BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
ADLEY CLUTCHMAN: Adley Rutschman hit a 1-0 pitch from Trevor May in the ninth inning into the bleachers in right-center field as the Orioles beat the Athletics, 8-7, Thursday afternoon at Oriole Park to take three of four games in the series…The win marked Baltimore’s first in a series finale this season and first via walk-off…It also was the first walk-off win for the O’s since August 25, 2022 vs. Chicago-AL when Anthony Santander singled in the 11th inning and the first walk-off home run by the Orioles since Rougned Odor’s two-run blast on May 20 vs. Tampa Bay.
Baltimore finished 4-3 during the season-opening homestand.
The O’s had nine walk-off wins last year, tied for fifth-most in MLB.
AGAINST THE WHITE SOX: The O’s and White Sox meet for the first time this season in a three-game set at Guaranteed Rate Field…Baltimore will play six times in 2023… The Orioles will host the Sox from August 28-30…The O’s went 5-2 against the White Sox in 2022, taking three of four games in Chicago from June 23-26 and two of three at Oriole Park from August 23-25.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Orioles have a scheduled off day on Monday before traveling to Washington, D.C. for two games against the Nationals from April 18-19…Following another off day on Thursday, the O’s open a six-game homestand with the Tigers from April 21-23 and Red Sox from April 24-26.
BIG TIME RUTSCH: Adley Rutschman notched his first career walk-off as a professional yesterday, homering in the ninth inning…The homer was the first walkoff hit by an O’s catcher since Welington Castillo’s walk-off home run on May 19, 2017 vs. Toronto (see chart at right)…Rutschman has tallied a hit in a career-high seven consecutive games since April 7, the longest streak by an O’s batter this season, while slashing .458/.581/.875 (11-for-24) with one double, three home runs, seven runs scored, five RBI, and seven walks during that stretch…He’s also reached base safely in 10 straight games since April 3 with a .477 on-base percentage in that span.
Entering today’s games, Rutschman ranks among AL leaders in average (3th, .373), OPS (4th, 1.094), hits (5th, 19), on-base percentage (5th, .467), total bases (T-7th, 32), and slugging percentage (10th, .627).
He has hit four home runs this season, tied with Los Angeles-AL’s Logan O’Hoppe for the most among primary catchers; last year, Rutschman didn’t hit his fourth homer until his 38th game on July 7.
Homered in back-to-back games (4/9-10) for the first time in his career.
Rutschman is batting .412/.524/.588 (7-for-17) against lefties this season after slashing .173/.287/.265 (17-for-98) against southpaws in his rookie year.
MOUNT UP: On Tuesday, Ryan Mountcastle became the third player in Orioles history with nine RBI in a game, tying Jim Gentile (5/9/61 at MIN) and Eddie Murray (8/26/85 at CAL) for the team record…Mountcastle leads MLB with 19 RBI (see chart at right), is tied for the MLB lead with six home runs with New York-NL’s Pete Alonso, is tied for third in MLB with 10 extra-base hits and 36 total bases.
He drove in 12 runs in the Oakland series to become the first O’s player with 12 RBI in one series since Rafael Palmerio from August 15-18, 1996 at Oakland (5G) and the first to do so in a four-game series since Dan Graham had 13 RBI from July 21-23, 1980 at Minnesota.
His grand slam in the seventh inning on Tuesday was the second of his career (5/22/21 at WSH) and the first by an O’s batter in 2023; the blast traveled 456 feet, the farthest home run by an Oriole this season and the farthest of his career.
His 10 barrels this season rank third in MLB, per Statcast; his 21 batted balls of 95+ mph are tied for eighth-most.
HAYS OF OUR LIVES: Austin Hays went 3-for-4 with two runs scored yesterday and finished the Oakland series 9-for-17 with two doubles, two homers, eight runs scored, three RBI, and a walk…He became the first Oriole to score eight runs in one series since Jonathan Villar scored nine times from July 25-28, 2019 at Los Angeles-AL… Hays batted leadoff on Tuesday for the first time this season and finished 4-for-5 with
a double, a homer, a career-high four runs scored, and two RBI…He is only the second Oriole since 2015 to score four runs in a game, along with Ryan Mountcastle, who did so on May 30, 2022 at Boston…Hays homered in back-to-back games on Monday and Tuesday for the third time in his career and for the first time since April 24-26, 2022.
Three of Hays’ four hardest-hit balls and seven of 12 in 2023 came in the Oakland series, including his leadoff double on Tuesday, which was 110.2 mph, per Statcast; that is the second-hardest hit ball of his career, trailing only a 110.3 mph home run on May 14, 2021.
