February 26, 2026 | Camelback Ranch, Glendale, AZ | 2:05 PM CT | MLB Network, NBC Sports Chicago
The Chicago White Sox (63–99 last year) face the Los Angeles Dodgers (94–68, NL West champs) today, and this is going to be brutal. They have Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Walker Buehler. We have Luis Robert Jr. when he’s healthy, Colson Montgomery hoping to become a star, and Drew Thorpe trying to prove he belongs.
The Dodgers won 94 games and made a deep playoff run. We lost 99 games and were historically terrible. They’re built to win the World Series. We’re built to tank and stockpile prospects.
This is the kind of spring training game that shows you exactly how far you have to go. And for White Sox fans who suffered through last season, it’s a harsh reminder that we’re years away from competing with teams like Los Angeles.
But you know what? Our young guys still need to compete. Colson Montgomery still needs at-bats against elite pitching. Drew Thorpe still needs to test himself against a championship-caliber lineup. And Luis Robert Jr. still needs to stay healthy.
Let’s see what we’ve got.
Where the White Sox Stand (Still at Rock Bottom)
2025 Record: 63–99
We lost 99 games last year. The pitching was a disaster. The defense was embarrassing. And offensively, we couldn’t score consistently to save our lives.
The front office tore it all down—traded veterans, stockpiled prospects, and committed to a full rebuild. It’s painful watching losing baseball, but if Montgomery, Thorpe, and the rest of our young core develop into stars, it’ll be worth it.
Key Players:
- Luis Robert Jr. (CF): Elite talent when healthy—30-homer power, Gold Glove defense, elite speed. “When healthy” is the problem.
- Colson Montgomery (SS): Our top prospect, the franchise cornerstone we’re banking on.
- Erick Fedde (SP): Veteran arm who mentors young pitchers.
Top Prospects:
- Bryan Ramos (3B): Power bat trying to prove he’s ready
- Drew Thorpe (RHP): Gets the start today against a championship lineup
- Edgar Quero (C): Young catcher with offensive upside
Drew Thorpe vs Walker Buehler and the Dodgers’ lineup is a massive test. Can Thorpe compete with Betts, Freeman, and company? Or will they expose him as not ready?
The Los Angeles Dodgers: What a Real Contender Looks Like
2025 Record: 94–68 (NL West Champions)
The Dodgers are everything we’re not—elite talent, organizational depth, championship culture, and a front office that actually knows what they’re doing.
Key Players:
- Mookie Betts (OF): MVP-caliber superstar, does everything at an elite level
- Freddie Freeman (1B): Perennial All-Star, championship pedigree
- Walker Buehler (RHP): Ace when healthy, getting the start today
Top Prospects:
- Dalton Rushing (C): Catching prospect with upside
- Diego Cartaya (C): Another catching prospect in a loaded system
- Gavin Stone (RHP): Pitching depth piece
The Dodgers have been to the World Series multiple times in the last decade. They develop talent, they sign stars, and they compete every single year. That’s the model we need to follow, but we’re nowhere close.
The Talent Gap Is Massive
| Position | White Sox | Dodgers |
|---|---|---|
| Center Field | Luis Robert Jr. | Mookie Betts |
| Shortstop | Colson Montgomery | Gavin Lux |
| Starting Pitcher | Drew Thorpe | Walker Buehler |
Luis Robert Jr. vs Mookie Betts in Center
When healthy, Robert has the talent to compete with anyone. But Betts is a proven MVP who plays 150+ games a year. That consistency and durability is the difference between a star and a “what if” guy.
Colson Montgomery vs Gavin Lux at Shortstop
Montgomery is our top prospect trying to prove he’s ready. Lux is an established major leaguer on a championship team. Montgomery has higher upside, but Lux is the safer, more proven player right now.
Drew Thorpe vs Walker Buehler on the Mound
Buehler is a proven ace with postseason experience and elite stuff. Thorpe is a prospect hoping to earn a rotation spot. The gap is massive, and Thorpe’s about to find out what facing real competition feels like.
