CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have won four of their last six games as they continue a seven-game trip tonight with the series opener at Oakland.
LHP Tanner Banks is scheduled to open for the White Sox, who are in fourth place in the American League Central, 4.5 games behind division-leading Cleveland and Minnesota.
The Sox opened the trip by splitting four games at Los Angeles-AL, winning the last two games with 20 runs scored after losing the first two by a combined three runs.
Following this three-game series and a day off on Monday, the White Sox end the first half with a six-game homestand vs. Toronto (7/4-6) and St. Louis (7/7-9).
The Sox went 3-3 on their last homestand vs. Texas (1-2) and Boston (2-1) from 6/19-25 and 2-4 on their last trip to Los Angeles-NL (1-2) and Seattle (1-2) from 6/13-18.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox have scored 20 runs over the last two games, compared to 32 in their previous 11 (2.9 R/G).
The Sox rank second in MLB with a 3.38 ERA (144 ER/383.0 IP) in 43 games since 5/13 … the rotation ranks third in MLB during that span with a 3.54 ERA (91 ER/231.1 IP).
The White Sox went 10-12 on a just-completed stretch from 6/6-29 where they played 22 consecutive games against teamswho were at or above .500 at the beginning of that period.
Tanner Banks is the only left-hander since 5/27/22 to start for the White Sox … his first start on 6/19 vs. Texas ended the Sox streak of 191 consecutive games started by a RHP … per Elias, it was longest active streak in baseball and second-longest in franchise history (194 from 9/7/33-5/19/35).
Luis Robert Jr. is hitting .318/.381/.716 (28-88) with 10 home runs, 15 RBI and 19 runs scored in 23 games since 6/4.
Andrew Benintendi is hitting .383/.420/.489 (18-47) in 12 games since moving into the leadoff spot on 6/17 at Seattle.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
The White Sox scored six runs on six singles in the third inning to overcome an early three-run deficit and went on to salvage a split of the four-game series with a 9-7 victory at Los Angeles-AL.
The Angels hit three home runs off Lance Lynn in the first two innings to take a 4-1 lead … Zach Remillard, making his first career start in the leadoff slot, went 2-2 with two RBI and run scored to highlight the six-run rally.
Lynn earned his fifth win, allowing five runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts over 6.0 IP … Joe Kelly (10th hold) and Gregory Santos (third hold) each threw 1.0 scoreless IP in relief.
The Sox added two insurance runs in the ninth on Andrew Vaughn’s RBI triple and a wild pitch … Tim Anderson (2-5, 2 R), ended a career-long 0-24 stretch with a first-inning single.
ROBERT SHOOTING FOR THE STARS
CF Luis Robert Jr., the reigning American League Player of the Week, is attempting to make his first All-Star Team … the All-Star Game will be played on 7/11 at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park.
Some notable information from Robert’s season to date:
Attempting to become the first Sox CF to make the All-Star Team since Chet Lemon in 1978-79;
Ranks among the AL leaders in home runs (2nd, 23), extra-base hits (2nd, 43), slugging percentage (2nd, .567), total bases (3rd, 171), OPS (3rd, .893), defensive runs saved (3rd, 8), runs scored (4th, 56), games played (T6th, 80) and doubles (T11th, 20);
Is hitting .303/.367/.651 (59-195) with 14 doubles, 18 homers, 32 RBI and 42 runs scored in 52 games since 5/1;
Twenty-three home runs are the most by a Sox player in the first half since Todd Frazier (25) in 2016 … on pace to hit 45, which would be second-most in franchise history behind Albert Belle’s 49 in 1998;
Ranks second in MLB with 10 homers in June … is the first Sox player since José Abreu in 8/21 (10) to hit 10-plus homers in a single month;
Is the first Sox player to hit five-plus homers in a five-game span (6/24-28) since José Abreu hit seven from 8/21-26/20;
Named AL Player of the Week for 6/19-25 (first career weekly honor) after hitting .444/.524/1.111 (8-18) with four home runs, five RBI and six runs scored in six games;
One of five players in Sox history (8x) to record 20-plus doubles and homers before the break, joining Frank Thomas (1993-94, 2003), Abreu (2014, ’19), Jermaine Dye (2008) and Magglio Ordóñez (2000);
Is hitting .359/.438/.734 (23-64) with six doubles, six home runs and a AL-best 1.173 OPS vs. LHP.
