CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost three straight games and four of their last fi ve as they continue a six-game trip tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
RHP Mike Clevinger is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are tied with Detroit for third place in the American League Central, 5.5 games behind division-leading Minnesota.
The Sox opened the trip last night with a 5-1 loss to the Dodgers, recording just three hits.
Following this series, the White Sox conclude the trip this weekend with three games at Seattle (6/16-18) before returning home for six games in seven days vs. Texas (6/19-21) and Boston (6/23-25).
The Sox went 1-2 on their last homestand vs. Miami from 6/9-11 and 2-1 on their last trip to New York-AL from 6/6-8.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
Prior to their current 1-4 stretch, the White Sox had won a season-high fi ve straight games and 13 of their previous 20.
The Sox lead MLB in June with a 2.53 ERA (25 ER/89.0 IP), but are hitting .192/.264/.322 (62-323) with 24 runs scored (2.9 R/G) during the month.
The White Sox have gone 16-12 (.571) since 5/13, the sixth-best record in the AL and best in the AL Central … during that span, they own an MLB-best 3.08 ERA (85 ER/248.2 IP).
Mike Clevinger is 4-1 with a 2.88 ERA (13 ER/40.2 IP) and 37 strikeouts in eight career regular-season starts against the Dodgers and 2-1 with a 1.56 ERA (3 ER/17.1 IP) in three starts at Dodger Stadium.
Luis Robert Jr. is hitting .393/.452/.786 (22-56) with seven doubles, five homers and 18 RBI in 15 interleague games in 2023.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
Los Angeles scored four runs in the first inning and went on to record a 5-1 victory over the White Sox.
Lance Lynn suffered the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts over 5.0 IP … Lynn gave up a pair of two-run homers in the first inning but held the Dodgers scoreless on two hits over the next 4.0 IP.
Garrett Crochet threw 2.0 scoreless IP, and Tanner Banks pitched a 1-2-3 eighth with one strikeout.
Andrew Vaughn went 2-3 with a double and run scored.
ARMS RACE
The White Sox are 16-12 (.571) since 5/13, the best record in the American League Central and the sixth-best mark in the AL.
During that span, the Sox lead MLB with a 3.08 ERA, .205 opponents average and 1.11 WHIP … by comparison, they ranked 29th in MLB with a 5.66 ERA through games of 5/12.
A breakdown of the Sox pitching through their first 40 games of the season and last 28:
Games W-L ERA QS IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG OPS WHIP
Last 28 16-12 3.08 14 248.2 185 95 85 31 92 239 .205 .648 1.11
First 40 13-27 5.66 12 351.2 366 241 221 65 167 385 .263 .817 1.52
ROTATION SENSATION
White Sox starting pitchers own a 3.39 ERA (58 ER/143.1 IP) with a .219 (125-570) opponents average and 158 strikeouts in 28 games since 5/13 … during that span, they rank second in MLB in ERA, opponents average (.219) and fourth in WHIP (1.18).
Sox starters have made seven scoreless outings in that stretch, have allowed one run four times and two runs five times … the
rotation since 5/13:
W-L ERA WHIP QS IP H R ER HR BB SO SO/9.0 AVG OPS
10-6 3.26 1.16 14 149.0 119 58 54 20 54 152 9.2 .217 .680
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS
The White Sox are batting .272/.337/.441 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 (.779) and sixth in slugging percentage.
Tim Anderson leads MLB with a .352 (152-432) average vs. left-handers since 2019.
ROBERT SHOOTING FOR THE STARS
CF Luis Robert Jr. is attempting to make his first career American League All-Star Team … Robert ranks among the AL leaders this season in extra-base hits (T2nd, 33), total bases (5th, 127), home runs (T5th, 15), slugging percentage (5th, .518), doubles (T8th, 18), runs scored (T8th, 42) and OPS (12th, .835) while playing in 65 of Chicago’s 68 games.
Robert also ranks seventh in MLB and second among all center fi elders with eight defensive runs saved (per Fangraphs).
WHITE SOX VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS
The White Sox lead the all-time series, 15-14, going 8-6 in Chicago and 7-8 at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers won two of three games in the last matchup from 6/7-9/22 at Guaranteed Rate Field, including an 11-9, come-from-behind victory in the finale.
Los Angeles swept a two-game set in the last meeting at Dodger Stadium from 8/15-16/17.