Tuesday marked his second game this year with at least four hits, joining a five-hit effort on April 1 at Boston; he and Adley Rutschman are two of the three MLB players with two games of at least four hits this season (MIA’s Luis Arráez); since the start of 2022, Hays and Los Angeles-NL’s Freddie Freeman both have six games with 4+ hits, most in the majors.
NEED FOR SPEED: The O’s 19 stolen bases are tied with Cleveland for the most in MLB…Their 19 stolen bases through their first 13 games of the season are the most in O’s history (since 1954) to open a campaign…The O’s have only been caught stealing once for a 95 percent success rate…Jorge Mateo has swiped seven of those, which leads MLB, while Cedric Mullins is tied for second in the majors with six steals… They are the only pair of teammates with at least six stolen bases apiece and their 13 combined stolen bases are more than 24 MLB teams have this season.
ROSTER MOVES: The O’s made several moves today, recalling RHP Yennier Cano and RHP Spenser Watkins from Triple-A Norfolk…LHP Keegan Akin was placed on the Paternity List and LHP Cole Irvin was optioned to Norfolk after yesterday’s game.
STARTING PITCHER – #68 TYLER WELLS – RHP
QUICK HITS: Slated to make his second start (3rd appearance) of the season tonight against the White Sox…Went 7-7 with a 4.25 ERA (49 ER/103.2 IP) in 23 starts for the O’s in 2022…Made his first career start on April 10, 2022 at Tampa Bay; dealt the loss after allowing four runs on three hits (1 HR) with two walks and two strikeouts in 1.2 innings…Did not walk a batter in five consecutive starts from April 21 to May 15, becoming the only Oriole starting pitcher in franchise history (since 1954) to not walk a batter in five consecutive games…Allowed three earned runs-or-fewer in 17 straight starts from April 16 to July 15…Ended the 2022 season on the 15-day Injured List with right shoulder inflammation… Originally selected by Minnesota in the 15th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Cal State, San Bernardino before being taken by the Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft on December 10, 2020.
LAST TIME OUT: Dealt the loss on April 9 vs. New York-AL after allowing four runs on six hits (2 HR) with six strikeouts in 6.0 innings…Surrendered a solo homer to Aaron Judge in the third inning and a two-run home run to Franchy Cordero in the fifth inning.
SEASON DEBUT: Did not factor in the decision on April 3 at Texas, recording two strikeouts in 5.0 innings of scoreless relief, facing one batter over the minimum; the only baserunner reached on an error…Originally scheduled to start on April 4 at Texas but entered in relief in the fourth inning on April 3 after Kyle Bradish exited the game in the second inning with a right foot contusion.
CAREER AGAINST THE WHITE SOX: Making his first start (2nd appearance) against Chicago-AL; dealt the loss on July 11, 2021 at Oriole Park after allowing three runs (2 ER) on one hit (1 HR) with one walk and four strikeouts in 2.0 innings of relief; surrendered a three-run homer to Adam Engel in the 10th inning.
CAREER AGAINST AL CENTRAL: In 16 career appearances (7 GS) against AL Central opponents, Wells is 4-3 with a save and a 3.77 ERA (19 ER/45.1 IP)…Dealt the loss in his last outing against the division on September 19, 2022 vs. Detroit after allowing five runs on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts, his last appearance of the season before landing on the 15-day Injured List with right shoulder inflammation.
ALL HE DOES IS WIN, WIN, WIN: Wells won five straight starts from June 11 to July 3, 2022, tied for the fifth-longest streak in MLB last season…Pitched to a 1.93 ERA (6 ER/28.0 IP) with 21 strikeouts to eight walks in that span, holding opposing batters to a .168 (17-for-101) batting average…The O’s owned a 9-5 record in his final 14 starts, including wins in eight straight from May 30 to July 8, after going 2-7 in his first nine outings.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost six of their last nine games as they open a six-game homestand tonight against Baltimore.
RHP Mike Clevinger is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are in third place in the American League Central, 4.0 games behind the Twins and 2.0 behind Cleveland.
The Sox are coming off a 2-4 trip to Pittsburgh (1-2) and Minnesota (1-2), which ended on Wednesday with a 3-1 loss to the Twins … all three games were decided by two runs or less.
Following this three-game series, the White Sox continue the homestand with three vs. Philadelphia (4/17-19) before taking a six-game trip to Tampa Bay (4/21-23) and Toronto (4/24-26).
The Sox went 1-2 on their first homestand vs. San Francisco from 4/3-6.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox own a 2.12 ERA (8 ER/34.0 IP) with 46 strikeouts over the last four games, but are hitting .180/.216/.286 (24-133) with eight runs scored during that span.