JUNE BOON
The White Sox are 13-12 in June and are in position to secure their second consecutive winning month.
The Sox rank fourth in the American League with a 3.39 ERA (84 ER/223.1 IP) and have not allowed more than seven runs in any game this month.
WHITE SOX VS. OAKLAND ATHLETICS
The White Sox are 9-5 against the Athletics since 2021 after going 4-15 from 2017-19.
The Sox went 5-2 in 2022, winning two of three games at home from 7/29-31 and three of four in Oakland from 9/8-11, their first series win at The Coliseum since 2016.
The White Sox batted .299/.337/.494 with a 3.19 ERA and outscored the A’s, 42-27 … they collected 21 hits in a 14-2 win on 9/8 and 20 in a 10-2 win on 9/10, both at the Coliseum.
Eloy Jiménez is a career .333/.375/.621 (22-66) hitter with five home runs, 12 RBI and 12 runs scored in 18 games against the A’s, and Luis Robert Jr. is hitting .407 (11-22) in six games.
RHPs Kendall Graveman (2015-18) and Liam Hendriks (2016- 20) and INF Elvis Andrus (2021-22) all played for the A’s.
LAST TIME HERE
Some notes from the White Sox last series at The Coliseum from 9/8-11/22:
Series: Collected 20-plus hits twice in a three-game span9/8 and 9/10) for the second time in franchise history (6/19 and 6/21/74).
9/8 (14-2 win): 14 runs scored and 21 hits are the most recorded by the Sox in 309 games all-time at Oakland Coliseum … five homers matched the club record (9/27/81) … 12-run margin of victory matched the franchise record at the Coliseum (also 13-1 on 8/17/08) … Elvis Andrus (first career leadoff HR) and Yoán Moncada led off the game with back-to-back home runs, marking the seventh time in franchise history the White Sox have accomplished that feat.
9/9 (5-3 win): Per STATS, the Sox posted their first win when trailing by three-plus runs entering the ninth since 4/20/15 vs. Cleveland (down 3-0) and first on the road since 4/6/11 at Kansas City (trailed 6-3).
HOW THE WEST WAS WON
The Sox are 8-12 vs. the American League West this season, including a 5-6 record on the road.
The Sox went 18-16 vs. the division last season and 16-17 in 2021 … they are 20-24 on the road vs. the AL West since 2021.
ARMS RACE
White Sox pitchers have recorded a 3.38 ERA (144 ER/383.0 IP) in 43 games since 5/13, the second-best mark in the major leagues … during that span, the Sox lead MLB with a .214 opponents average and rank sixth with a 1.20 WHIP.
A breakdown of the Sox pitching through their first 40 games of the season and last 43:
Games W-L ERA QS IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG OPS WHIP
Last 43 23-20 3.30 18 383.0 304 158 144 49 156 413 .214 .670 1.20
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 3.54 ERA with a .228 opponents average in 43 games since 5/13 … during that span, they lead MLB with an average of 10.31 strikeouts per 9.0 IP, rank second in opponents average and third in ERA.
During that 43-game stretch, Sox starters have made eight scoreless outings, have allowed one earned run 10 times and two earned runs nine times … the rotation since 5/13:
W-L ERA WHIP QS IP H R ER HR BB SO SO/9.0 AVG OPS
12-12 3.54 1.25 18 231.1 199 99 91 35 90 265 10.3 .228 .719
BULLPEN RELIEF
The White Sox bullpen has posted a 3.15 ERA (53 ER/151.2 IP) with a .192 (105-547) opponents average and 1.13 WHIP in 43 games since 5/13 … during that stretch, the bullpen leads MLB in opponents average, ranks third in WHIP and fifth 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
11-8 3.15 1.13 9 151.2 105 59 53 14 66 148 0.83 .192 .592
GRAB SOME BENCH
l The White Sox lead MLB with an average of 9.78 strikeouts per
9.0 IP (798 SO/734.2 IP) , which would be the second-highest
total in franchise history behind the 2021 club (10.18).
l Sox pitchers have struck out 10-plus batters in 43 of 83 games
(51.8 percent), including 15 or more six times (0-6 record).