The teams, who share a spring training complex in Glendale, Ariz., played in the 1959 World Series, with the Dodgers winning in six games.
INTERLEAGUE INSIGHT
The White Sox are 259-240 (.519) all-time in interleague play (126-124 on the road), the seventh-best record in MLB.
The Sox are 6-10 this season after going 11-9 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2021 … they are 27-22 since 7/25/21.
The White Sox rank third all-time with 622 home runs, trailing only Toronto (661) and the Yankees (635).
RISING TO THE TOP
The White Sox playing seven consecutive series (22 games) from 6/6-29 against teams who were at or above .500 at the beginning of that stretch (3-4 so far)
The stretch includes 13 games on the road against the Yankees (2-1), Dodgers (0-1), Seattle and Angels and nine at home vs. Miami (1-2), Texas and Boston.
BULLPEN RELIEF
The White Sox bullpen has posted a 2.57 ERA (27 ER/94.2 IP) with a .180 (60-334) opponents average and a 1.01 WHIP in 28 games since 5/13 … during that stretch, the pen leads MLB in opponents average, ranks third in WHIP and fourth in ERA.
The White Sox bullpen since 5/13:
W-L ERA WHIP SV IP H R ER HR BB SO HR/9.0 AVG OPS
6-5 2.57 1.01 7 94.2 60 32 27 9 36 81 0.86 .180 .579
STREAKING SOX
The following White Sox relievers own notable streaks:
Aaron Bummer: Five straight scoreless outings (4.0 IP) since 5/27 and a 2.08 ERA (2 ER/8.2 IP) with one walk and nine strikeouts over his last 10 games since 5/12;
Kendall Graveman: 1.06 ERA (2 ER/17.0 IP) in 17 games since 5/3, allowing fi ve hits (.093 opponents average) with six saves and 14 strikeouts;
Reynaldo López: 0.00 ERA over his last 11 outings (since 5/14), allowing one unearned run on three hits with 12 strikeouts;
Keynan Middleton: 1.17 ERA (2 ER/15.1 IP) in 15 games since 5/2, with four walks, 16 strikeouts, a .151 (8-53) opponents average and 0.78 WHIP;
Gregory Santos: Has made six straight scoreless outings since 5/25, allowing three hits with six strikeouts over 8.0 IP.
ALL˨RIGHTY THEN
Tonight marks the 187th consecutive game in which a RHP has started for the White Sox … per Elias, it is longest active streak in baseball (Minnesota is second at 137), 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.
SEARCHING FOR HOME˨FIELD ADVANTAGE
The White Sox have won eight of their last 12 home games and are 14-8 since 4/30 following a 3-9 start to the season.
During the 22-game stretch, the Sox are hitting .263/.318/.417 (194-738) with a 3.01 ERA (68 ER/203.0 IP) … they have allowed three runs or less in 11 of their last 15 home games.
STARTER # 52 MIKE CLEVINGER RHP
CLEVINGER AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 12th start of the season, seventh on the road and fourth during interleague play.
Has limited opponents to three runs or less in eight of his first 11 starts, including three scoreless efforts.
Has surrendered nine home runs across his last seven starts after allowing no home runs over his first three.
Was on the 15-day injured list from 5/21-6/2 with right wrist inflammation, missing two starts.
Agreed to terms with Chicago on a one-year, $12-million deal in December (includes a mutual option for 2024).
Has appeared in just 41 games (40 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 6/8-2 at New York-AL after allowing three runs on six hits (two home runs) with one walk and two strikeouts across 5.2 IP … spun 3.0 scoreless IP before allowing a two-run home run to Gleyber Torres in the fourth and solo shot to Billy McKinney in the fifth.
Departed the game in the sixth with the White Sox trailing, 3-0.
Owned a 45.8 first-strike percentage and 5.9 swinging-strike percentage (eight swing and misses) vs. 24 batters … threw 101 pitches (66 strikes) with the following pitch breakdown: 34 sliders (80.7 mph avg; 82.7 mph max), 32 four-seam fastballs (94.5 avg; 96.7 max), 14 changeups (86.8 avg; 88.4 max), nine sinkers (94.0 avg; 95.1 max), nine cutters (86.3 avg; 88.1 max) and three curveballs (74.6 avg; 75.0 max).
