The Cubs had runners on the corners with one out in the fourth inning, looking to get back into Friday’s City Series game against the White Sox.
Adrian Houser made the right pitch at the right time, using the sinker to get Ian Happ to ground into an inning-ending double play.
While the Sox offense gained most of the attention in the 12-5 victory, Houser put together another solid performance. The right-hander allowed three runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 6 2/3 innings. The runs came via a three-run home run from Reese McGuire with two outs in the seventh.
The outing provided another example why Houser’s name has come up in trade speculation. As the Thursday trade deadline nears, Houser isn’t thinking about the future.
“Focus on right now,” Houser said after Friday’s series opener at Rate Field. “My family is in town, so I’m going to go have a good time with them. If a trade happens, it’s out of my control.
“So I’m focused on Adrian Houser-White Sox, and that’s how I’m treating it going day by day. Whatever’s in the future is out of my control. For right now I’m a White Sox, and I’m going to keep pitching like that. And that’s how I’m going to go about my business.”
Business has been very good for Houser since signing a one-year deal with the Sox on May 20. He is 6-2 with a 2.10 ERA in 11 starts. Houser owns the third-best ERA in the American League since May 20, trailing only the Houston Astros’ Framber Valdez (1.80) and Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal (1.83).
“Like I said from the beginning, I’m just focused on putting my work in, getting my mechanics, making sure I’m hitting those certain spots in my mechanics, my key points and just working on that,” Houser said. “Because I know if I’m taking care of that, everything else is going to be in a good spot. Just glad I can keep helping out the team. That’s all I’m trying to do.”
Houser, 32, is in his ninth big-league season, having spent time with the Milwaukee Brewers (2015, 2018-2023) and New York Mets (2024) before joining the Sox. He displayed a veteran approach against the Cubs on Friday.
“With the Cubs, they have a lot of different ways to beat you,” Sox manager Will Venable said. “You have to be adjustable and flexible with your approach, and Houser’s really good at that. You saw him attack guys differently in different ways. Both sides of the plate, up and down. In total control of what he wanted to do.”
White Sox starter Adrian Houser enters the dugout after being taken out of the game in the seventh inning against the Cubs on July 25, 2025, at Rate Field. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Cubs manager Craig Counsell has a connection with Houser, serving as his skipper in Milwaukee.
“He’s a guy that he’s going to get (a) double play,” Counsell said after Friday’s game. “So two of the first four innings we end the inning in double plays. But he’s pitching well, and we didn’t create much action or much stress for him at all.”
Houser was thrilled to pitch with his family in attendance.
“It was awesome,” he said. “Baby girl’s first time to be out there. So it was really cool, it’s special. Any time you have the whole family here is really nice. Being able to get them up for the first time, she’s a month old and having everyone here is really special.”
City Series photos: White Sox 12, Cubs 5 at Rate Field
The emotions took over as Houser continued.
“Being away from them so much,” Houser said. “It’s been a tough year for us, with the bouncing around and being away from each other. But we’re fighting through it, and having them here means a lot.”
Houser is appreciating the chance with the Sox. He spent the early portion of this season with Triple-A Round Rock in the Texas Rangers organization.
“I’m thankful,” Houser said. “They’ve given me the opportunity to pitch in the big leagues again. Just trying to get that opportunity and very thankful that I was able to get that opportunity here and from that day I didn’t want to let it go to waste.
“So I’m working my butt off and putting my work in every day and don’t want to go back to the minor leagues. I want to stay up here and keep pitching up here.”
The Sox did make a move before Saturday’s game, trading infielder Tristan Gray to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations.
Gray had a .270/.333/.472 slash line with nine home runs and 44 RBIs in 72 games with Triple-A Charlotte. The White Sox recalled him on July 7, but Gray did not play in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays before being optioned on July 8.
With the move, the Sox 40-man roster decreased to 39.
Originally Published: July 26, 2025 at 3:15 PM CDT