At 2:05 p.m. Central Standard Time this afternoon, the Chicago White Sox will take on the Chicago Cubs in the first game of Cactus League play and spring training 2026.

It’s the first step in what should be a very long — but very meaningful — 2026 season for the White Sox organization. A year in which fans are expecting another significant jump forward, and the trajectories of many players will be revealed.

And it all starts in spring training — where we’ll get our first look at many new White Sox additions and how they fit with their new squad.

Of course, we’ll also get to see White Sox prospects who have been rising through the minor leagues and find out how they gel with a big-league lineup — or how they perform against MLB-caliber pitching.

Many times, a spring training lineup leaves a lot to be desired for fans. It can include plenty of non-roster invites or depth pieces who have little chance of making the big-league team.

But at least to start the Cactus League schedule in 2026, the White Sox are giving fans plenty of reasons to tune in.

Here’s how the White Sox will line up against the Cubs.

SP — RHP Jonathan Cannon

Every Sox fan is excited to watch the spring training debut of Munetaka Murakami, the superstar Japanese first baseman who signed a two-year contract with the White Sox in free agency. Watching him this spring may answer some questions about how his power will translate to Major League Baseball.

Sam Antonacci might be the most underrated prospect in the farm system. He gained a lot of attention and climbed rankings in 2025, but does he fit in with this core — and can he keep the offensive momentum rolling?

Austin Hays, Everson Pereira, and Tanner Murray are all offseason additions who will also have my attention. Pereira, in particular, is a reclamation project that could pay dividends if Chicago unlocks his offensive potential. He had consistent success in the upper levels of the minor leagues but has never truly been given the runway to establish himself as a big leaguer.

Curtis Mead and Korey Lee might not excite everyone under most circumstances. But both appear to be in an active battle for a roster spot — maybe even with each other. Who will prove to be more valuable this spring? It starts Friday afternoon against the Cubs.

There is no White Sox television broadcast available for the game. A radio broadcast will air on ESPN AM 1000, and the television broadcast can be found on Marquee Sports Network.