ROAD WOES
Is 2-3 with a 5.45 ERA (20 ER/33.0 IP) on the road this season, compared to a 1-1 record with a 2.52 ERA (7 ER/25.0 IP) at home.
Is 3-5 across his last 10 road starts (one quality), compiling a 6.79 ERA (38 ER/50.1 IP), .279 (57-204) opponents average and 11 home runs allowed … has surrendered four or more runs in three of his last five road starts and six of his last 10.
Owns a 28-22 record, 4.02 ERA (158 ER/354.0 IP), .228 (299-1310) opponents average and 348 strikeouts over 69 career appearances (63 starts) on the road.
START STRONG
Is limiting opponents to a .179 (14-78) batting average across the first two innings this season, compared to a .298 (31-104) average from the fourth-seventh inning.
Is holding opponents to a .169 (15-89) average with 23 strikeouts the first time through the lineup, compared to a .356 (31-87) average the second time through.
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.
BEND DON’T BREAK
Is limiting opponents to a .208 (20-96) average with runners on base, .172 (10-58) average with RISP and .077 (2-26) average with RISP/two outs this season.
His opponents average with RISP/two outs is tied for the lowest in MLB (min. 25 PA), his opponents average with RISP is the eighth-lowest (min. 60 PA) and his opponents average with runners on is tied for the 11th-lowest (min. 100 PA).
VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS || INTERLEAGUE
Will make his fourth career start against the Los Angeles Dodgers and third at Dodger Stadium.
Last faced the Dodgers on 9/9/22 in San Diego with the Padres … did not factor in the decision after allowing four runs on five hits (two home runs) with one walk and four strikeouts.
Has allowed at least four runs and one home run in all three of his career starts against the Dodgers
Is 4-10 with a 5.02 ERA (55 ER/98.2 IP) in 19 career interleague starts (five quality) … owns an 11-10 record with a 4.60 ERA (76 ER/148.2 IP) in 30 career appearances (29 starts) against the National League.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
HOMEBODIES: The Dodgers kicked off their six-game homestand (1-0) on the right foot yesterday, downing the Chicago White Sox, 5-1, behind a masterful performance by Tony Gonsolin. A victory by the Dodgers tonight would snap a string of three straight series losses. The Dodgers are 11-9-1 in their 21 series this season and now 14-8 (.636) in the first game of a series. Following tomorrow night’s series finale vs. Chicago, the Boys in Blue will welcome the San Francisco Giants for their first visit to Dodger Stadium in 2023 with a three-game weekend series beginning Friday night at 7:10 p.m. The Dodgers are in second place in the National League West, 3.0 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks. Los Angeles is 21-10 (.677) at Dodger Stadium this season, which is the best home record in the National League. Los Angeles is 14-15 all-time vs. the White Sox, including an 8-7 mark at Dodger Stadium. The club is 5-5 in Interleague play this season. The Dodgers hold the third best record in the National League, behind the Arizona Diamondbacks (.612) and Atlanta Braves (.606). This evening, the Dodgers are celebrating Black Heritage night and as part of LADF’s “In This Together” initiative, the 50/50 raffle is dedicated to the Liberty Hill Foundation to support the California Funders for Boys and Men of Color, with a goal to remove systemic barriers and create pathways that enable boys and men of color to achieve their greatest hopes and dreams. Tonight, the Ellen & Clayton Kershaw Foundation is generously matching up to $50,000.
BURST IN THE FIRST: The Dodgers jumped on the White Sox for four first-inning runs and never looked back as Tony Gonsolin allowed just two hits over 6.0 scoreless innings. Gonsolin is now 30-7 in his career and according to the Elias Sports Bureau, is tied for the second fewest decisions all-time among pitchers to reach 30 victories. In addition, his 27-6 (.818) record as a starter is the best in the modern era through 60 games started. In support of Gonsolin, Will Smith cracked a two-run, first-inning homer on his bobblehead night and David Peralta followed three batters later with a two-run blast of his own. Peralta is hitting .438 (14-for-32) in his last 10 games since May 29 with two homers, two doubles and seven RBI.
