Marlins and White Sox meet in series rubber match

Miami looks to take the series after splitting the first two games

Apr. 1, 2026 at 8:03am

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The Miami Marlins (4-1) and Chicago White Sox (1-4) will face off in the rubber match of their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon in Miami. The Marlins won the opener 6-3 before the White Sox evened the series with a 5-2 victory on Tuesday.

Why it matters

This series represents an early-season matchup between two teams looking to bounce back from disappointing 2025 campaigns. The Marlins are hoping to build on their strong start, while the White Sox are trying to get their season on track after a rough opening week.

The details

In Wednesday's finale, the Marlins will send ace Sandy Alcantara (1-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound, while the White Sox counter with Shane Smith (0-1, 16.20 ERA). Alcantara was dominant in his first start, tossing 6 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts. The White Sox will be looking to even the series and avoid falling further behind in the AL Central.

  • The series opener was played on Monday, April 1.
  • The second game of the series took place on Tuesday, April 2.
  • The rubber match is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3 at 1:10 p.m. EDT.

The players

Sandy Alcantara

The Marlins' ace pitcher, who is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA so far this season.

Shane Smith

The White Sox starting pitcher for Wednesday's game, who has struggled with a 16.20 ERA in his first outing.

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What they’re saying

“We know we have to be better if we want to compete in this division. This series is an important early test for us.”

— Tony La Russa, White Sox Manager

“Sandy has been throwing the ball really well, and we're confident he can give us another strong outing to help us win this series.”

— Don Mattingly, Marlins Manager

What’s next

The winner of Wednesday's game will take the three-game series. Both teams will then have Thursday off before returning to action on Friday, with the Marlins hosting the Phillies and the White Sox visiting the Guardians.

The takeaway

This rubber match represents an important early-season test for both the Marlins and White Sox as they look to bounce back from subpar 2025 campaigns. The Marlins will be relying on their ace Alcantara to lead them to the series victory, while the White Sox are hoping a win can help jumpstart their season.