The 2026 MLB Spring Training is heating up in earnest.
Tomorrow (February 25) at 5:10 AM KST, the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox will face off at the Peoria Sports Complex in Arizona.
This matchup features Seattle, who claimed first place in the American League West in 2025 and achieved their first division title in 21 years, against the Chicago White Sox, who are pushing hard to rebuild after their historic 121-loss season.
Both teams made notable moves during the offseason, making it exciting to see what they'll show in this first Spring Training showdown.
Game Overview
| Category | Details |
| Event | 2026 MLB Spring Training (Cactus League) |
| Date & Time | February 25, 2026 (Wed) 5:10 AM KST |
| Venue | Peoria Sports Complex (Peoria, Arizona) |
| Home Team | Seattle Mariners |
| Away Team | Chicago White Sox |
| Broadcast | MLB.TV / SPOTV |
The Peoria Sports Complex has served as the Spring Training home for the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres since 1994.
Ranked as the 4th best Spring Training facility in the United States by USA TODAY, it provides an optimal environment for season preparation under Arizona's mild weather.
2025 Season Review for Both Teams
The Seattle Mariners posted a 90-72 record in 2025, claiming first place in the American League West.
It was a remarkable achievement — their first division title in 24 years since 2001.
Catcher Cal Raleigh made MLB history by hitting an unprecedented 60 home runs in a single season.
He shattered the all-time record for home runs by a catcher (previously Salvador Perez with 48), the most home runs by a switch hitter (previously Mickey Mantle with 54), and the franchise record (previously Ken Griffey Jr. with 56) — all in one historic season.
Julio Rodriguez also had a strong year, batting .273 with 20 home runs, 68 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases, achieving his third career 20-20 season.
On the pitching side, Luis Castillo (11-8, 3.54 ERA) served as a reliable ace, and the team advanced to the ALCS but fell to the Toronto Blue Jays 3 games to 4, narrowly missing the World Series.
The Chicago White Sox, after recording 121 losses in 2024 — the worst record in modern MLB history — finished the 2025 season at 60-102.
While still a poor record, the 19-win improvement from the previous year can be seen as a signal that the rebuild is underway.
In their first full season under manager Will Venable, the team focused on giving young players experience, and they showed notably competitive baseball in the second half of the season.
| Team | 2025 Record | Division Rank | Postseason |
| Seattle Mariners | 90-72 | AL West 1st | ALCS (Lost 3-4) |
| Chicago White Sox | 60-102 | AL Central 5th | - |
2025 Season Head-to-Head Record
In the 2025 regular season, the Seattle Mariners dominated the Chicago White Sox with a 5-1 record in six meetings.
Notably, during the August series at home in Seattle, the Mariners swept the White Sox as part of an 8-game winning streak.
| Season | Seattle Wins | White Sox Wins | Notes |
| 2025 Regular Season | 5 | 1 | Seattle swept at home |
Key Offseason Moves
The Seattle Mariners made aggressive moves to bolster their roster even after the ALCS defeat.
They signed Josh Naylor, acquired at the 2025 trade deadline, to a 5-year, $92.5 million extension, securing their first base position.
Naylor was outstanding after joining the Mariners, hitting .299 with 9 home runs and 33 RBIs in 54 games, and he continued to shine in the postseason with a .340 average and 3 home runs across 12 games.
In February, they landed a major acquisition by obtaining All-Star infielder Brendan Donovan from the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-team trade.
Donovan recorded an OPS+ of 119 in the 2025 season as a versatile utility player and is expected to be a significant boost to the Mariners' lineup.
The Chicago White Sox had a truly surprising offseason.
The biggest news was the signing of Munetaka Murakami, known as the "Babe Ruth of Japan."
The superstar slugger, who has 265 career NPB home runs and broke Sadaharu Oh's record with 56 home runs in the 2022 season, signed a 2-year, $34 million deal to join the White Sox.
They also signed left-handed pitcher Anthony Kay, who posted a dominant 1.74 ERA and 0.98 WHIP with NPB's Yokohama, to a 2-year, $12 million deal.
Additional roster upgrades included Erick Fedde (1-year, $1.5 million return), outfielder Austin Hays (1-year, $6 million), and closer Seranthony Dominguez (2-year, $20 million).
| Team | Key Acquisitions | Contract |
| Seattle | Josh Naylor (1B) | 5 years / $92.5M |
| Brendan Donovan (IF/OF) | Trade (2 years of control) | |
| Chicago | Munetaka Murakami (3B) | 2 years / $34M |
| Anthony Kay (LHP) | 2 years / $12M | |
| Seranthony Dominguez (RP) | 2 years / $20M |
Projected Starting Pitcher Matchup
Since it's early in Spring Training, starting pitchers may be subject to change, but based on the current schedule, the following matchup is expected.
| Category | Seattle Mariners | Chicago White Sox |
| Starting Pitcher | George Kirby (RHP) | Anthony Kay (LHP) |
| 2025 Stats | 10-8, 4.21 ERA 126 IP, 137 K, 1.19 WHIP |
NPB Yokohama 1.74 ERA, 0.98 WHIP 155 IP, 130 K |
| Pitching Style | Career-best K/9 (9.8) Command-based pitching |
Highest groundball rate in NPB (57.8%) Average fastball 94.6 mph |
George Kirby struggled somewhat in 2025 with a career-worst 4.21 ERA, but he also recorded a career-best strikeout rate of 9.8 per nine innings.
