BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Orioles fell to the White Sox, 7-6 in 10 innings, yesterday at Guaranteed Rate Field…Marked the second walk-off loss for the O’s this season, joining April 1 at Boston…Cedric Mullins reached base five times after going 2-for3 with a double, an RBI, and three walks while Jorge Mateo recorded a season-high three hits by going 3-for-4 with a homer, a run scored, and two RBI.
Mateo’s go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning yesterday had an exit velocity of a career-high 112.4 mph, the hardest-hit ball by an Oriole this season.
The Orioles walked a season-high 10 times yesterday and have walked 19 times in this series; marks only the eighth time in franchise history (since 1954) that the team has drawn nine-or-more walks in back-to-back games, last done from September 14-15, 1996; the 19 total walks the last two days are the most in a two-game stretch by the O’s since May 17-18, 1997.
AGAINST THE WHITE SOX: The O’s and White Sox wrap up their first series this season with today’s game at Guaranteed Rate Field…Baltimore and Chicago-AL will play six times in 2023 with the Orioles hosting 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 tomorrow 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.
ON THE ATTACK: Baltimore is batting .257/.353/.455 (128-for-499) with 31 doubles, one triple, 22 home runs, 86 runs scored, 84 RBI, and 71 walks in 15 games to start the season…The O’s rank second in the AL and MLB in runs scored after finishing 10th in the AL and 20th in MLB with 674 runs scored in 2022…The team leads the AL and is third in MLB in on-base percentage while also ranking second in the AL and fourth in MLB in slugging percentage, second in the AL and fourth in MLB in total bases (227), and second in the AL and fourth in MLB in walks this season.
The Orioles lead MLB with 4.13 pitches-per-plate appearance this season; the O’s have four players in the top 12 in the AL in pitches-per-plate appearance – Anthony Santander (6th, 4.42), Adley Rutschman (10th, 4.35), Gunnar Henderson (T-12th, 4.31), and Adam Frazier (T-12th, 4.31).
NEED FOR SPEED: The O’s 22 stolen bases are second-most in MLB behind the Guardians (24)…The 22 stolen bases through their first 15 games of the year are the most in O’s history (since 1954) to open a campaign…Baltimore and Cleveland are the third teams since 2000 with at least 22 steals through the first 15 games, joining Tampa Bay in 2009…The O’s have only been caught stealing twice for a 91.7 percent success rate…Cedric Mullins is tied for the MLB lead with Chicago-NL’s Nico Hoerner with eight stolen bases while Jorge Mateo is tied for third with seven steals…The duo’s 15 combined stolen bases are more than 23 MLB teams to start 2023.
BIG TIME RUTSCH: Adley Rutschman has tied a career high by reaching base safely in 12 straight games since April 3, joining August 15-28, 2022…He’s reached at a .491 clip with 14 hits and 13 walks during that stretch…Rutschman’s career-high eight-game hitting streak was snapped yesterday…He slashed .462/.611/.885 (12-for-26) with two doubles, three home runs, seven runs scored, eight RBI, and 10 walks from April 3-14.
Rutschman ranks among AL leaders in walks (1st, 14), on-base percentage (2nd, .479), OPS (4th, 1.075), hits (6th, 20), batting average (7th, .351), and total bases (T-8th, 34).
His 34 times reaching base safely this season lead MLB; did not reach safely 34 times last year until his 30th game on June 27; he is the only MLB player this season to reach safely at least four times in four different games.
Since the start of 2022, he ranks third in MLB with a .308 batting average (12- for-39) on 0-2 pitches (min. 40 PA).
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.
MOUNT UP: Ryan Mountcastle finished 0-for-6 yesterday but hit four balls with an exit velocity of 100.4+ mph…He has 27 batted balls at 95 mph+ this season, tied for fifth-most in MLB, while his 12 barrels are tied for second-most in MLB…Among MLB leaders, Mountcastle is second in RBI (19), tied for third in home runs (6) and extra-base hits (10), and tied for seventh in total bases (37).
On Tuesday vs. Oakland, he 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; his 12 RBI in the Oakland series were the most in one series by an Oriole since Rafael Palmerio from August 15-18, 1996 at Oakland (5G) and the most 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 April 11 was the second of his career (5/22/21 at WSH) and the first by an O’s batter in 2023; it traveled 456 feet, the farthest home run by an Oriole this season and the farthest of his career.