Mike Clevinger is 4-1 with a 3.69 ERA (13 ER/31.2 IP) in six career starts against the Orioles.
Luis Robert Jr. is tied for second in the American League with five home runs, one more than his combined total of four in April 2021-22.
Baltimore-area native Gavin Sheets is 12-20 (.600) with one home run and five RBI over his last five games against Baltimore.
Andrew Vaughn has reached base safely in all 12 of his games this season, hitting safely in 10.
The Sox are 13-13 in stolen-base attempts this season.
ROSTER MOVES
Prior to tonight’s game, the White Sox made the following six roster moves:
Reinstated OF Eloy Jiménez (left hamstring strain) from the 10-day injured list;
Placed 3B Yoán Moncada on the 10-day injured list (retro to 4/11) with lower back soreness;
Recalled LHP Tanner Banks from Class AAA Charlotte;
Optioned RHP Jesse Scholtens to Charlotte;
Claimed INF/OF Nick Solak off waivers from Seattle and optioned to Charlotte;
Transferred RHP Matt Foster (right flexor strain) to the 60-day injured list.
WEDNESDAY’S RECAP
The White Sox were limited to six hits as they suffered a 3-1 loss at Minnesota in the deciding game of the series.
Lucas Giolito suffered the loss despite allowing just one run on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over 6.0 IP … the Twins scored twice off Aaron Bummer in the eighth to extend the lead to 3-0.
Lenyn Sosa accounted for Chicago’s only run with a solo homer off Jhoan Duran in the ninth, his second career.
The Sox went 0-4 with RISP and left seven runners on base.
NO RISP, NO REWARD
The White Sox rank fourth in the American League with a .282 (35-124) average with runners in scoring position … they ranks second in the AL in hits and third in at-bats with RISP.
The Sox are hitting .136/.208/.318 (3-22) with RISP over the last four games.
WHITE SOX VS. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
The Orioles won the 2022 season series, 5-2, after going 0-7 in 2021 … they won three of four games in Chicago from 6/23- 26 and two of three at Camden Yards from 8/23-25.
The White Sox batted .238/.302/.328 (58-244) with a 3.29 ERA (23 ER/63.0 IP) and were outscored, 29-18.
Chicago’s 7-0 record against Baltimore in 2021 marked the first time in franchise history it swept a season series of seven-plus games.
Sox pitchers own a 2.78 ERA (38 ER/123.0 IP) and 149 strikeouts against Baltimore since the start of the 2021 season.
BALTIMORE COLT
l Gavin Sheets grew up 15 miles north of Baltimore in Lutherville, Md. … Sheets is a career .389/.450/.611 (14-36) hitter with
two home runs and six RBI in 10 games against the Orioles …
his father, Larry, played six seasons (1984-89) for Baltimore,
hitting 31 homers in 1987.
SEARCHING FOR HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
The White Sox are 1-2 at home this season after going 37-44 (.457) in 2022, the 12th-best winning percentage in the American League … by comparison, the Sox were 53-28 (.654) at home in 2021, the best record in the AL and their best mark since 2008 (54-28).
ON THE AIR
Len Kasper will fill in for Jason Benetti in the TV booth for White Sox games tomorrow vs. Baltimore and on 4/29 vs. Tampa Bay, with Connor McKnight joining Darrin Jackson on the radio call for both games … Gordon Beckham will fill in for Steve Stone in the TV booth for the Sox trip to Tampa Bay and Toronto from 4/21-26 (no Sox broadcast on
CEASE AND DESTROY
Dylan Cease, who finished second in the American League Cy Young Award voting last season, has gone 12-6 with a 1.52 ERA (26 ER/153.2 IP) and 180 strikeouts over his last 26 starts dating to 5/29/22.
During that stretch, Cease leads MLB in ERA and opponents average (.166) … he has allowed one or no earned runs in 21 of the 26 starts.
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS
The White Sox are batting .275/.340/.445 vs. left-handed pitching since the start of the 2019 season … during that span, the Sox lead MLB in average, rank second in on-base percentage and OPS (.785) and fifth in slugging.
Tim Anderson owns a .353/.383/.564 (141-399) slash line vs. LHP since 2019, while Hanser Alberto is hitting .343/.362/.483 (170-495) … during that span, Anderson and Alberto rank 1-2 in MLB in average vs. LHP.
Luis Robert Jr. is a career .357/.407/.633 (70-196) hitter vs. lefties … Jake Burger owns a .617 slugging percentage vs. LHP.
ELVIS BECOMES MR. 2,000
Elvis Andrus became the 290th player in MLB history to reach 2,000 career hits on 4/5 vs. San Francisco with a fifth-inning single off Logan Webb.
