MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins continue a 3-city, 9-game, 11-day road trip today with the second of a three-game set at the Chicago White Sox. Miami is coming off a nine-game homestand – tied for its longest ‘stand of the year (also Sept. 15-24) – that saw the club drop 2 of 3 to San Diego and then sweep Oakland and Kansas City in back-to-back 3-game sets. Following this series, Miami heads to Seattle (June 12-14), and Washington (June 16-18).
FISH BYTES
- Miami is 14-16 on the road, winning 4 of 9 road series; swept the Angels in 3 games to conclude most recent road trip.
- The Marlins are 5-7 all-time at Guaranteed Rate Field, having last played here in 2019 when Miami took 2 of 3.
- Miami owns a 14-6 record this season in the second game of a series.
- Are 13-3 (.813) in Interleague play this year, the highest winning pct. among MLB teams in such games this year. The Marlins headed into 2023 with a 103-148 record in Interleague play dating back to 2010; marked the worst in MLB.
- The Marlins have won 11 of their last 13 games at loanDepot park; lead the NL with 21 home wins this season.
UP THE RANKS
At 35-29, Miami is tied for the second-best start to a season through the club’s first 64 games in club history. See chart to right for the top starts in Marlins history.
- Is their most games over .500 since July 31, 2016 (9 over).
- Miami currently has the 4th-best record in the NL, behind only ATL, ARI, and LAD.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami dropped the series opener, 2-1, against the White Sox at Chicago in walk-off fashion. Miami erased a 1-0 deficit on a solo home run by SS Joey Wendle in the fifth inning, but that is the only offense the Marlins could muster. RHP Eury Perez held the White Sox to one run, a solo home run by C Yasmani Grandal in the second inning, in 5.0 innings of work. RHP Dylan Floro suffered his fourth loss of the season, allowing one run on two hits and a walk in the ninth inning. 2B Luis Arraez went 1×4 to keep his batting average at .400 for the season.
CLOSE CALLS
The Marlins are 16-5 (.762) in games decided by one run, the most one-run victories in baseball and the second-best winning percentage in such games. Milwaukee (10-3) leads MLB with a .769 winning percentage in one-run games.
- Miami started the year with a 12-0 record in one-run games, surpassing the 1972 New York Mets 11-0 stretch of one-run games to mark the most in MLB history.
HE’S HERE AND HE’S PERFECT
RHP Eury Perez held the White Sox to 1 run across 5.0 innings pitch in last night’s game. In his first 6 career start, Perez has limited opponents to 3 or fewer earned runs, becoming the eighth pitcher in club history to do so. The last pitcher to do so in club history was Zach Thompson from June 7 – August 4, 2021, when he set the mark with 9 consecutive starts of 3 earned runs or fewer.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Marlins starters lead MLB by holding opponents to just 16 runs in the first inning this season, ahead of Houston (17), Tampa Bay (18), Atlanta (20), and Texas (21). Miami has allowed just 2 runs in the 1st inning this month, both coming on June 5 vs. Kansas City.
INTER SANDMAN
RHP Sandy Alcantara has made 2 starts against AL opponents this season, going 2-0 with 2.81 ERA, including a complete-game shutout vs. the Minnesota Twins on April 4 at loanDepot park. Over his career, Alcantara owns a 5-7 record with 3.26 ERA in 18 starts in Interleague Play, with two shutouts and two complete games.
LA REGADERA
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .400 AVG (88×220) and .449 OBP, and ranks 2nd with 88 hits. Tied for MLB-lead with 27 2-hit games and is tied for 3rd with 8 games of 3+ hits. Has struck out just 11 times in 243 PA (.045 K/PA), the lowest mark in MLB among qualifiers.
- Arraez is 1 of 7 non-U.S.-born MLB players all-time to post a batting average of .400 or higher through 59 games (in which the player registered at least 1 AB) of a season, joining Larry Walker (.422, 1997), Tony Fernandez (.405, 1999), Roberto Alomar (.404, 1996), Andres Galarraga (.404, 1993), Rod Carew (.403, 1983) and Rico Carty (.401, 1970).
- His .400 AVG marks the highest through a player’s first 59 games in Marlins history. The second-highest mark was set by Luis Castillo (.357) in 2000.
- Arraez has recorded 151 multi-hit games in his career and 142 strikeouts in 448 career games since his debut in 2019. There have been only five players to debut since 1980 to strike out fewer than 150 times within their first 450 career games – see chart to right.
GETTING OFFENSIVE
The Marlins’ offense has posted an NL-best .291 AVG (179×615) since May 21 at SF. Their 179 hits rank 3rd among MLB teams and the club’s 96 runs rank 4th in MLB. In this same span, Miami also leads all MLB teams with 25 GIDP.
