CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have won seven of their last 11 games and 17 of 29 as they continue a six-game trip tonight with the series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
RHP Dylan Cease is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are in third place in the American League Central, 2.0 games behind Cleveland and 5.5 behind division-leading Minnesota.
The Sox have split the first two games of this series, rallying last night for an 8-4 victory after losing Tuesday’s opener, 5-1.
Following tonight’s game and a 2:30 a.m. PT arrival in Seattle, the White Sox conclude the trip this weekend with three games at the Mariners (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
The White Sox have gone 17-12 (.586) since 5/13, tied for the fourth-best record in the AL and the best in the AL Central … during that span, they own a 3.11 ERA (89 ER/257.2 IP), the best mark in MLB (see box at right).
The Sox rank second in the major leagues in June with a 2.66 ERA (29 ER/98.0 IP), but are hitting .207/.278/.355 (75-363) with 32 runs scored (3.4 R/G) during the month.
Dylan Cease is 1-1 with a 2.94 ERA (11 ER/33.2 IP) and a 1.13 WHIP over his last six starts … Cease has gone 6-3 with a 2.24 ERA (17 ER/68.1 IP) and 92 strikeouts (12.1 per 9.0 IP) over 12 interleague starts since 2021.
Jake Burger is averaging one home run every 10.67 at-bats, the third-best rate in MLB (minimum 170 plate appearances) behind Aaron Judge (9.21) and Pete Alonso (10.41).
Luis Robert Jr. is hitting .393/.448/.820 (24-61) with eight doubles, six homers and 19 RBI in 16 interleague games in 2023.
ROSTER MOVES
Prior to tonight’s game, the White Sox placed 3B Yoán Moncada on the 10-day injured (retro to 6/14) with lower back inflammation and selected the contract of INF Zach Remillard from Class AAA Charlotte.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
Jake Burger recorded his fi rst career multi-homer game, including a game-tying, two-run shot off Yency Almonte in the eighth inning, and Clint Frazier added a go-ahead single off Almonte as the White Sox rallied for an 8-4 victory over the Dodgers.
The Sox took a 2-0 lead on solo homers by Burger in the second and Luis Robert Jr. in the third off Clayton Kershaw … the Dodgers scored four runs in the sixth to take a 4-2 lead before the Sox answered with three each in the eighth and ninth.
Mike Clevinger threw 4.2 scoreless IP, allowing three hits with two walks and fi ve strikeouts, before leaving the game with right biceps soreness.
Joe Kelly (0.2 IP), Reynaldo López, Keynan Middleton and Kendall Graveman (1.0 IP each) combined for 3.2 scoreless IP.
Robert Jr. went 2-5 with a double, homer (No. 16) and two runs scored, Eloy Jiménez was 2-5 with a double, RBI and run scored, and Yasmani Grandal went 3-5 with a double.
Pedro Grifol received his third ejection in the sixth.
ARMS RACE
The White Sox are 17-12 (.586) since 5/13, the best record in the American League Central and tied for the fourth-best mark in the AL.
During that span, the Sox lead MLB with a 3.11 ERA and .205 opponents average and rank second with a 1.13 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 29:
Games W-L ERA QS IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG OPS WHIP
Last 29 17-12 3.11 14 257.2 192 99 89 31 98 248 .205 .646 1.13
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 3.29 ERA (58 ER/158.2 IP) with a .218 (128-587) opponents average and 163 strikeouts in 29 games since 5/13 … during that span, they rank second in MLB in ERA, opponents average and WHIP (1.17).
Sox starters have made eight 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
10-7 3.29 1.17 14 158.2 128 63 58 22 58 163 9.2 .218 .685
WHITE SOX VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS
The White Sox lead the all-time series, 16-14, going 8-6 in Chicago and 8-8 in Los Angeles … Sox pitchers own a 2.93 ERA (45 ER/138.0 IP) in 16 all-time games at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers won two of three games in the last matchup from 6/7-9/22 at Guaranteed Rate Field and 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 260-240 (.520) all-time in interleague play (127-124 on the road), the sixth-best record in MLB.
The Sox are 7-10 this season after going 11-9 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2021 … they are 28-22 since 7/25/21.
The White Sox rank third all-time with 625 home runs, trailing only Toronto (661) and the Yankees (635).
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 (2nd, 35), total bases (4th, 133), slugging percentage (4th, .532), home runs (5th, 16), doubles (T5th, 19), runs scored (T6th, 44) and OPS (7th, .851) while playing in 65 of Chicago’s 68 games.
Robert also ranks seventh in MLB and second among all center fielders with eight defensive runs saved (per Fangraphs).
RISING TO THE TOP
The White Sox are playing seven consecutive series (22 games) from 6/6-29 against teams who were at or above .500 at the beginning of that stretch (4-4 so far)
The stretch includes 13 games on the road against the Yankees (2-1), Dodgers (1-1), Seattle and Angels and nine at home vs. Miami (1-2), Texas and Boston.
