CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost five straight games, seven of their last eight, 10 of 12 and 13 of 17 as they continue a six-game trip tonight at Toronto.
RHP Mike Clevinger is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who at 7-16 are tied with the 2018, 1997, 1986 and 1978 clubs for their worst start to a season since 1951.
The Sox are 0-4 on the trip, suffering a 5-2 loss last night to the Blue Jays after being swept in a three-game series at Tampa Bay last weekend, including a pair of walkoff losses.
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 nine games under .500, are 0-6-1 in series and have not won back-to-back games in 2023.
The Sox are hitting .191/.253/.323 (88-461) with 44 runs scored (3.1 R/G) over the last 14 games.
The White Sox bullpen owns a 2.88 ERA (8 ER/25.0 IP) with nine walks over the last seven games, compared to a 7.04 mark (48 ER/61.1 IP) with 41 walks in the first 18.
Mike Clevinger is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA (6 ER/18.0 IP) and 26 strikeouts (13.0 per 9.0 IP) in his last three starts against Toronto.
Andrew Vaughn is batting .467/.484/.833 (14-30) with five doubles, two home runs, six RBI and five runs scored in seven games against the Blue Jays since the start of the 2022 season.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
The White Sox were limited to three hits for the second straight game in a 5-2 loss at Toronto.
The Sox took a 2-0 lead on Andrew Vaughn’s two-run double off Chris Bassitt in the third inning, but the Blue Jays rallied for four runs after two outs in the fourth, capped by Cavin Biggio’s three-run homer off Lance Lynn.
Lynn suffered the loss to fall to 0-3, allowing four runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts over 5.0 IP.
The White Sox were limited to one hit over the final six innings and issued eight walks as they suffered their ninth loss of the season after leading.
APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS?
The White Sox April schedule is the toughest in baseball, as their eight opponents have combined to record a .647 winning percentage entering tonight’s games (STATS).
Conversely, the Sox schedule in May is the easiest in baseball, as their scheduled opponents have combined for a .402 winning percentage entering today.
The White Sox have played the top three teams in the American League East in Tampa Bay (20-3), Baltimore (15-7) and Toronto (14-9), AL Central-leading Minnesota (13-10) and National League Central-leading Pittsburgh (16-7).
HIGHWAY ROBERT-Y
Luis Robert Jr. is tied for the MLB lead with six defensive runs saved this season … Robert Jr. made an over-the-wall catch last night to rob Matt Chapman of a home run, and he also denied San Francisco’s Joc Pederson of a home run on 4/3.
Per Sports Info Solutions, Robert Jr. is the first White Sox player in 20 years of tracking to record multiple home run robberies before the end of April, and the first in MLB to accomplish the feat since Milwaukee’s Lorenzo Cain had three in 2019.
Robert Jr’s. two home-run saving catches already are tied for the second-highest total by a Sox player over the last 20 seasons, trailing Adam Engel in 2018 and Jermaine Dye in 2009 (3).
ON THE FARM
Class A Winston-Salem OF Wilfred Veras was named South Atlantic League Player of the Week for the period of 4/17-23 after hitting .407 (11-27) with three doubles, three home runs, nine RBI and five runs scored in six games.
Veras, 20, is hitting .333/.362/.611 (18-54) with six doubles, three homers and 11 RBI over nine games this season.
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
Toronto leads the season series, 1-0.
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 White Sox are 7-2-1 in the last 10 season series against Toronto, going 39-31 during that stretch (19-16 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 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 7-17 against American League East teams since 5/26/22, including a 3-10 record on the road … during that stretch, they have been outscored, 142-95.
By comparison, the Sox went 28-20 vs. AL East opponents from 4/7-21-5/25/22.
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.
The White Sox projected lineup has played together just twice times this season (4/2-3).
AS TA GOES, SO GO THE WHITE SOX
The White Sox have gone 2-10 since All-Star SS Tim Anderson was placed on the 10-day injured list on 4/11 with a sprained left knee suffered n 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 66-79 (.455) when he is not.
During that span, the Sox are 124-73 when Anderson records a hit, 72-32 when he records a multihit 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.
Anderson needs three homers to become the fourth player in White Sox history to record 100 HR/100 SB, joining Minnie Miñoso, Alexei RamÃrez and Ray Durham.
STARTER – #52 MIKE CLEVINGER RHP
CLEVINGER AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his fifth start of the season, third on the road and first vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.
Is limiting opponents to a .206 (7-34) average with runners on base, .150 (3-20) average with RISP and .182 (2-11) average with RISP/two outs this season.
Has tossed 5.0-plus scoreless IP in two of his first four starts of the season, recording at least five strikeouts in those two outings.