- Miami’s 7-8-9 hitters in the batting order have combined to hit .322 in the same span (since May 21), marking the best AVG among the bottom third of the order among all MLB teams. The second-best mark is owned by Toronto (.32).
- Overall, Miami ranks 4th in the NL with 558 H, 4th with .259 AVG, and 6th with 11 3B.
HEATING UP
SS Joey Wendle is batting .450 (10×23) with 4 doubles, 1 home run and 3 multi-hit games during a 6-game hitting streak. He had not recorded a multi-hit game this season until June 3; had 26 multi-hit efforts in 101 games in 2022.
LEFTY LOVE
- LHP Andrew Nardi has not allowed an earned run in his last 18 outings (May 2 to present), the longest such active streak in MLB. He owns a 0.84 WHIP and 25 strikeouts in this span. His 32 relief appearances on the year are tied with two others for most in the Majors.
- LHP Tanner Scott ranks 2nd among NL relievers with 44 strikeouts. Led the Marlins ‘pen with 90 strikeouts in 2022. Has held opponents scoreless in last 14 apps. (13.2 innings). Marks his longest career scoreless innings streak (previously, 9.1 IP from 8/26-9/18/20).
- LHP A.J. Puk was returned from rehab and reinstated from the IL on Tuesday. Missed 21 games with left elbow nerve irritation. Prior to his injury, Puk had 19 strikeouts in 14.2 innings and 6 saves for Miami.
TODAY’S STARTER – #22 SANDY ALCANTARA
- The reigning NL Cy Young Sandy Alcantara will make his first career start against the Chicago White Sox today. The White Sox will be the 26th different team Alcantara has faced. Will mark his 13th start of the season.
- In career, Alcantara has pitched in 5 outings vs. AL Central teams, going 2-2, with a 3.27 ERA (33.0/12) and 21 SO.
- In his most recent start on Sunday, June 4 vs. OAK, tossed 7.0 innings, allowing 5 runs on 6 hits with 7 strikeouts. Marked his fourth 7+ inning start of the season.
- Through 12 starts in 2022 pitched to a 6-2 record, with a 1.61 ERA (83.2/15), 77 SO, and 4 HR. Through 12 starts in 2023 has a 2-5 record, with a 5.07 ERA (76.1/43), 67 SO, and 6 HR.
- Since the start of the 2022 season, has gone 6-7 with a 3.60 ERA (137.1 IP/55 ER) and 125 strikeouts in 21 starts away, while posting a 10-7 record with a 2.47 ERA (167.2 IP/46 ER) with 149 strikeouts in 23 starts at home.
- Alcantara currently has 122 starts with the Marlins; now ranks 8th on Marlins all-time GS list behind A.J. Burnett – 131.
- Alcantara’s fourth career shutout on April 4th marked the fourth time in club history that a Marlins pitcher has thrown a complete game shutout in the first six team games of the regular season (Dontrelle Willis and Josh Beckett, 2005 and Brad Penny, 2002).
- Alcantara finished his historic 2022 season with 32 starts going 14-9 with a 2.28 ERA and 207 strikeouts in 228.2 innings, along with 6 complete games, a 0.98 WHIP, and a .212 opponents’ batting average in 32 starts. He led Major League Baseball in innings pitched and complete games and led all NL pitchers with an 8.1 WAR (Baseball Reference). During Alcantara’s entire life (born Sept. 1995) only two pitchers reached the same statistical totals since the 1996 season: Felix Hernandez, SEA (2010) and Pedro Martinez, MON (1997). Became the first Cy Young winner in Club history.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have won six of their last seven games and 22 of 37 as they continue a brief three-game homestand this afternoon against the Miami Marlins.
RHP Michael Kopech is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are in sole possession of third place in the American League Central for the first time since 4/15, 2.0 games behind Cleveland and 3.5 behind division-leading Minnesota.
The Sox opened the homestand last night with 2-1 victory over the Marlins on Luis Robert Jr.’s walkoff single off Dylan Floro.
Following this series and a day off on Monday, the White Sox take a six-game trip to Los Angeles-NL (6/13-15) and Seattle (6/16-18).
The Sox went 2-1 on their last trip to New York-AL from 6/6-8 and 4-2 on their last homestand vs. the Angels (1-2) and Detroit (3-0) from 5/29-6/4.
TODAY’S STORYLINES
The White Sox are 22-15 (.589) since 4/30, tied with Houston and the Yankees for the third-best record in the American League and the best in the AL Central.
The Sox are 8-2 (.800) at home since 5/19 and 14-6 (.700) since 4/30, the fourth-best mark in the AL.