Andrus ranks fourth among active players with 2,004 hits, trailing only Miguel Cabrera (3,092), Joey Votto (2,093) and Nelson Cruz (2,025) … he has recorded 1,743 hits with Texas, 205 with Oakland and 56 with the White Sox.
STARTER – #52 MIKE CLEVINGER RHP
CLEVINGER AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his third start of the season and first at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Agreed to terms with Chicago on a one-year, $12-million deal in December (includes a mutual option for 2024).
Has appeared in just 33 games (32 starts) since the start of the 2020 season … missed the entire 2021 season to continue his recovery from his second Tommy John surgery … also underwent Tommy John surgery in 2012.
Was originally drafted by the Angels in the fourth round of the 2011 MLB Draft … was traded to Cleveland in August 2014 … made 101 major-league appearances (88 starts) with Cleveland from 2016-20 … was traded to San Diego in August 2020, appearing in just 27 games (16 starts) with Padres from 2020-22.
LAST START
Earned his second straight win on 4/8 at Pittsburgh … allowed four runs on eight hits with two walks and one strikeout in 5.1 IP.
Departed the game in the sixth with the Sox leading, 6-4 … threw 88 pitches (54 strikes) … the White Sox would go on to win, 11-5.
Owned a 46.2 first-strike percentage and 3.4 swinging-strike percentage (four swing and misses) vs. 26 batters … threw 43 four-seam fastballs (94.2 mph avg; 97.0 mph max), 29 sliders (78.7 avg; 81.3max), eight changeups (86.9 avg; 88.3 max), six curveballs (77.2 avg; 79.3 max), two sinkers (91.0 avg; 91.0 max).
2022 SEASON RECAP
Went 7-7 with a 4.33 ERA (55 ER/114.1 IP), .233 (102-437) opponents average and 91 strikeouts over 23 appearances (22 starts) with San Diego.
Was 3-3 with a 2.81 ERA (16 ER/51.1 IP) and 49 strikeouts in 10 games (nine starts) from 5/17-8/11.
Began the season on the 15-day injured list with a sprained right knee suffered during spring training.
Was placed on the 15-day injured list for the second time on 5/22 (retro to 5/21) with a right triceps strain … was reinstated on 6/5 and started that day at Milwaukee (ND, 1 ER/3.0 IP, 5 SO) before going on the COVID-19 related IL from 6/11-16.
Earned his 50th career victory on 9/20 vs. St. Louis, allowing three hits over 5.2 scoreless IP.
JUST WIN BABY
Dating back to 2022, Clevinger has gone 9-7 with his team going 17-8 in his 25 appearances (24 starts).
Is averaging 5.70 runs of support during that span.
In his last seven outings the Padres and White Sox have gone a combined 6-1, winning five straight, when Clevinger takes the mound.
APRIL LOVE
Has gone 5-0 with a 2.17 ERA (13 ER/54.0 IP), .206 (40-194) opponents average and 53 strikeouts in nine career starts in the month of April … has surrendered one total home run in April, good for a 0.17 HR/9, the second best in baseball among active players (min. 50.0 IP).
His 2.17 career ERA in April ranks eighth among active major-league pitchers (min. 50.0 IP).
TAKE ME HOME
Is 3-3 with a 2.92 ERA (16 ER/51.0 IP) and .201 (38- 189) opponents average over his last 10 road starts.
Owns a 25-11, 2.92 ERA (109 ER/335.2 IP), .219 (272-1240) opponents average and 369 strikeouts over 65 career appearances (57 starts) at home.
His 2.92 career ERA at home ranks 15th among active pitchers (min. 330 IP).
START STRONG
Posted a 2.04 ERA (10 ER/44.0 IP) and .173 (27-156) opponents average across the first two innings in 2022, compared to a 5.76 ERA (45 ER/70.1 IP) and .267 (75- 281) mark from the third-seventh.
Limited opponents to a .196 (37-189) average the first time through the lineup in 2022, compared to a .244 (43- 176) mark the second time through the lineup and a .306 (22-72) average the third time through the order.
VS. BALTIMORE ORIOLES || AL EAST
Will make his seventh career start against the Orioles and fourth as the home pitcher.
Is 4-1 with a 3.69 ERA (13 ER/31.2 IP) and .237 (27- 114) opponents average vs. Baltimore … has not allowed a run in three of his last four starts against Baltimore.
Suffered his first career loss to the Orioles in his last start on 6/28/19 at Camden Yards (7 ER/1.2 IP).
Is making his first start against the American League East since 2019 … owns a 9-4 record and 4.29 ERA (47 ER/98.2 IP) in 21 career games (18 starts) vs. the division.