Agreed to terms with Chicago on a one-year, $12-million deal in December (includes a mutual option for 2024).
Has appeared in just 34 games (33 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
Suffered the loss on 4/19 vs. Philadelphia after allowing three runs on six hits (two home runs) with one walk and one strikeout over 3.0 IP … surrendered a leadoff homer to Trea Turner in the first inning and a solo shot to Brandon Marsh in the second.
Departed the game in the fourth with the White Sox trailing, 3-2 … threw 75 pitches (46 strikes) … the Sox would go on to lose, 5-2.
Owned a 56.3 first-strike percentage and 5.3 swinging-strike percentage (four swing and misses) vs. 16 batters … threw 47 four-seam fastballs (93.8 mph avg; 95.8 mph max), 23 sliders (80.2 avg; 82.0 max), two sinkers (92.6 avg; 92.9 max), two curveballs (78.0 avg, 79.5 max) and one changeup (85.7 avg, 85.7 max).
JUST WIN BABY
Clevinger has gone 9-8 with his team going 17-10 in his 27 appearances (26 starts) since 2022.
Is averaging 5.66 runs of support during that span.
Across his last nine outings, the Padres and White Sox have gone a combined 6-3 when he takes the mound.
APRIL LOVE
Has gone 5-1 with a 2.29 ERA (16 ER/63.0 IP), .208 (47-226) opponents average and 59 strikeouts in 11 career April starts … has surrendered three total home runs in April, good for a 0.43 HR/per 9.0 IP, the fourth best in baseball among active players (min. 60.0 IP).
His 2.26 career ERA in April ranks fifth among active major-league pitchers (min. 60.0 IP).
COUNTRY ROADS
Is 4-3 with a 6.10 ERA (33 ER/48.2 IP) and .291 (57- 196) opponents average over his last 10 road starts … has made just one scoreless appearance during that span and has allowed four-plus run five times.
Owns a 28-19, 3.86 ERA (142 ER/331.1 IP), .227 (277-1220) opponents average and 334 strikeouts over 65 career appearances (59 starts) on the road.
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 … Is limiting opponents to a .185 (5-27) batting average across the first two innings this season.
VS. TORONTO BLUE JAYS || A.L. EAST
Will make his fifth career start (sixth appearance) against the Toronto Blue Jays and third at Rogers Centre.
Has not faced the Blue Jays since 2019 … went 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA (3 ER/12.0 IP), .158 (6-38) opponents average and 17 strikeouts over two starts that season … struck out 10 batters over 5.0 IP on 4/7/19 in Cleveland.
Is 9-4 with a 4.04 ERA (47 ER/104.2 IP), 53 walks and 123 strikeouts in 22 career appearances (19 starts) against the American League East
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays took the opener of their three-game series vs. the White Sox by a score of 5-2 last night… Improved to 6-2 in series openers. Toronto has now won four of its last six games and 13 of its last 19 contests…Can improve to 6-2-0 in series play with a win tonight (3-0-0 at home).
A BIG-GIO FLY: Cavan Biggio launched a three-run home run over the right-field wall in the 4th inning last night…Marked his 2nd longball of the year and his 1st homer at Rogers Centre since Aug. 31, 2022 vs. CHC.
WORKING DOUBLE TIME: Matt Chapman went 1-for-4 with an RBI last night, driving in a run via a 7th-inning double…Now has 11 doubles, tied with Wander Franco for the most in MLB while his 16 extra-base hits are tied with Rafael Devers for the most in the Majors. The third baseman is now batting .361 (30-for-83) with 11 doubles, five homers, 10 walks, and 18 RBI… Ranks 1st in the AL in batting average, OBP (.430), SLG (.675), and OPS (1.105) while sitting 2nd in total bases (56), tied for 2nd in hits, and tied for 7th in RBI… Also leads all MLB hitters in barrel rate (21.5%), ranks 2nd in hard-hit (95+ MPH) percentage (63.3), and is 5th in average exit velocity (95.7 MPH).
HOUNDING QUALITY STARTS: Chris Bassitt allowed a pair of runs in the 3rd inning and nothing more as he worked 6.1 innings…Gave up a trio of hits and a trio of walks while fanning four batters…Marked his 4th straight quality start, going 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA (6 ER/24.2 IP) over that span…His four quality starts this season are tied for the most in the Majors.
GET ON WHIT IT: Whit Merrifield got Toronto on the board last night with an RBI double in the 4th…Also walked twice to finish 1-for-2 with a run scored…Extended his hitting streak to 10 games, going 14-for-36 (.389) with five doubles and six RBI over that stretch (.953 OPS)…Marks the 13th hitting streak of 10+ games in his career (last: 10G from May 10-18, 2022). The 34-year-old has reached base safely in all 17 of his games played this season, batting .317 (19-for-60) with six doubles, eight RBI, and six walks…His 17 game on-base stretch is the 5th-longest active streak in the AL.