The White Sox lead MLB with a 2.00 ERA (14 ER/63.0 IP) in June and are tied with Atlanta for the second-best record at 6-1.
Sox pitchers have recorded a 2.99 ERA (74 ER/222.2 IP) in 25 games since 5/13, the best mark in MLB (see box at right) … the bullpen owns a 2.21 ERA (21 ER/85.1 IP) during that span, while the starting rotation is at 3.48 (53 ER/137.0 IP).
Luis Robert is hitting .444/.500/.844 (20-45) with six doubles, four home runs, 16 RBI and 14 runs scored in 12 games vs. the National League this season.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
Luis Robert Jr. hit a game-ending, RBI single off Dylan Floro with one out in the ninth inning as the White Sox won for the sixth time in seven games, 2-1, vs. Miami.
Elvis Andrus led off the ninth with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch … after Tim Anderson struck out, Andrew Benintendi was intentionally walked to set up Robert Jr.’s third career walkoff hit and the third straight at home for the Sox.
Dylan Cease posted a ND despite allowing one run on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over 6.0 IP to lower his ERA to 2.94 (11 ER/33.2 IP) over his last six starts.
Keynan Middleton, Kendall Graveman and Liam Hendriks each pitched a 1-2-3 inning in relief … Middleton made his 14th consecutive scoreless appearance (14.1 IP), Graveman made his 16th straight scoreless outing (16.1 IP), and Hendriks earned his second win.
Yasmani Grandal matched his season high with three hits, going 3-4 with a solo home run (No. 5), Tim Anderson went 2-5 with a double, and Andrus was 2-3 with a walk and run scored.
SOX SURPRISE MILITARY HOMECOMING
The White Sox will assist today with a surprise military homecoming during third-inning Hero of the Game recognition, when U.S. Army Major Karen Hernandez from Chicago returns from her deployment in Iraq to surprise her son, Jayden.
A Meritorious Service Medal recipient, Major Hernandez enlisted in 2008 and has served in Guatemala, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Saudi Arabia, among other overseas deployments.
WALK IT OFF
The White Sox have recorded three consecutive walkoff victories at home, their longest streak since 7/23-25/16 (Elias).
Yoán Moncada scored on a wild pitch on 6/3 vs. Detroit, Jake Burger hit a grand slam on 6/4 vs. the Tigers and Luis Robert Jr. hit a single last night vs. Miami.
RISING TO THE TOP
The White Sox are in the midst of a stretch from 6/6-29 where they play seven consecutive series (22 games) vs. teams at or above .500 (3-1 so far).
The stretch includes 13 games on the road against the Yankees, Dodgers, Seattle and Angels and nine at home vs. Miami, Texas and Boston.
SEARCHING FOR HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
The White Sox have won eight of their last 10 home games and are 14-6 since 4/30 following a 3-9 start to the season to improve to 17-15 overall.
During the 20-game stretch, the Sox are hitting .270/.324/.421 (182-674) with a 2.97 ERA (61 ER/185.0 IP) … they have allowed three runs or less in 11 of their last 13 home games
WHITE SOX VS. MIAMI MARLINS
The White Sox lead the all-time series, 11-8, including a 8-5 record at home … the Marlins won two of three games in the last meeting from 7/22-24/19.
Including manager Pedro Grifol, four members of the White Sox coaching staff are Cuban-Americans raised in Miami … other Miamians on staff are hitting coach José Castro, third base coach Eddie Rodríguez and field coordinator Mike Tosar.
Grifol, a catcher, and Tosar, a second baseman, were teammates at Christopher Columbus High School … Rodríguez, an infielder, played for Miami High School, and Castro, also an infielder, competed against him at Jackson High.
INTERLEAGUE INSIGHT
The White Sox are 259-237 (.522) all-time in interleague play (133-114 at home), the sixth-best winning percentage in MLB.
The Sox are 6-7 this season after going 11-9 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2021 … they are 27-19 since 7/25/21.
The White Sox rank third all-time with 620 home runs, trailing only Toronto (661) and the Yankees (633).
ALL-RIGHTY THEN
Today marks the 184th consecutive game in which a RHP has started for the White Sox … per Elias, it is longest active streak in baseball, second-longest in Sox history (194 from 9/7/33-5/19/35) and longest in MLB since Cleveland (417) from 2017-21.
Dallas Keuchel (5/26/22 vs. Boston) was the last left-hander to start a game for the Sox … by comparison, from the beginning of the 2007 season until Keuchel’s start on 5/26/22, 1,021 of the White Sox 2,372 games (43.0 percent) were started by lefties.