HAYS OF OUR LIVES: Austin Hays is slashing .480/.519/.920 (12-for-25) with three doubles, a triple, two home runs, 11 runs scored, three RBI, and two walks in six games since April 10…He has scored four more runs than any big leaguer over that time… Hays is the first Oriole with 11 runs in a six-game span since Jonathan Villar from July 25-30, 2019…He is tied for second in MLB with 15 runs scored (see chart at right)… Among AL leaders, he is tied for third in extra-base hits (10), fifth in OPS (1.045), tied for fifth in doubles (6), sixth in slugging percentage (.655), seventh in total bases (36), and 10th in batting average (.333)…Hays, Jorge Mateo, and Adley Rutschman all rank
in the top eight in the AL in OPS this season.
Hays’ double off Jimmy Lambert in the eighth inning Friday night was 110.5 mph, the hardest-hit ball of his career, per Statcast; five of his six hardest-hit balls and 10 of his hardest-hit 15 balls in 2023 have come since April 10.
He scored a career-high four runs on April 11 vs. Oakland.
April 11 vs. Oakland marked his second game this year with four hits, joining a five-hit effort on April 1 at Boston; he and Adley Rutschman are two of the four MLB players with two games of at least four hits this season; since the start of 2022, Hays and Los Angeles-NL’s Freddie Freeman both have six games with 4+ hits, most in the majors.
He homered in back-to-back games from April 10-11 for the third time in his career.
STARTING PITCHER – #30 GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ – RHP
QUICK HITS: Slated to make his third career start this afternoon against the White Sox…Made his MLB debut on April 5 at Texas, becoming the first Oriole to make his debut this season…Thirteen players (7 pitchers) made their debut for the O’s in 2022… Also became the first O’s pitcher to start his Major League debut since DL Hall on August 13, 2022, and the youngest O’s pitcher (23-140) to start his debut since Kevin Gausman (22-137) on May 23, 2013 at Toronto…Had his contract selected to the 40-man roster on November 15, 2022…Originally selected by the Orioles in the first round (No. 11 overall) of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft.
WELCOME TO THE CHARM CITY: Made his Oriole Park debut on April 11 vs. Oakland…Did not factor into the decision after allowing five runs on six hits with four walks and a career-high six strikeouts in 4.1+ innings…Departed with one out and the bases loaded after walking three batters in the fifth inning…All three runners scored…Struck out Jesús Aguilar on a foul tip in the first inning on a 98.6 mph fastball for his first strikeout at Oriole Park…Threw 99 pitches, 65 strikes.
PROSPECTING: Currently ranked as the No. 5 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 7 by Baseball America…He is ranked as the top Orioles prospect and the No. 2 pitching prospect by both outlets…At 23 years, 151 days old, he is currently the youngest pitcher on the O’s and the second-youngest player overall behind Gunnar Henderson at 21 years, 291 days.
SPRING TRAINING: Attended his second Major League Spring Training and made five starts with the O’s, going 0-1 with a 7.04 ERA (12 ER/15.1 IP) and 19 strikeouts.
HIGH TIDE: Started Norfolk’s 2023 season opener on March 31 at Durham; did not factor in the decision after allowing three runs (2 ER) on four hits (1 HR) with four walks, two strikeouts, and a wild pitch in 4.0 innings…Threw 75 pitches, 48 strikes…Went 6-1 with a 2.20 ERA (17 ER/69.2 IP) and 97 strikeouts in 14 starts for the Tides in 2022…Named International League Pitcher of the Month for May 2022, going 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA (8 ER/32.0 IP) and 48 strikeouts in six starts… Left his start on June 1 vs. Jacksonville with a strained right lat muscle…At the time of his injury, he led the International League in starts (11), ERA (2.09), innings pitched (56.0), batting average against (.168), WHIP (0.84), and strikeouts (80).
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost three of their last four games and six of nine as they continue a six-game homestand this afternoon with the series finale against Baltimore.
RHP Dylan Cease, who is 5-3 with a 1.35 ERA (13 ER/86.2 IP), 99 strikeouts and a .168 opponents average (51-303) in 14 home starts since 2022, is scheduled to start for the White Sox.
The Sox have split the first two games of this series, rallying four times yesterday for a 7-6 victory in 10 innings after losing a late three-run lead on Friday in a 6-3 defeat.
Following today’s game, the White Sox continue the homestand with three games vs. Philadelphia (4/17-19) … after an off day on Thursday, they take a six-game trip to Tampa Bay (4/21-23) and Toronto (4/24-26).
The Sox went 2-4 on their last trip to Pittsburgh (1-2) and Minnesota (1-2) from 4/7-12 and 1-2 on their first homestand vs. San Francisco from 4/3-6.
TODAY’S STORYLINES
The White Sox are attempting to record their first series win of the season.
Sox starting pitchers own a 2.38 ERA (9 ER/34.0 IP) with 37 strikeouts and a .194 (24-124) opponents average over the last six games.