VLAD TIMING: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 1-for-5 with a run scored last night…Is now 30-for-90 with two doubles, five homers, 13 RBI, and a 10BB/11K ratio for a .333 AVG (3rd in the AL), a .413 OBP (5th), and a .936 OPS (8th)…His 30 hits are tied for 2nd most in the AL while his 47 total bases rank 8th…Has recorded 46 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this year, the most in the Majors (2nd: Randy Arozarena – 42).
MORE ON BRAND-ON: Brandon Belt singled twice and scored last night…Has notched nine hits in his last eight games (9-for-27) after recording one hit in his first six contests.
HOME WORK: The Blue Jays are playing their 2nd homestand of the season…Have gone 5-2 so far at Rogers Centre… Have played the fewest home games in the AL (2nd 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 .258 at home (4th in the AL) while ranking 3rd in home OBP (.347), 6th in home
SLG (.396), and 5th in home OPS (.743)…The pitching staff posted a 3.38 ERA during home contests (5th in the AL) with a .203 opponents’ AVG (2nd) and a 1.16 WHIP (4th).
BICHETTE HAPPENS: Bo Bichette legged out an infield single and drew a walk last night…Has gone 32-for-98 (.327) with five doubles, four homers, and 12 RBI while playing in all 23 games this season…The 32 hits are the most in the AL (T-4th in MLB)…Among AL batters, currently ranks 4th in AVG and T-5th in total bases (49). #1 at #9: Kevin Kiermaier singled and drew two walks last night… Is now batting .302 (19-for-63) with three doubles, a triple, a home run, and six RBI to start his Blue Jays career (.772 OPS)…His 19 hits while batting 9th are the most in the Majors (2nd: Michael A. Taylor – 18).
HITTING IT: The Blue Jays have notched 202 hits so far this season, 3rd most in the AL…Are also 3rd in the AL in team batting average (.256), 4th in OBP (.332), 6th in SLG (.406), and 6th in OPS (.737).
STARTING SOMETHING: Blue Jays starters during the last six games have allowed five runs over 39.2 innings for a 1.13 ERA… Have given up 18 hits and eight walks while fanning 31 hitters for a .132 opponents’ average and a 0.66 WHIP…Have had their starters throw 6+ innings on 13 occasions this season, tied with Minnesota for the most in the AL.
NO IN BETWEEN: Toronto pitchers have now either allowed four-or-fewer runs or eight-or-more runs in all 23 games this season…According to Stats Perform, this is now tied for the 2nd-longest such streak in the Wild Card era (since 1995), trailing only Cleveland in 2019 (39G) and
tied with the 2005 Marlins (23G).
VS. THE WHITE SOX: All-Time: 218-202-1
2023: 1-0 Home: 119-94
Home: 1-0 Rogers Stadium: 79-61
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 now outscored them, 48-33, in the seven games since the start of 2022. Alejandro Kirk connected for four home runs in five games vs. the White Sox in 2022, going 8-for22 (.364) with a double and a total of eight RBI… Has gone 12-for-34 (.353) with two doubles, those four homers, nine RBI, and five walks in 10 career meetings (.450 OBP, 1.215 OPS). Vladimir Guerrero Jr. recorded three extra-base hits and three RBI with five walks during the six games vs. CWS last year…Is now a career 20-for-78 (.256) with three doubles, three homers, nine RBI, and 13 walks over 21 contests (.773 OPS). Whit Merrifield leads all current Blue Jays with 108 career games played against the White Sox…Has hit .282 (120-for-426) with 23 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, and 67 RBI for a .767 OPS.
STARTING PITCHER – José BerrÃos, RHP #17
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 5th start of the season and his 2nd at home…Took the loss his last time out on 4/19 at HOU, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk over 7.0 frames with 3 strikeouts…Was his 1st quality start of the year. Has made 144 starts since the beginning of 2018, tied for the 3rd most among MLB hurlers (Aaron Nola – 148, Gerrit Cole – 145).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Picked up his 1st win of the year on 4/14 vs. TB, tossing 5.0 innings of one-run ball with 4 hits, no walks, and 6 strikeouts…Was removed from the game with a left knee contusion after being hit by a comebacker from Yandy DÃaz. Lost his 2nd game of the year on 4/8 at LAA, surrendering 6R/4ER over 4.0+ frames with 6 hits, a walk, and 5 strikeouts (71 pitches – 43 strikes). Took the loss in his season debut on 4/3 at KC, giving up 8 runs on 9 hits and a pair of walks over 5.2 innings with 7 strikeouts.
