CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost four straight games, six of their last seven, nine of 11 and 12 of 16 as they continue a six-game trip tonight with the opener at Toronto.
RHP Lance Lynn is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are in fourth place in the American League Central, 5.0 games behind division-leading Minnesota.
The Sox were swept in a three-game series at Tampa Bay to open the trip, suffering walkoff losses in the first two games before yesterday’s 4-1 defeat.
Following this three-game series, the White Sox return to Chicago for a seven-game homestand vs. the Rays (4/27-30) and Minnesota (5/2-4).
The Sox went 2-4 on their last homestand vs. Baltimore (1-2) and Philadelphia (1-2) from 4/13-19 and 2-4 on their last trip to Pittsburgh (1-2) and Minnesota (1-2) from 4/7-12.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox are a season-high eight games under .500, are 0-6-1 in series and have not won back-to-back games.
Despite an 0-2 record, Lance Lynn owns a 2.12 ERA (4 ER/17.0 IP) in three career starts at Rogers Centre.
The Sox bullpen has issued just two walks with 24 strikeouts in 18.1 IP over the last five games (14 BB in 14.2 IP in the previous four).
The White Sox are hitting .198/.256/.337 (85-430) with 42 runs scored (3.2 R/G) over the last 13 games.
Luis Robert Jr. hit .400 (8-20) with one homer and nine RBI in five games against Toronto last season … Robert Jr. recorded three straight games with multiple hits and RBI from 6/2-22.
Andrew Vaughn batted .500/.519/.885 (13-26) with four doubles, two home runs, four RBI and five runs scored in six games against the Blue Jays in 2022.
ROSTER MOVES
Prior to tonight’s series opener, the White Sox placed RHP Lucas Giolito on the Bereavement List and reinstated RHP Joe Kelly (strained right groin) from the 15-day injured list.
Kelly was placed on the injured list on 4/10 (retro to 4/9) with a right groin strain.
Giolito must remain on the Bereavement List for a minimum of three days and not more than seven.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
The White Sox were limited to three hits as Tampa Bay completed a three-game sweep with a 4-1 victory at Tropicana Field.
Lucas Giolito suffered the loss after allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 7.0 IP, the longest outing by a Sox pitcher this season.
Giolito, making his 150th career start, gave up all four runs over the first three innings before holding the Rays scoreless on one hits over his final 4.0 IP.
Eloy Jiménez drove in the Sox only run with a RBI double off Zach Eflin in the fourth inning.
The Sox went 1-6 with RISP as they were swept at Tropicana Field for the first time since 6/12-14/15.
The game lasted just 2:02.
FROM THE TRAINING ROOM
INF Hanser Alberto (strained left quad), SS Tim Anderson (sprained left knee), LHP Garrett Crochet (Tommy John recovery), RHPs Matt Foster (Tommy John surgery) and Liam Hendriks (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma treatment) and 3B Yoán Moncada (lower back soreness) are on the injured list.
AS TA GOES, SO GO THE WHITE SOX
The White Sox have gone 2-9 since All-Star SS Tim Anderson was placed on the 10-day injured list on 4/11 with a sprained left knee suffered on 4/10 at Minnesota.
Since the start of the 2020 season, the Sox are 150-112 (.573) when Anderson is in the starting lineup and 66-78 (.458) when he is not.
During that span, the Sox are 124-73 when Anderson records a hit, 72-32 when he records a multi-hit effort, 27-9 when he registers a three-hit game, 94-46 when he scored a run and 27-3 when he hits a home run.
ON THE AIR
Former infielder Gordon Beckham will continue to fill in for Steve Stone in the NBC Sports Chicago booth for the White Sox three-game series at Toronto.
Stone will return to the booth for the White Sox four-game series vs. Tampa Bay beginning on Thursday.
WHITE SOX VS. TORONTO BLUE JAYS
The Blue Jays won the 2022 season series, 4-2, sweeping a three-game set at Rogers Centre from 5/31-6/2 before losing two of three in Chicago from 6/20-22.
The White Sox batted .311/.355/.453 (70-225) with a 6.33 ERA (38 ER/54.0 IP) and were outscored, 43-31 … the Blue Jays scored six-plus runs in all six games, while the Sox collected 13-plus hits four times.
The White Sox are 7-2-1 in the last 10 season series against Toronto, going 39-30 during that stretch (19-15 at Rogers Centre).
