs of life in the second half, improving to 39–68 and 7–3 since the All-Star break.

Game 2 of the series is set for Tuesday night. The Phillies will turn to Jesús Luzardo, while the White Sox send Jonathan Cannon to the mound. With the trade deadline looming on Thursday, both teams will be closely watched — for different reasons. Whether it’s Philadelphia fine-tuning for October or Chicago reshaping for 2026 and beyond, this series feels like more than just another set of midseason games.