Lance Lynn (4th, career-high 10.88), Dylan Cease (5th, 10.84), Michael Kopech (7th, 10.15) and Lucas Giolito (10th, 9.79) all rank among the AL leaders in strikeouts per 9.0 IP.
LONG BALL
The White Sox rank sixth in the American League this season with 96 home runs, including 26 over the last 15 games (22 solo), and are on pace to finish with 187.
By comparison, the Sox hit 67 homers over the first 83 games of 2022 and finished the season ranked 10th in the AL with 149.
Luis Robert Jr. (2nd, career-high 23) and Jake Burger (T6th, career-high 17) rank among the AL leaders this season
STARTING ITCHER – #57 TANNER BANKS LHP
BANKS AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his third career start (44th appearance) and first career appearance against the Athletics.
Has pitched to a 0-2 record with a 4.50 ERA (9 ER/18.0 IP), .250 (17-68) opponents average, four walks and 17 strikeouts in 2023.
Three of his eight outings this year have been scoreless, spinning 1.0 IP in each scoreless outing … has tossed 2.2-plus IP in five outings (two starts), recording multiple strikeouts in all five such appearances.
Opposing hitters are batting .222/.263/.333 (4-18) with RISP and .250/.250/.250 (2-8) with RISP/2-outs this year.
Made his major-league debut in relief on 4/10 at Detroit at age 30, working 2.0 scoreless IP with four strikeouts in the White Sox 10-1 win … became the first Sox player to make his MLB debut at age 30-plus since Junior Guerra in 2015 (Elias).
Originally selected by Chicago in the 18th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Utah.
LAST START
Did not factor in the decision in second career start on 6/25 vs. Boston … allowed one run on three hits with two walks, one hit batter and four strikeouts across 2.2 IP … threw a career-high tying 63 pitches (36 strikes).
Snapped a streak of four straight appearances (10.1 IP) without walking a batter.
Exited in the third inning with two outs and the White Sox trailing, 1-0 … the Sox won, 4-1.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS NOTES:
ABOUT THE A’S: Have lost two straight, four of the last five and 12 of the last 14 games after winning a season-high seven consecutive contests…are a season-high 41 games under .500 at 21-62 (.253)…finished the season last year 42 games under at 60-102…the A’s .253 winning percentage this year is the lowest in the majors behind the Royals (23-58, .284)…the last two Major League teams to finish with a winning percentage under .290 are the 2003 Tigers (43-119, .265) and 1962 Mets (40-120, .250)…are 3-5-1 over the last nine series after going 1-16 over the first 17 series…have been swept 11 times and have swept one series.
A’s IN JUNE: The A’s are 9-16 (.360) in June after going 6-23 (.207) in May and 5-23 (.179) in April…have the seventh worst record in the majors this month after posting the lowest mark in April and May…have clinched a losing record in June for the second consecutive year (went 5-21 in 2022)…including this June, have posted a losing record in each of the last five full months and nine of the last 10…have a run differential of -45 after posting a mark of -78 in May and -118 in April…have a 4.81 ERA (118 er in 221.0 ip), which is sixth highest in the majors…logged the highest ERA in the majors in May (5.54) and April (7.97)…have yielded just 23 home runs this month, which is tied for third fewest in the majors…surrendered 50 home runs in April and 49 in May…are batting .216 (176-for-813) in June, which is second lowest in the majors…have hit under .222 in June twice in Oakland history: .209 in 2022 and .216 in 1982…rank last in the majors in OPS (.627), slugging .330) and extra base hits (54), have the second fewest home runs (18) and third fewest runs (86)…have 27 stolen bases, which is fourth most in the majors and the most by an A’s team in June since 1998 (27).