FAMILIAR FACE
White Sox bench coach Charlie Montoyo spent three-plus seasons as Toronto’s manager from 2019-22, recording a 236- 236 record.
Montoyo guided the Blue Jays to an American League Wild Card Series berth in 2020 and to 91 victories in 2021 despite playing home games those two seasons in Dunedin, Fla., Buffalo, N.Y. and Toronto.
The White Sox opened the trip in Tampa Bay, where Montoyo Montoyo spent 22 seasons (1997-2018) in the Rays organization, including four on manager Kevin Cash’s staff as third-base coach (2015-17) and bench coach (2018).
LOOKING FOR AN EDGE VS. THE EAST
The White Sox are 7-16 against American League East teams since 5/26/22, including a 3-9 record on the road … during that stretch, they have been outscored, 137-93.
By comparison, the Sox went 28-20 vs. AL East opponents from 4/7-21-5/25/22.
NO RISP, NO REWARD
The White Sox rank fourth in the American League with a .279 (50-179) average with runners in scoring position … over the last 13 games, the Sox are hitting .234 (18-77) and have not collected more than three hits in any of the games.
Andrew Vaughn is batting .500/.600/.938 (8-16) with 13 RBI with RISP this season, and Andrew Benintendi is hitting .500/.600/.583 (6-12).
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS
The White Sox are batting .272/.338/.442 vs. left-handed pitching since the start of the 2019 season … during that span, the Sox lead MLB in average, rank third in on-base percentage, fourth in OPS (.781) 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 .347/.399/.614 (70-202) hitter vs. lefties … Jake Burger owns a .612 slugging percentage.
STARTER – #33 LANCE LYNN RHP
LYNN AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his fifth start of the season, third on the road and first vs. Toronto Blue Jays.
Has allowed eight runs in the first inning over his four starts this season … allowed 13 runs in the first over 21 starts in 2022.
Is 7-6 with a 3.53 ERA (42 ER/107.0 IP), .243 (102-420) opponents average and 117 strikeouts in 18 starts since the 2022 All-Star Break.
Ranks among MLB active pitchers in HR/9.0 IP (6th, 0.92), SO/9.0 IP (8th, 9.09), opponents average (9th, .242), opponents SLG (9th, .382), wins (9th, 123), IP (10th, 1,726.2), opponents OPS (11th, .694), starts (T10th, 289), ERA (12th, 3.57), WHIP (12th, 1.27), opponents OBP (12th, .312) and strikeouts (12th, 1,743).
Signed a two-year contract extension with a club option with the White Sox on 7/17/21 … the Sox hold an $18-million option for 2024 with a $1-million buyout.
Is a two-time All-Star (2012 and 2021) … has finished fifth in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2019, sixth in 2020 and third in 2021 … was a member of the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
LAST START
Suffered his second loss of 2023 in Game 1 of a doubleheader on 4/18 vs. Philadelphia, allowing five runs on 10 hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in 5.1 IP … allowed three runs in the first inning and two in the third.
Left the game in the sixth with runners on first and second, one out and the White Sox trailing, 5-4 … threw 107 pitches (71 strikes) … the Sox lost, 7-4.
Owned a 86.2 first-strike percentage and 9.3 swinging-strike percentage (10 swing and misses) vs. 29 batters … threw 53 four-seam fastballs (92.2 mph avg; 94.6 mph max), 23 cutters (88.2 avg; 90.1 max), 13 sinkers (90.7 avg; 91.9 max), 13 curveballs (80.8 avg; 82.1 max) and five changeups (85.6 avg; 87.8 max).
GRAB SOME BENCH
Recorded his 23rd career double-digit strikeout performance and fourth with the Sox on 4/11 at Minnesota.
Ranks 12th in the majors with 663 strikeouts since 2019 … teammate Lucas Giolito (731) ranks seventh.
Has struck out at least five batters in 82 of his 99 starts since 2019, tied with Cleveland’s Shane Bieber for the 10th-highest total in the majors.
ROAD TRIPPIN’
Is 4-1 with a 2.30 ERA (14 ER/54.2 IP) and .218 (45- 206) opponents average in his last nine road starts.
Has gone 8-7 with a 3.49 ERA (55 ER/142.0 IP), .244 (136-557) opponents average and 147 strikeouts over 25 starts on the road since 2021 … has allowed two runs or less in 17 of those starts and one run or less in nine.
His 3.49 ERA on the road since 2021 is the sixth-lowest among American League leaders (min. 140.0 IP).