Dylan Cease is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA (2 ER/13.0 IP) and 23 strikeouts (15.9 per 9.0 IP) in two career home starts vs. Baltimore … Cease struck out a career-high 13 batters over 7.0 IP on 6/26/22 and 10 over 6.0 IP on 5/27/21.
The White Sox have issued eight-plus walks four times in 15 games this season.
Through five home games, the Sox have posted a 8.22 ERA (42 ER/46.0 IP) with 41 walks allowed (8.0 per 9.0 IP).
Baltimore-area native Gavin Sheets is 12-20 (.600) with one home run and five RBI over his last six games against Baltimore.
Andrew Vaughn has reached base safely in all 14 of his games this season, hitting safely in 11.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Rookie Oscar Colás hit a game-ending, RBI hit off Logan Gillaspie in the 10th inning, and the White Sox overcame 10 walks and four separate deficits to record a 7-6 victory over Baltimore.
After the Orioles took a 6-5 lead, Yasmani Grandal led off the bottom of the 10th with a double off Gillaspie to score pinch-runner Romy Gonzalez, and Jake Burger followed with a single to set up the first career walkoff hit for Colás.
Burger homered for the second straight game, hitting a tworun shot off Kyle Gibson in the sixth to tie the game at 4-4 … Andrew Benintendi went 2-5 with a double and RBI, Andrew Vaughn was 2-5 with a double, RBI and run scored, and Grandal went 3-5 with two doubles and a RBI.
Starter Michael Kopech posted a no decision, allowing three runs on six hits and four walks over 5.0 IP … Tanner Banks and Reynaldo López pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings, respectively, while Jimmy Lambert gave up an unearned run in the 10th to earn his first victory.
The Sox recorded their first win when issuing 10-plus walks since 9/14/20 vs. Minnesota (10) as the Orioles went 1-14 with RISP and left 13 runners on base … Chicago began the game 0-9 with RISP before collecting three straight hits in the 10th.
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.
Since the start of the 2022 season, Cease has allowed one or zero runs 26 times since the start of the 2022 season, the most in MLB 2022 … he set a MLB record with 14 straight starts allowing one earned run or less from 5/29-8/11/22 (0.66 ERA; 6 ER/82.0 IP).
DYNAMIC DUO
Eloy Jiménez and Dylan Cease were acquired by the White Sox from the Cubs on 7/13/17 as part of a five-player deal.
Since making their debuts in 2019, Jiménez has homered in 12 of Cease’s starts (14 total HR) … the Sox are 11-1 in those games, including multi-homer efforts from Jiménez on 9/3/19 at Cleveland and 8/8/21 at the Cubs (STATS).
Jiménez homered in six of Cease’s starts in 2022 (all in the second half), including three in a row from 7/24-8/5.
WHITE SOX VS. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
The season series is even at one game apiece, with each team rallying to record victories.
The Orioles won the 2022 season series, 5-2, taking three of four games in Chicago from 6/23-26 and two of three at Camden Yards from 8/23-25.
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 3.11 ERA (49 ER/142.0 IP) and 166 strikeouts against Baltimore since the start of the 2021 season.
BALTIMORE COLT
Gavin Sheets grew up 15 miles north of Baltimore in Lutherville, Md. … Sheets is a career .389/.463/.611 (14-36) hitter with two home runs and six RBI in 11 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 2-3 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.
Through five home games this season, the White Sox have been outscored, 43-26, and outhomered, 15-3.
NO RISP, NO REWARD
The White Sox rank fourth in the American League with a .284 (40-141) average with runners in scoring position … they are tied for the AL lead in hits with RISP.
The Sox are hitting .205/.289/.333 (8-39) with RISP over the last six games.
FROM THE TRAINING ROOM
All-Star SS Tim Anderson (sprained left knee), LHP Garrett Crochet (Tommy John recovery), RHPs Matt Foster (right flexor strain) Liam Hendriks (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma treatment) and Joe Kelly (right groin strain) and 3B Yoán Moncada (lower back soreness) are on the injured list.
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 2,006 hits, trailing only Miguel Cabrera (3,094), Joey Votto (2,093) and Nelson Cruz (2,028) … he has recorded 1,743 hits with Texas, 205 with Oakland and 60 with the White Sox.
AT THE HELM
Pedro Grifol was named the 42nd different manager in White Sox history on 11/3/22, replacing Hall-of-Famer Tony La Russa … Grifol joins the Sox after a 10-year stint in Kansas City (2013-22), including the last three as the Royals bench coach.
Grifol, who earned his first victory on Opening Day at Houston (3-2), is one of four current Latino managers in MLB, joining Boston’s Alex Cora, St. Louis’ Oliver Marmol and Washington’s Dave Martinez.