BULLPEN RELIEF
The White Sox bullpen has posted a 2.82 ERA (31 ER/99.0 IP) with a .182 (64-351) opponents average and 1.05 WHIP in 29 games since 5/13 … during that stretch, the pen ranks second in MLB in opponents average, 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
7-5 2.82 1.05 7 99.0 64 36 31 9 40 85 0.82 .182 .581
STREAKING SOX
The following White Sox relievers own notable stretches:
Kendall Graveman: 1.00 ERA (2 ER/18.0 IP) in 18 games since 5/3, allowing fi ve hits (.089 opponents average) with six saves and 14 strikeouts;
Reynaldo López: 0.00 ERA over his last 12 outings (since 5/14), allowing one unearned run on three hits with 12 strikeouts;
Keynan Middleton: 1.10 ERA (2 ER/16.1 IP) in 16 games since 5/2, with fi ve walks, 17 strikeouts, a .143 (8-56) opponents average and 0.80 WHIP.
ALL˨RIGHTY THEN
Tonight marks the 188th 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 138), 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.
STARTING PITCHER – #84 STARTER DYLAN CEASE RHP
CEASE AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 15th start of the season, seventh on the road and first against the Seattle Mariners.
Needs one win for 40 in his career.
Has allowed one run or less while tossing 5.0-plus IP in 26 starts since 2022 … the 26 starts are the most in baseball ahead of the Dodgers’ Julio UrÃas (23) and Angels’ Shohei Ohtani and Rangers’ MartÃn Pérez (21).
Is 1-1 with a 2.94 ERA (11 ER/33.2 IP) and .198 (24-121) opponents average in his last six starts.
The White Sox are 8-6 in his starts this season … has recorded six quality starts.
According to STATS, he is the fastest White Sox pitcher to reach 600 career strikeouts (495.1 IP).
Is tied for the MLB lead since 2021 in starts (78), ranks fifth in strikeouts (534) and SO/9.0 IP (11.34) and ninth in opponents average (.210).
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
Received a no decision on 6/9 vs. Miami, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over 6.0 IP … held the Marlins scoreless over the first four innings before surrendering a solo home run to Joey Wendle in the fifth.
Departed the game in the seventh with the game tied, 1-1 … threw 95 pitches (61 strikes) … the White Sox would go on to beat the Marlins, 2-1, on a game-ending, RBI single by Luis Robert Jr. in the ninth.
Owned a 78.3 first-strike percentage and 14.7 swinging-strike percentage (15 swing and misses) vs. 23 batters … threw 43 four-seam fastballs (95.6 mph avg; 97.2 mph max), 33 sliders (86.5 avg; 88.3 max), 17 knuckle curveballs (79.9 avg; 80.9 max) and two changeups (70.9 avg; 72.0 max).
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Is 9-4 with a 2.85 ERA (29 ER/91.2 IP) in his last 17 road starts, 12-5 with a 2.68 ERA (35 ER/117.1 IP) over his last 22 and 14-6 with a 2.85 ERA (46 ER/145.1 IP) in his last 27.
Ranks among MLB road leaders since 7/11/21 in strikeouts (6th, 188), wins (T6th, 14), ERA (12th, 2.85) and opponents average (18th, .208).
JUNE HEAT
Has gone 6-3 with a 2.61 ERA (20 ER/69.0 IP), .215 (56-260) opponents average and 95 strikeouts over 13 career starts in June … his 2.61 ERA is the lowest monthly mark in his career.
Went 2-1 with a 0.33 ERA (1 ER/27.1 IP), .192 (19-99) opp. average and 45 strikeouts in five June starts in 2022 … was named American League Pitcher of the Month.
UNDER PRESSURE
Opponents are hitting .224 (13-58) with RISP, .188 (6-32) with RISP/two outs and .222 (2-9) with the bases loaded this season.
Owns a career .209 (93-444) opponents average with RISP, the fifth-lowest mark in the majors since 2019.
OVER WORKED
Has thrown 1,363 pitches in 14 starts this season, tied for the sixth-most in the majors … his 97.4 pitches per game are tied for the seventh-most in baseball.
Is averaging 18.5 pitches per IP and 4.21 pitches per batter faced, the second and fourth highest marks in MLB respectively.
VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS || INTERLEAGUE
Is scheduled to make his second career start against the Los Angeles Dodgers and first at Dodger Stadium.
Lost his only career start vs. the Dodgers on 6/9/22 at Guaranteed Rate Field, allowing six unearned run on six hits with three walks and eight strikeouts over 4.2 IP.
Is 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA (2 ER/11.0 IP), .132 (5-38) opponents average and 15 strikeouts in two interleague starts this season.
Has gone 6-7 with a 3.16 ERA (33 ER/94.0 IP), .199 (68-342) opponents average and 115 strikeouts in 17 career interleague starts (six quality).
LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
NEED TO GET ONE HERE: The Dodgers lost to the White Sox last night, 8-4, in the middle contest of their three-game series, setting up a rubber match this evening at 7:10 p.m. The Boys in Blue need a victory tonight to avoid losing their fourth consecutive series. The Dodgers are 11-9-1 in their 21 series this season and have a 4-7 record in the month of June. Following tonight’s series finale vs. Chicago, the club will welcome in the San Francisco Giants for their first visit to Dodger Stadium in 2023 with a three-game weekend series beginning tomorrow night at 7:10 p.m. After an off day on Monday, the Dodgers will head to Anaheim for a two-game Interleague Series with the Angels from June 20-21. The Dodgers are in second place in the National League West, 3.0 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks. Los Angeles is 21-11 (.656) at Dodger Stadium this season, which is the best home record in the National League. Los Angeles is 14-16 all-time vs. the White Sox, including an 8-8 mark at Dodger Stadium. The club is 5-6 in Interleague play this season. The Dodgers hold the third best record in the National League, behind the Atlanta Braves (.618) and Arizona Diamondbacks (.603). The first 40,000 ticketed fans in attendance this evening will receive a Clayton Kershaw Bobblehead, presented by Spectrum. Last night, Kershaw spun 6.0 innings and left the game in position to win his ninth of the season. His eight victories in 2023 are tied for the National League lead.
SHAKE IT OFF: The Dodgers stormed back from a 2-0 deficit last night, plating four runs in the sixth inning and giving Clayton Kershaw (6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 5 K, 2 Bb, 2 HR) a chance to win his ninth game this year. However, the White Sox tied the game off Yency Almonte in the eighth inning and took the lead for good a few batters later against the losing pitcher, Alex Vesia (0-3). The Dodger bullpen now has an ERA of 4.90, which is the worst in the National League. At the plate, Miguel Rojas collected his eighth multi-hit game of the season (2-for-4, 2B), Mookie Betts drove in two runs and David Peralta reached base three times, going 1-for-3 with two walks and a run scored. Peralta is hitting .429 (15-for-35) in his last 11 games since May 29 with two homers, two doubles and seven RBI. Betts’ two-run single in the sixth inning gave him an eight-game hitting streak, during which he is batting .303 (10-for-33) with two homers, seven RBI and eight runs scored. Betts is tied for third in the NL with 53 runs scored and ranks eighth with an .895 OPS.
THE CHAMPS: Congratulations are in order for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, who last night clinched the Pacific Coast League’s first-half
championship. By virtue of winning the first half in the split-season format, the Dodgers will host a best-of-three Pacific Coast League Championship Series Sept. 26-28 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark against the winner of the second half. OKC is 46-19 and seeking its first league championship since 1996. The club owns the most wins and best winning percentage among all 120 full-season teams in Minor League Baseball this year.
STEADY FREDDIE: Dodger first baseman Freddie Freeman went 0-for-3 with a walk and has now gone hitless in two consecutive games for the first time since doing so for three games from April 19-21. He is tied with Marcus Semien for second in the Major Leagues with 58 runs scored, trailing just Ronald Acuna Jr. (59). Freeman leads the Major Leagues with 24 doubles and 38 extra-base hits and is third in batting average (.331) and total bases (154). He is just eight hits shy of 2,000 for his career.
LONG BALLS: The Dodgers did not homer last night, but still lead the Majors with 115 home runs, one more than the Atlanta Braves. Los Angeles has 19 3+ homer games, which also leads the Majors.
WHY STOP AT FIRST?: The Dodgers’ offense continues to sizzle, leading the National League in various categories, including runs per game (5.53), runs scored (376), home runs (115), extra-base hits (250) and walks (285) while ranking second in OPS (.786) and slugging (.457).
TONIGHT’S STARTER vs. WHITE SOX: RHP MICHAEL GROVE (0-2, 8.28 ERA in 6 G, 5 GS
2023 SEASON NOTES:
- In his last start on June 9, he tossed 4.0 innings against the Phillies, allowing seven hits, four runs and one walk while striking out two…was his second start back since going on the IL April 21st with a right groin strain
- Spun a career-high 5.2 innings on April 15th against the Cubs…allowed just one earned run on two hits with six strikeouts
- Made his 2023 debut against the Rockies on April 3, where he hurled four innings, giving up three runs on two hits, two walks and punching out four
- Allowed career-highs in runs (9) and hits (12) in his start against the D-Backs on April 9
- Started six games during Spring Training, posting a 0-1 record with a 5.40 ERA (10 ER/16.2 IP) and 17 strikeouts against just three walks…produced a 1.03 WHIP
- Named to his first Opening Day roster as a Major Leaguer after making his big league debut last season on May 15 against the Phillies
VS. WHITE SOX:
- Will face the the Southsiders for the first time in his career