ORTHODOX HITTERS
Owns a career .230/.285/.353 (798-3,474) opponents slash line against right-handed hitters.
His .230 opponents average vs. right-handers is the 10th-lowest mark among active pitchers in the majors.
AMERICA’S ACE
Pitched for Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic … went 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA (3 ER/9.0 IP), .188 (6-32) opp. average and eight strikeouts in two starts.
Started on 3/13 against Canada in pool play, earning the win after allowing one run over 5.0 IP.
Was the starting pitcher for USA’s quarterfinal contest vs. Venezuela … received a no decision after allowing two runs in 4.0 IP … USA would go on to win, 9-7.
VS. TORONTO BLUE JAYS || A.L. EAST
Is scheduled to make his 10th career start (11th appearance) against Blue Jays and fourth at Rogers Centre.
Has gone 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA (12 ER/35.0 IP) and .206 (27-131) opponents average in his last six starts vs. Toronto … has allowed just one run in four of the starts.
Has allowed two runs or less over 5.0-plus IP in each of his three career starts at Rogers Centre.
Is 10-10 with a 3.47 ERA (82 ER/212.2 IP) in 39 career games (34 starts) against the American League East
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays claimed the finale of their three-game series with the Yankees by a score of 5-1 yesterday… Improved to 5-2-0 in series play…Finished their road trip to Houston and New York at 3-3. Toronto is now 4-2 in divisional contests…Is the only team to have won a series vs. Tampa Bay or New York…Has now won 12 of its last 18 contests overall.
START SPREADING THE BOOS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opened things up yesterday with a two-run homer in the 6th…Was his 5th longball of the campaign, and his 3rd in the last five games…Now owns a .614 slugging percentage at the current Yankee Stadium, the highest all-time at the venue (min. 100 AB). The 24-year-old is now 29-for-85 with two doubles, five homers, 13 RBI, and a 10BB/10K ratio for a .341 AVG (3rd in the AL), a .424 OBP (3rd), and a .965 OPS (7th)…His 29 hits are tied for 2nd most in the AL while his 46 total bases are tied for 6th…Has recorded 43 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this year, the most in the Majors (2nd: Randy Arozarena – 40).
DAULTON GOES DEEP: Daulton Varsho followed up Guerrero Jr.’s home run with one of his own, for Toronto’s 2nd set of back-toback jacks this season (also: Kiermaier/Springer on April 11 vs. DET)…Marked the outfielder’s 2nd homer of the year.
GAUS AND EFFECT: Kevin Gausman threw 7.0 shutout innings yesterday, allowing three hits while striking out 11 batters without issuing a walk…The 11 K’s tied his most as a Blue Jay, having also done so just two starts earlier (April 12 vs. DET)…Now has 41 strikeouts, tied for the most ever by a Blue Jay in their first five outings of a season (last: himself in 2022), and now 2nd most in the Majors (1st: Jacob deGrom – 43).
WORKING DOUBLE TIME: Matt Chapman singled, doubled, and scored a run as part of a 2-for-4 afternoon…Marked his AL-high 10th multi-hit game…Now has 10 doubles, tied with Nick Castellanos for the most in MLB while his 15 extra-base hits are tied with Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez for the most in the Majors. The 29-year-old is batting .367 (29-for-79) with 10 doubles, five homers, 10 walks, and 17 RBI…Ranks
1st in the AL in batting average, SLG (.684), and OPS (1.122) while tied for 1st in total bases (54), tied for 2nd in hits, and tied for 8th in RBI…Also leads all MLB hitters in barrel rate (20.2%), ranks 3rd in hardhit (95+ MPH) percentage (63.2), and is 4th in average exit velocity (95.7 MPH).
GET ON WHIT IT: Whit Merrifield walked and doubled to go 1-for-3 yesterday…Extended his hitting streak to nine games, going 13-for-34 (.382) with four doubles and five RBI over that stretch (.889 OPS)…Has reached base safely in all 16 of his games played this season, batting .310 (18-for-58) with five doubles, seven RBI, and four walks…His 16 game on-base stretch is the 5th-longest active streak in the AL.
HOME WORK: The Blue Jays are playing their 2nd homestand of the season…Have gone 4-2 so far at Rogers Centre… Have played the fewest home games in the AL (tied for fewest in MLB)…Will follow up this three-game series with a day off on Thursday and then three meetings with the Mariners (10-12) over the weekend. Toronto batters have hit .256 at home (4th in the AL) and also rank 4th in home OBP (.335), 5th in home OPS (.725), and 6th in home SLG (.390)…The pitching staff posted a 3.60 ERA during home contests (6th in the AL) with a .218 opponents’ AVG (4th) and a 1.22 WHIP (7th).