OFFENSE: The A’s have been held to fewer than 10 hits in each of the last 19 games, which is the longest such streak in Oakland history and the longest by an A’s team since the Kansas City A’s had a 25-game streak from May 22-June 13, 1967…are batting .195 (117-for-601) with 56 runs scored during the streak (2.9 runs per game)…are now hitting .218 for the season, which is the lowest mark in the majors…have hit under .223 once in Athletics history and that was last year (.216)…also rank last in the majors this year in slugging (.346), OPS (.645), runs scored (286) and extra base hits (191)…have the third fewest doubles (108), the third lowest on-base percentage (.299), the fifth most strikeouts (763) and the seventh fewest home runs (75)…lead the majors in sacrifice hits (17) and rank second in hit by pitches (46)…have been shut out nine times, which is tied for third most.
IN THE PINCH: A’s pinch hitters are 8-for-17 (.471) over the last 11 games and 23-for-77 (.299) with three doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI and 10 walks overall…lead the majors in hits, are tied for third in walks and plate appearances (88), tied for fourth in extra base hits (5), tied for fifth in doubles and home runs and tied for sixth in RBI.
PITCHING: The A’s have allowed at least 10 runs in three of the last four games and have allowed 42 runs total over that span for a 7.46 ERA (29 er in 35.0 ip)…have a 6.08 ERA overall, which is the highest in the majors…the highest in Athletics history is 6.07 in 1936…have the second highest opponents OPS (.830), on-base percentage (.361) and slugging percentage (.469) this year and the third highest batting average (.273)…lead the majors in most walks (362), home runs (122), hit batters (53) and wild pitches (41) and are tied for the fifth fewest strikeouts (645).
STARTING PITCHING: A’s starting pitchers are 1-8 with a 4.98 ERA (38 er in 68.2 ip) over the last 14 games and are 7-40 with a 6.38 ERA for the season…the ERA is second highest in the majors (Rockies, 6.59) and the wins are the fewest…the fewest wins from a starting rotation in a full season in Major League history is 21 by the Pirates last year…have tossed seven innings or fewer in each game this year and have the third fewest innings pitched (385.0).
THE BULLPEN: The A’s bullpen is 1-4 with two saves, three blown saves and a 5.43 ERA (34 er in 56.1 ip) over the last 14 games…has a 5.74 ERA for the season, which is the highest in the majors…leads the majors in losses (22)… has converted 12-of-27 (44.4%) save opportunities, which is the lowest percentage in the majors…has the third fewest saves and is tied for the seventh most blown saves (15)…has 345.0 innings pitched, which is second most… has allowed 63-of-151 (41.7%) inherited runners to score, which is the second highest percentage…has the third most inherited runners.
ON THE BASES: The A’s are 81-for-99 (81.8%) in stolen base attempts…have surpassed their season stolen base total from last year (78) and are seven short of their total from 2021 (88)…are tied for third in the majors in stolen bases this year, rank fourth in attempts and eighth in percentage…A’s opponents are 10-for-22 (45.5%) in stolen base attempts over the last 20 games and are 58-for-88 (65.9%) for the season, which is the second lowest success rate in the majors…the 30 caught stealings are seven more than any other team…A’s pitchers have nine pickoffs, which is second most (Yankees, 11).
HOME AND AWAY: The A’s are 1-2 on this six-game homestand against New York-AL (1-2) and Chicago-AL (three games)…went 2-5 on the last homestand against Tampa Bay (2-2) and Philadelphia (0-3) and are 10-31 (.244) at home, which is the lowest home winning percentage in the majors…leave for the final road trip before the All-Star Break following the game Sunday, a sixgame trip to Detroit (three games) and Boston (three games) that begins on Tuesday…went 1-5 on the last road trip to Cleveland (0-3) and Toronto (1-2) and are 11-31 (.262) on the road, which is the worst road record in the majors…have compiled a 5.25 ERA (222 er in 380.0 ip) at home compared to 6.97 on the road.