What the White Sox Need to See Today
Drew Thorpe Competes (Even If He Gets Hit)
The Dodgers’ lineup is loaded with elite hitters. Thorpe’s going to give up runs—that’s expected. What matters is whether he competes, executes his pitches, and shows he belongs at this level. Three or four innings with some strikeouts and competitive at-bats would be progress.
Colson Montgomery Handles Elite Pitching
Walker Buehler is going to challenge Montgomery with high-90s fastballs and elite breaking stuff. Can Montgomery lay off tough pitches? Can he make hard contact when he gets something to hit? This is the kind of at-bat that shows whether he’s ready for the majors.
Luis Robert Jr. Stays Healthy
I’m a broken record, but staying healthy is all that matters with Robert. Just get through the game without tweaking something. If he can give us a full season, he’s a game-changer. If not, we’re stuck hoping someone else becomes our best player.
Bryan Ramos Shows He Belongs
Ramos has power, but can he handle velocity and spin from Dodgers pitching? Show bat-to-ball skills, take smart at-bats, and prove you’re not just organizational depth.
Don’t Get Embarrassed
The Dodgers are going to win. We know that. But if Betts, Freeman, and company go a combined 10-for-15 with five homers, that’s a problem. Make them work for everything and don’t beat ourselves with errors.
What the Dodgers Will Bring (And Why We’re Getting Destroyed)
Walker Buehler will probably dominate for 4-5 innings. Mookie Betts will do something incredible—a homer, a stolen base, a diving catch. Freddie Freeman will get his hits and work professional at-bats.
The Dodgers’ depth—both pitching and hitting—will overwhelm us. They’re a playoff team with championship experience. We’re a 63-win team hoping our prospects develop.
This is the gap we’re trying to close. And it’s not happening in 2026.
White Sox Fan Prediction: We Get Handled
Final Score: Dodgers 7, White Sox 3
Walker Buehler throws five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, making our hitters look completely overmatched. Mookie Betts goes 3-for-4 with a homer and a stolen base. Freddie Freeman adds two more RBIs with professional at-bats.
Drew Thorpe battles but gives up four runs in four innings—not terrible against that lineup, but not competitive. Colson Montgomery goes 1-for-3 with a single and looks overmatched at times. Luis Robert Jr. crushes a solo homer because that’s what he does, then exits early as a precaution (of course).
The Dodgers’ depth takes over in the late innings, and they cruise. We show flashes—maybe Bryan Ramos drives one deep, maybe Edgar Quero throws out a runner—but it’s painfully clear they’re on a different level.
And that’s reality. They’re competing for championships. We’re competing to not lose 100 games again.
Why This Game Matters (Even Though We’re Probably Losing)
The scoreboard doesn’t matter. But seeing our young guys compete against championship-caliber talent does.
Can Drew Thorpe hold his own against a Dodgers lineup that made the playoffs? Will Colson Montgomery show he can handle Walker Buehler’s stuff? Can Luis Robert Jr. stay on the field?
The Dodgers represent what we’re trying to build toward—elite talent, organizational depth, sustainable success. They develop prospects into stars. They sign impact players. They compete every year.
We need to do the same. If we can’t, we’re stuck in perpetual rebuild mode while teams like Los Angeles win championships.
The Harsh Reality of Where We Are
We lost 99 games last year. The Dodgers won 94 and made a deep playoff run. That 31-game gap is enormous.
But spring training shows whether we’re moving in the right direction. Are our prospects developing? Is our pitching improving? Can we compete—even for a few innings—with elite teams?
If the answer is yes, then maybe we’re competitive in 2027 or 2028. If not, we’re looking at another lost decade.
For now, we’re watching Colson Montgomery audition to be our franchise cornerstone. We’re hoping Drew Thorpe becomes a frontline starter. We’re praying Luis Robert Jr. stays healthy.
Because without those guys developing into stars, we’re not closing the gap on teams like the Dodgers.
Go Sox!!! Survive the rebuild (it’s gonna be a while).
The post White Sox vs Dodgers Spring Training February 26: Reality Check Against a Championship Team appeared first on UrbanMatter.