STARTING PITCHER – #34 MICHAEL KOPECH RHP
KOPECH AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 13th start of the season, eighth at home and first against the Miami Marlins.
Owns a 2-1 record, 2.05 ERA (6 ER/26.1 IP), 0.57 WHIP, .124 (11-89) opponents average and 38 strikeouts in his last four starts, including two 10-strikeout performances.
Has recorded 5.0-plus IP in nine of his 12 starts this season and 6.0-plus IP six times, allowing just one run in four of those outings.
Went 3-2 with a 2.75 ERA (11 ER/36.0 IP), 43 strikeouts and .148 (18-122) opponents average in six starts in May, compared to 0-3 with a 7.01 ERA (20 ER/25.2 IP), 1.71 WHIP and .280 (28-100) opponents average in five starts in April … ranked first in opponents batting average, second in strikeouts, tied-eighth in IP (36.0) and 14th in ERA during May in the American League.
Is limiting left-handed hitters to a .174 (19-109) batting average this season, the second-best among American League right-handed starters with at least 10 starts.
Has received zero runs of support in four of his 11 starts this season and three or more just twice.
Has gone 10-15 with 3.79 ERA (91 ER/216.1 IP), .205 (161-784) opponents average and 222 strikeouts in 45 career starts … is 3-3 with 3.90 ERA (24 ER/55.1 IP), .225 (47-209) opponents average and 80 strikeouts in 40 career relief appearances.
Has recorded 100-plus strikeouts in each of his last two seasons (2021-22).
Spent his first full season in the major leagues in 2021, pitching out of the bullpen (40 games) while making four starts … opted out of the 2020 season for personal reasons … missed the entire 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery (performed on 9/18/18).
Was acquired by the White Sox from Boston with OF Luis Basabe, RHP Víctor Díaz and INF Yoán Moncada in exchange for LHP Chris Sale on 12/6/16.
LAST START
Received a no decision on 6/4 vs. the Detroit Tigers, allowing two runs on three runs with one walk and nine strikeouts over 7.0 IP … threw 92 pitches (60 strikes).
Retired the first 11 batters he faced, punching out five before allowing Akil Baddoo to reach base with an infield single in the fourth inning … surrendered a two-run homer to Spencer Torkelson later in the inning.
Departed the game score tied, 2-2 … the Sox would go on to win on a walkoff grand slam from Jake Burger in the ninth.
Owned a 60.0 first-strike percentage and 10.9 swinging-strike percentage (11 swing and misses) vs. 25 batters … threw 53 four-seam fastballs (95.5 mph avg; 98.2 mph max), 33 sliders (85.0 avg; 88.0 max) and six changeups (90.0 mph avg; 91.0 max).
AN OUTING TO REMEMBER
On 5/19 against Kansas City, Kopech became the third pitcher in franchise history to work 8.0-plus IP and allow one or zero hits with 10-plus strikeouts and zero walks (Baseball Reference/Stathead).
The other two Sox to accomplish the feat are Floyd Bannister (9/13/87 at Seattle) and Gary Peters (7/15/63 vs. Baltimore).
The last MLB pitcher to record those numbers in a start was Toronto’s Alek Manoah on 9/13/21 vs. Tampa Bay.
DAMAGE CONTROL AT RISK
Has limited the opposition to a career .199 (37-186) battings average with RISP and .218 (22-101) mark with RISP/ two outs.
Opponents are batting a career-high .235 (12-52) with RISP and .344 (11-32) with RISP/two outs against him this season … in 2022, opponents hit .149 (10-67) with RISP and .125 (5-40) with RISP/two outs.
HEATER ON AND RELIABLE
His four-seam fastball has held the opposition to a .195 (75-384) batting average, the fourth-lowest in Major League Baseball among starting pitchers since 2022 (min. 1,500 fastballs thrown) … opponents own a .206 (29-141) average on his fastball this season, also the fourth-lowest in MLB (min. 500 fastballs thrown).
Has the highest four-seam fastball usage (62.9%) among MLB starting pitchers this season (min. 500 fastballs thrown) … led MLB starters with at least 2,000 pitches thrown in four-seam fastball usage (61.6%) last season.
Owns a 30.3 swing-and-miss percentage with his four-seam fastball, the seventh-highest percentage in the majors this season among starting pitcher with at least 200 fastballs thrown.
His 46 strikeouts via the four-seamer are the seventh-most in baseball this year.
VS. MIAMI MARLINS || INTERLEAGUE
Is scheduled to make his first career start against the Miami Marlins.
Has gone 5-2 with a 2.55 ERA (14 ER/49.1 IP), 1.26 WHIP, 47 strikeouts and a .214 (39-182) opponents average over 16 career games (seven starts) against the National League.