SEND THEM TO SEATTLE: On Monday, Major League Baseball released its first All-Star ballot update, and three Dodgers are currently holding down starting spots (Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez), while a fourth, Will Smith, is currently in second place that would put him in the “finalist phase,” beginning on June 26. Freeman currently has 775,503 votes at first base, nearly 400,000 more than Pete Alonso, who is in second. Betts ranks second among outfielders, trailing top vote-getter Ronald Acuña Jr. and more than 300,000 votes up on the third-place outfielder. Martinez leads the DH position by roughly 32,000 votes over Bryce Harper. Smith trails Atlanta’s Sean Murphy by less than 200,000 votes and Max Muncy is less than 10,000 votes from catching Austin Riley at third base and being in the finalist phase. The 2023 Scotts MLB All-Star Ballot, which is available exclusively online and via mobile devices at MLB.com/vote, all 30 Club web sites, the MLB App and the MLB Ballpark App, will be accessible until the voting period for Phase 1 concludes at 9:00 a.m. PT on Thursday, June 22. During the initial voting period, fans can submit up to five ballots per 24-hour period on MLB platforms.
WHY STOP AT FIRST?: The Dodgers’ offense continues to sizzle, leading the National League in various categories, including runs per game (5.55), runs scored (372), home runs (115), extra-base hits (249), and walks (279) while ranking second in OPS (.789) and slugging (.460). Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez sit atop MLB’s extra-base hits leaderboard:
Major League Baseball – Extra Base Hit Leaders
Freddie Freeman LAD 38
Shohei Ohtani LAA 36
J.D. Martinez LAD 35
Ronald Acuña Jr. ATL 35
Martinez leads the NL in slugging percentage (.610) and has hit seven homers in his last 14 games. In his career against the White Sox, he is batting .304 (98-for-322) with 15 homers, 26 doubles and 51 RBI in 86 games.
STEADY FREDDIE: Dodger first baseman Freddie Freeman went 0-for-3 with a run scored and a walk last night and leads the Majors with 58 runs scored. Freeman, who has hit safely in 27 of his last 30 games, leads the Major Leagues with 24 doubles and 38 extra-base hits and is second in batting average (.335) and total bases (154). He is just eight hits shy of 2,000 for his career.
LONG BALLS: The Dodgers hit two more homers last night and have 115 home runs on the season, which leads the Major Leagues. Los Angeles recorded its 19th 3+ homer game on Wednesday, which leads the Majors. The Dodgers also rank second in the Majors with 55 games with at least one homer, behind the Rays (56), who have homered in all but 14 games this season.
KERSHAW DAY: Future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw will take the ball for the Boys in Blue as he seeks win No. 206 of his career as well as his NL-leading ninth victory. The southpaw is 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA (8 ER/25.0 IP) in four career starts vs. the Sox, including 7.0 scoreless innings the last time he faced them in 2017 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.
THE TORNADO: On this date in 1995, Hideo Nomo broke the Dodger rookie record with 16 strikeouts in Los Angeles’ 8-5 victory over the Pirates. The mark was previously held by Karl Spooner, who had 15 punchouts in a 1954 game against the New York Giants.
TONIGHT’S STARTER vs. WHITE SOX: LHP CLAYTON KERSHAW (8-4, 2.95 ERA in 13 GS)
2023 SEASON NOTES:
- Over 13 starts, the Texas native owns a 8-4 record with a 2.95 ERA (25 ER/76.1 IP) with 93 strikeouts against 19 walks and has generated a 1.09 WHIP
- Notched his 200th career win in his start on April 18 against the Mets, making him the only Los Angeles Dodger to win 200 games with the same franchise…joins Don Sutton (233) and Don Drysdale (209) on the Dodger all-time list
- Currently 21st all-time on the Major League strikeout list with 2,900…he needs 100 more to become the 20th player in Major League history with 3,000 strikeouts
- Has fired 6.0+ strikeouts in 11 out of his 13 starts this season
- On June 8, Kershaw had his 82nd career start with 6.0+ scoreless innings for the third time this season (last: 4/29/23 vs STL). He holds the franchise record and ranks 8th all-time in MLB history
- He was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for April after posting a 5-1 record with a 1.89 ERA (8 ER/38.0 IP) and 41 strikeouts and a 0.76 WHIP
VS. WHITE SOX:
- Will face Chicago for the fifth time in his career…is 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA (8 ER/25.0 IP) and 26 strikeouts against 7 walks
- Last faced the club on July 18, 2017, tossing 7.0 scoreless innings while giving up seven hits, one walk and seven punchouts en route to the win