ON DECK: VS. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
The White Sox conclude the homestand with three games vs. the Philadelphia Phillies … RHP Lance Lynn (0-1, 7.31) is scheduled to start the series opener … Lynn is 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA (5 ER/19.0 IP) in three career starts against the Phillies, with his most recent outing coming on 7/25/13 with St. Louis.
The Sox are 8-11 in the all-time series, including a 3-2 record in Chicago … they won two of three games in the most recent meeting from 8/2-4/19 at Citizens Bank Park and split a two-game set in the last matchup at Guaranteed Rate Field from 8/23-24/16.
Yasmani Grandal is a career .305/.406/.703 (39-128) hitter with 14 home runs and 31 RBI in 38 games against the Phillies.
STARTER – #84 DYLAN CEASE RHP
CEASE AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his fourth start of the season, second at home and first vs. the Baltimore Orioles. Has allowed one run or less while tossing 5.0-plus IP in 23 starts since 2022 … the 23 starts are the most in baseball with the Dodgers’ Julio Urías ranking second with 22 and the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani third with 19. Has struck out 24 batters while allowing six hits over his first three starts of 2023, is the second pitcher in White Sox history to strike out at least 24 while allowing six hits or less in his first three starts of a season (also Carlos Rodón in 2021; 24 SO/5 H). Established career bests last season in ERA (2.20), strikeouts (227), wins (14), IP (184.0), WHIP (1.11) and opponents average (.190). Is approaching the following career milestones: seven games/starts for 100, 2.2 IP for 500.0 and two wins for 40. Ranks third in MLB since 2021 in SO/9.0 IP (11.74) and strikeouts (471) and seventh in opponents average (.202). Was the 2022 AL Cy Young Award runner up and has been named American League Pitcher of the month twice in his career (June and July 2022).
LAST START
Earned his second straight win on 4/10 at Minnesota, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts … recorded his 600th career strikeout (Buck Farmer) in the third inning, which according to STATS is fastest pace in Sox history to reach that
milestone (495.1 IP). Departed the game in the sixth with the White Sox leading, 4-3 … threw 98 pitches (62 strikes). Owned a 56.0 first-strike percentage and 11.2 swinging-strike percentage (11 swing and misses) vs. 25 batters … threw 41 sliders (86.5 mph avg; 88.4 mph max), 33 four-seam fastballs (95.7 avg; 97.1 max), 20 knuckle curveballs (80.2 avg; 81.9 max) and four changeups (79.1 avg; 80.2 max).
THE 2023 OPENER
Was the 70th pitcher and 41st right-hander to start on Opening Day for the White Sox. Became the first White Sox to start OD following a Top 2 Cy Young finish since Jack McDowell in 1994 … McDowell won the American League Cy Young in 1993. Tied a franchise OD record with 10 strikeouts (also McDowell in 1991). Joined Walter Johnson (1916), Mike Mussina (1998) and Jared Weaver (2012) as the only pitchers in MLB
history to record 10-plus strikeouts and no walks on OD.
35TH AND SHIELDS
Is 5-3 with a 1.35 ERA (13 ER/86.2 IP), .168 (51-303) opponents average and 99 strikeouts in his last 14 starts at home dating back to 5/29/22 … his 1.35 ERA is the lowest by a White Sox pitcher over a 14-start span in Guaranteed Rate Field history. Owns a 15-7 record, 2.75 ERA (68 ER/222.1 IP), 278 strikeouts and a .193 (154-796) opponents average in 40 starts (20 quality) at Guaranteed Rate Field since 2020. Ranks among American League home leaders since 2020 in ERA (1st), strikeouts (2nd), opponents average (3rd) and wins (T6th).
LIGHTS OUT IN THE SUN
Is 10-4 with a 1.47 ERA (19 ER/116.1 IP), .175 (73-418) opponents average and 145 strikeouts (11.22 per 9.0 IP) over 20 day starts since the start of last season. His 1.47 ERA in day games since 2022 is the sixth-lowest in baseball and lowest among pitchers with at least 10 starts during the day.
VS. BALTIMORE ORIOLES || A.L. EAST
Is scheduled to make his fifth career start against the Orioles and third at home. Suffered the loss in his last start on 8/23/22 at Baltimore (4 ER/5.1 IP) and earned the win in his last start at Guaranteed Rate Field on 6/26/22 (1 ER/7.0 IP). Has recorded double-digit strikeouts twice, including a career-high 13 on 6/26/22 at home. Went 2-2 with a 4.43 ERA (20 ER/40.2 IP), .203 (30-148) opponents average and 64 strikeouts over eight starts against the American League East last season.