This season will be a crucial year as he looks to bounce back, and his Spring Training performance will be closely watched.
Anthony Kay is returning to MLB after spending two seasons with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan's NPB.
He posted a dominant 1.74 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in the 2025 NPB season and boasts the league's highest groundball rate at 57.8%, making him a true groundball pitcher.
Following the precedent of Erick Fedde, who returned from NPB and had a successful season with the White Sox, Kay hopes to follow the same path, making this Spring Training appearance all the more meaningful.
Key Players
1. Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners / Catcher)
"Big Dumper" etched his name in MLB history with a phenomenal 2025 season — 60 home runs, 125 RBIs, and a .948 OPS.
In 159 games, he hit .247 with a .359 OBP and .589 SLG, adding 14 stolen bases for a remarkably well-rounded season that's nearly unheard of for a catcher.
He became the 7th member of the 60-home run club in MLB history and the first player outside of the Yankees to hit 60 home runs.
Mariners fans will be watching closely to check his bat speed and overall condition during Spring Training.
2. Munetaka Murakami (Chicago White Sox / Third Baseman)
Japan's premier slugger — with 265 career NPB home runs, a .273 batting average, and a .944 OPS — is finally stepping onto the Major League stage.
In 2022, he hit 56 home runs to break Sadaharu Oh's NPB single-season record, while also claiming the batting triple crown with a .318 average and 134 RBIs.
FanGraphs projects him to hit .231 with a .791 OPS, 30 home runs, and 75 RBIs in the 2026 season.
How well he adapts in his first MLB Spring Training game will be the biggest storyline of this matchup.
3. Julio Rodriguez (Seattle Mariners / Center Fielder)
Rodriguez hit .273 with 20 home runs, 68 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases in 2025, achieving his third consecutive 20-20 season.
This makes him one of only two players in MLB history, alongside Bobby Witt Jr., to record three consecutive 20-20 seasons from the start of their career.
He was particularly explosive in the second half, batting .299 with a .589 SLG and 21 home runs, playing a pivotal role in the team's postseason push down the stretch.
Key Storylines
1. Munetaka Murakami's MLB Adjustment
The biggest storyline of this game is how Murakami, who was dominant in NPB, will perform against Major League pitching.
His ability to handle MLB's signature high-velocity fastballs and diverse pitch combinations will be the key factor to watch.
While the focus should be on process rather than results this early in Spring Training, first impressions certainly matter.
2. Anthony Kay's First Test in His MLB Return
The left-hander who posted a 1.74 ERA in NPB takes the mound in the Major Leagues once again.
With the precedent of Erick Fedde leveraging his NPB experience to have a successful season with the White Sox in 2024, all eyes will be on whether Kay can follow the same path.
Whether his 94.6 mph fastball and elite 57.8% groundball rate can translate to the Major League level will be the key question.
3. George Kirby's Bounce-Back Potential
After recording a career-worst ERA in 2025, Kirby's first Spring Training outing will be important as he looks to rebound.
Since his strikeout rate actually reached a career high, improved command could be all he needs to return to ace-level form.
His first start will offer a glimpse into what adjustments he made during the offseason.
Viewing Guide
As this is an early Spring Training game, it's best to focus on each player's conditioning and adjustment process rather than the outcome.
For Seattle, the key things to watch are Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez's first at-bats, as well as how offseason acquisitions Josh Naylor and Brendan Donovan look in their new uniforms.
On the White Sox side, Munetaka Murakami's first MLB at-bat will undoubtedly be the highlight.
The moment an NPB superstar faces Major League pitching for the first time is a scene that any baseball fan can't help but watch with anticipation.
Anthony Kay's stuff against the Seattle lineup in his first MLB return outing is also a can't-miss storyline.
Since regular players' playing time may be limited at this point, we recommend focusing your viewing on the first 1-3 innings.
2026 Season Outlook for Both Teams
The Seattle Mariners are setting their sights even higher, building on their 2025 success.
With core hitters Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez joined by proven additions Josh Naylor and Brendan Donovan, the lineup has gained significant depth.
The starting rotation of Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Luis Castillo, and Bryce Miller ranks among the best in all of Major League Baseball.
An American League pennant and a trip to the World Series are far from unrealistic goals for this team.
The Chicago White Sox are entering year two of their rebuild at an intriguing turning point.
By landing a marquee free agent in Munetaka Murakami, they sent a clear message of "building competitiveness even during a rebuild."
The pitching staff has been fortified with rotation additions Anthony Kay and Erick Fedde, along with closer Seranthony Dominguez.
The development of prospects like Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith, and Braden Montgomery is also an exciting aspect to watch, and it will be interesting to see how much of a meaningful leap the team can make in the 2026 season.
Game Prediction
Spring Training games carry far less significance in terms of wins and losses compared to the regular season.
Both teams will limit their regulars' playing time, and from the middle innings onward, minor league camp invitees will see heavy action.
That said, strictly in terms of roster strength, the Seattle Mariners — the 2025 AL West champions with a 5-1 head-to-head record — hold a clear edge.
However, the White Sox could put up a competitive showing depending on the impact of new additions like Murakami and Kay.
We recommend sitting back and enjoying the process rather than fixating on the final score.