WINNING LATE: The A’s have scored the winning run in their final at bat in 11 of their 21 victories…have five walk-off wins, which is tied for third most in the majors…have 11 wins when tied or trailing after seven innings, which is tied for fifth most in the majors…are 10-5 when leading after seven innings… are 4-6 (.400) in extra inning games…the 10 extra inning games matches the A’s season total from last year and is sixth most in the majors this year…are tied for the second most losses and tied for the seventh most wins.
RUN DIFFERENTIAL: Each of the A’s last four wins, five of the last six and 13 of 21 overall have been by one run…10 of the A’s last 19 games have been decided by one run and Oakland is 5-5 in those one-run games…are 13-16 (.448) in one-run games overall…are tied for second in the majors in one-run losses, rank third in games (29) and tied for eighth in wins…however, are 8-46 (.174) in games decided by two or more runs, including 1-17 in games decided by six runs or more…have a run differential of -240, which is the lowest in the majors…had a run differential of -202 all last year, which was second lowest in Oakland history (-287 in 1979).
THIS AND THAT: The A’s placed James Kaprielian and Yacksel Rios on the injured list today and have now used the IL 20 times, including 14 times for pitchers…reinstated Kirby Snead from the IL and now have 11 players on the IL, including eight pitchers…have employed 46 players, which is tied for fourth most in the majors (Snead would be #47)…have used 30 pitchers, which is tied for second most (Snead would be #31)…the A’s have committed five errors in the last four games and now have 50 for the season, which is tied for third most in the majors…are tied for third in outfield assists (16)… have used an “opener” eight times this year (all since May 24)…are 17-30 (.362) in night games, 4-32 (.111) during the day…have an average time of game of 2:45, which is second longest in the majors (Orioles, 2:46)…however, have not averaged under 2:53 per game since 2010 (2:44)
A’S VS. WHITE SOX
- The A’s went 2-5 against Chicago last year and have lost the season series in each of the previous two years.
- Are 27-27 against Chicago dating back to 2014…that includes 14-12 in Oakland and 13-15 in Chicago.
- Have won 11 of the last 15 games in Oakland and have dropped five of the last seven in Chicago.
Year Home Road Totals
2023 0-0 0-0 0-0
2022 1-3 1-2 2-5
Oakland History: 322-299
at the Coliseum: 170-142
at Guaranteed Rate Field: 70-69
All-Time: 801-1162
TODAY’S TIDBITS
Major League Baseball has made a scoring change in the A’s vs. Phillies game of June 17…in the bottom of the ninth, Tyler Wade originally reached base on an E9 but that has been changed to a base hit…Ryan Noda leads the American League and ranks fourth in the majors in walks (53)…ranks 11th in the majors in on-base percentage (.379)…leads Major League rookies in on-base percentage (.379) and walks (53)…Esteury Ruiz leads the majors in stolen bases (40), ranks third in batting with runners in scoring position (.397) and tied for third in hit by pitches (12)…leads ML rookies in stolen bases (40) and hit by pitches (1
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: Luis Medina (1-7, 6.84 ERA)
FOR STARTERS: Is scheduled to make his 11th appearance and eighth start of the season…is 1-4 with a 7.59 ERA (26.1 ip, 32 h, 22 r, 21 er, 19 bb, 26 so) over his last six games after going 0-2 with a 4.67 ERA in his first three starts after being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas May 11 for his second stint with the A’s this year…was called up for the first time on April 25, started and lost the next day at Los Angeles (AL) in his Major League debut, and was optioned back to Las Vegas on April 27…was 0-1 with a 7.42 ERA in five games, four starts, with the Aviators.