DANNY DIGGING IN: Danny Jansen doubled and finished with two RBI as he went 1-for-4 yesterday…Has gone 5-for-15 (.333) with a double, a homer, five RBI, and three walks in his last six games (1-for-25 in first eight games).
HITTING IT: The Blue Jays have notched 194 hits so far this season, 3rd most in the AL…Are also 3rd in the AL in team batting average (.256), 5th in SLG (.404), 5th in OPS (.732), and 6th in OBP (.328).
STARTING SOMETHING: Blue Jays starters during their last turn through the rotation (last 5G) have allowed just three runs over 33.1 innings for a 0.81 ERA…Have given up 15 hits and five walks while fanning 27 hitters for a .133 opponents’ average and a 0.60 WHIP…Have had their starters throw 7+ innings on five occasions this season, 2nd most in the Majors (1st: HOU – 6).
NO IN BETWEEN: Toronto pitchers have now either allowed four-or-fewer runs or eight-or-more runs in all 22 games this season…According to Stats Perform, this is now tied for the 3rd-longest such streak in the Wild Card era (since 1995), trailing Cleveland in 2019 (39G), the 2005 Marlins (23G), and the 2012 Nationals (22G).
BO KNOWS BASE HITS: Bo Bichette has gone 31-for-94 (.330) with five doubles, four homers, and 12 RBI while playing in all 22 games this season…The 31 hits are the most in the AL and 5th most in MLB…Among AL batters, currently ranks T-3rd in total bases (48) and 4th in AVG.
VS. THE WHITE SOX: All-Time: 217-202-1
2022: 4-2 Home: 118-94
Home: 3-0 Rogers Stadium: 78-61
The Blue Jays went 4-2 vs. the White Sox last season while sweeping the three-game series here at Rogers Centre from May 31-June 2…Have scored at least six runs in seven straight games against the White Sox, tied for the longest such streak against any opponent in team history (9th time). Alejandro Kirk connected for four home runs in five games vs. the White Sox in 2022, going 8-for-22 (.364) with a double and a total of eight RBI…Has gone 12-for-33 (.364) with two doubles, those four homers, and nine RBI in nine career meetings (.788 SLG, 1.205 OPS). Vladimir Guerrero Jr. recorded three extra-base hits and three RBI with five walks during the six games vs. CWS last year…Is a career 19-for-73 (.260) with three doubles, three homers, nine RBI, and 13 walks over 20 contests (.797 OPS). Whit Merrifield leads all current Blue Jays with 107 career games played against the White Sox…Has hit .281 (119-for-424) with 22 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, and 66 RBI for a .761 OPS.
STARTING PITCHER – Chris Bassitt, RHP #40
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 5th start of the season and his 2nd at Rogers Centre…Picked up his 2nd win of the year his last time out on 4/18 at HOU, throwing 6.1 innings of shutout ball with 3 hits, a walk, and 5 strikeouts…Marked his 3rd straight quality start, and his 1st scoreless outing of the season. Signed a three-year, $63 million deal with the Blue Jays on 12/16/22. Has finished seven of his eight career Major League seasons with a sub4.00 ERA, including each of the last five campaigns.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Was saddled with the loss on 4/13 vs. DET, tossing 6.0 frames of two-run ball with 4 hits, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts.
Earned his 1st win as a Blue Jay on 4/7 at LAA, allowing 3R/2ER on 2 hits and 5 walks over 6.0 frames with 5 strikeouts. Took the loss in his Toronto debut on 4/2 at STL, giving up career highs in runs (9) and homers (4) over 3.1 innings (10H, 0BB, 0K).
VS. THE WHITE SOX:
Facing the White Sox for the 6th time in his career and the 1st time since 2021…Has pitched into the 6th inning in 4 of his 5 meetings with the ChiSox, including a pair of scoreless outings on 7/13/19 (6.0IP) and 8/11/19 (7.0IP)…Was drafted by Chicago in the 16th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft before being involved in a six-player trade with Oakland for RHP Jeff Samardzija on 12/9/14…In his lone MLB season with the Southsiders in 2014, went 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA over 6 appearances (5 starts).
