White Sox vs. Mets Showdown Tonight: Live Stream, Start Time, Pitching Matchups & Must-Know Betting Odds

FIRST PITCH DETAILS • Date & Time: Monday, May 26 2025, 4:10 p.m. ET • Ballpark: Citi Field, Queens, NY • TV & Stream: SNY (NY market), NBC Sports Chicago, MLB.TV, ESPN Radio national feed WHY THE MATCHUP MATTERS Memorial Day traditionally marks the point when MLB contenders and rebuilders separate. The New York Mets (32-21) trail the first-place Phillies by just two games in the National League East, while the Chicago White Sox (17-36) sit at the bottom of the American League Central and own the league’s worst road record (5-21). A red-hot Mets club that just won a series against the Dodgers meets a Sox squad desperate to stop the free-fall. PROBABLE PITCHERS • RHP Clay Holmes, Mets (5-3, 3.13 ERA) – New York’s converted closer has stretched out seamlessly, posting a 1.24 WHIP and allowing just five homers in 54 ⅔ IP. His heavy two-seamer plays even better at spacious Citi Field. • RHP Adrian Houser, White Sox (1-0, 0.00 ERA) – A deadline flier turned bright spot, Houser hasn’t allowed an earned run in two starts since being recalled but faces his toughest test yet against a deep Mets lineup. KEY STORYLINES TO WATCH Pete Alonso’s Power Surge Alonso leads the Mets with 40 RBI and a .536 SLG. He’s homered in three of his last five games and owns a .988 OPS at home this season, setting up a prime left-on-right matchup against Houser. Can Chicago’s Young Core Respond? Miguel Vargas (7 HR) and Lenyn Sosa (.283 AVG) are two of the few bright spots for the South Siders, but run production has stalled—Chicago’s .291 OBP ranks last in MLB. They’ll need traffic ahead of Luis Robert Jr. to avoid another low-scoring night. Bullpen Advantage New York’s relief corps owns a collective 2.81 ERA, second-best in the NL. Chicago’s pen, by contrast, sits at 4.10 ERA and has blown nine saves, a critical edge in what projects as a tight, late-inning series opener. RECENT FORM Mets: 4-1 over last five, including back-to-back wins vs. Los Angeles scoring eight runs combined. White Sox: 2-3 over last five, dropping series finale to Texas 5-4 despite outhitting the Rangers. STANDINGS SNAPSHOT • Mets: 32-21 (.604), 2 GB in NL East, 19-6 at home – best home winning percentage in baseball. • White Sox: 17-36 (.321), 17 GB in AL Central – already 4.5 games behind the fourth-place Royals. INJURY NOTES Chicago remains without starting catcher Korey Lee (10-day IL, back) and top prospect southpaw Hagen Smith (out until at least June 1). New York is still missing OF Jose Siri (10-day IL, oblique) but expects setup man Oliver Ortega back later this week. SERIES OUTLOOK & PREDICTION With Max Scherzer and Tylor Megill lined up for Games 2 and 3, the Mets are favored to secure at least two victories, but the opener is Chicago’s best chance behind an in-form Houser. Expect New York’s depth—and the power trio of Alonso, Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo—to tilt Monday’s matchup: Mets 5, White Sox 2. FAN TIPS • Memorial Day tickets were still available for as low as $28 on Monday morning. • Gates open at 2:10 p.m.; the first 15,000 fans receive a Mets beach towel. • Subway riders: Expect post-game service changes on the 7 line because of holiday scheduling. BOTTOM LINE “White Sox vs. Mets” may look like a mismatch on paper, but Houser’s emergence and Chicago’s hungry youngsters add intrigue. For New York, the goal is simple—defend Citi Field, keep pressure on Philadelphia, and send a message that the East runs through Queens.