STARTING AND RELIEVING: Is 0-6 with a 7.68 ERA (29 er in 34.0 ip) in seven starts and is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA (8 er in 14.2 ip) in three games where he pitched in relief in a game started by an opener (Waldichuk on May 28 vs. Houston, Moll on June 9 at Milwaukee, Waldichuk on June 20 at Cleveland)… has tossed at least 4.1 innings in nine of his 10 games, with the exception being a start of 2.0 innings in a 12-1 loss at Miami on June 3…his season high is 6.0 innings in starts on May 11 and 17.
THIS AND THAT: Was charged with his seventh loss of the season in his last appearance, which is tied for eighth most in the majors…walked a career-high seven batters in his last start and now has 16 walks in 21.0 innings in June (6.86 per nine innings) after combining for 10 walks in 27.2 innings in April and May (3.25 per nine innings)…has surrendered 11 home runs in 48.2 innings, an average of 2.03 per nine innings…has allowed nine home runs in 117 at bats against right-handed hitters (13.0 at bats per home run) compared to two in 74 against left-handers (37.0 at bats per home run)…opponents are batting .241 (26-for-108) with the bases empty, .325 (27-for83) with runners on…has allowed 14 of his 39 runs in the second inning for a 12.54 ERA (13 er in 9.1 ip)…picked up his first win of the season June 9 after starting the season 0-5…is one of four Oakland pitchers this year to start the season 0-4 or worse…Rucinski and Fujinami also started the year 0-4 and
Kaprielian was 0-6…the A’s are 0-7 in his starting assignments and 1-9 when he pitches.
2023 DAY-BY-DAY: Began the season at Triple-A Las Vegas and was 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA in three starts when he was recalled by Oakland on April 25… made his Major League debut the next day with a start at Los Angeles (AL) and was the losing pitcher in the A’s 11-3 loss…became the 59th pitcher in Oakland history to start in his ML debut, the third this year (Fujinami on April 1, Miller on April 19)…allowed eight runs in 5.0 innings, which match the most runs in Oakland history by a pitcher in his debut…the first pitcher to do it was Fujinami earlier this year on April 1…it matches the most runs by an Athletics pitcher in his debut over the last 103 years (fifth time)…in addition to runs, he also had career highs in hits (8) and strikeouts (6)…was optioned back to Las Vegas on April 27 and went 0-1 with a 15.75 ERA in two starts before he was recalled by Oakland a second time on May 11…matched his career high with 6.0 innings pitched on May 11 against Texas and May 17 against Arizona…tossed a career-high 96 pitches in the start against the Diamondbacks when he also equaled his career high with six strikeouts…his fifth career appearance on May 28 against Houston came in relief of opener Ken Waldichuk…allowed a career high three home runs and took the loss in a 10-1 decision…started in his next outing on June 3 at Miami but took the loss after allowing six runs on six hits and four walks in 2.0 innings…it was the shortest start of his career…it gave him a career-opening streak of six consecutive games with three or more runs allowed, which matched the longest such streak in Oakland history…joins Mike Morgan (June 11, 1978- July 7, 1979) and Dillon Overton (June 25-Sept. 15, 2016)…pitched in relief of opener Sam Moll on June 9 at Milwaukee and picked up his first Major League win in the A’s 5-2 victory…matched his career high with six strikeouts…allowed a career-high tying eight hits in 4.2 innings in a start and loss to Tampa Bay on June 14…had a no decision in the A’s 3-2, 10-inning loss at Cleveland on June 20…pitched in relief of opener Ken Waldichuk and was the pitcher of record when he was relieved by Moll with a 2-0 lead in the seventh…Moll allowed an inherited runner to score plus a run of his own for the blown save.
LAST START: He was the losing pitcher in the A’s 12-1 loss at Toronto last Sunday…walked a career-high seven batters in 5.0 innings…is one of two A’s pitchers to walk seven batters in a game over the last eight years (Kaprielian earlier this year on April 14)…allowed a leadoff home run to Springer in the Blue Jays two-run first, another run in the second on a grounded into double play and a fourth run in the third inning on a wild pitch.
