TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays surrendered a 9th-inning run in a 5-4 loss to the Red Sox on Sunday…Dropped to 3-6 when tied after eight innings…Are now 13-9 in one-run contests…Were swept for the 4th time this year. Toronto has still gone 16-13 over its last 29 games and is 19-15 over the last 34…Toronto’s .559 win% over that span (since May 26) is 3rd best in the AL (1st: CLE/TB: 20-15, .571).
HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR (AGAIN): On Sunday evening, MLB announced that four Blue Jays have been named to the 2023 AL All-Star team:- 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will participate in his 3rd consecutive All-Star Game…The 2021 All-Star Game MVP is the 5th player in team history to be selected to Three straight Midsummer Classics (Dave Stieb: 1983- 85; Roberto Alomar: 1991-95; Joe Carter: 1991-94; Jose Bautista: 2010-15)
2B Whit Merrifield has been selected for the 3rd time, also taking part in 2019 and 2021 while with the Royals – SS Bo Bichette returns to All-Star Game, having played in it in 2021 as well
- SP Kevin Gauman will be at All-Star festivities for the 2nd time, having also been selected in 2021 while with San Francisco (did not pitch in the game)
DID YOU KNOW?: according to Stats Perform, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is one of just four players ever to win a league home run title (2021), win a Gold Glove Award (2022), and be named to three All-Star teams before turning 25, joining Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, and Ken Griffey Jr.
BRANDON’S BELTS: Brandon Belt got the Blue Jays on the board on Sunday with a solo shot in the 1st inning…Added another solo blast in the 6th, giving him six home runs on the year… Marked his 1st multi-homer game as a Blue Jay and the 9th of his career…Of his six home runs, four have tied the game or given Toronto the lead. Over his last 39 contests, the veteran has batted .306 (37-for-121) with 12 doubles, five homers, 15 RBI, and 24 walks (.951 OPS)…His .422 OBP over that span (since May 4) is the highest in the AL (min. 100 AB), trailing only Juan Soto’s .444 for tops in the Majors, while he also ranks 7th in OPS and 12th in AVG.
BO KNOWS BASE HITS: Bo Bichette drove in two runs with an RBI single in the 3rd inning, finishing the day 1-for-4…Currently leads the AL with 113 hits, 11 more than any other batter, behind only Luis Arraez (119) for the most in the Majors…His .317 batting average trails only Yandy Díaz (.318) for the AL lead while he sits T-2nd in total bases (181), 5th in SLG (.507), 8th in XBH (37), 10th in OPS (.853), T-12th in doubles (21), T-12th in home runs (15), and T-14th in RBI (51).
FEELING GEORGEOUS LATELY: George Springer picked up a single, stole a base, and scored a run as he went 1-for-4 on Sunday…Over his last 21 contests, is batting .341 (28-for-82) with 15 runs scored, six doubles, three home runs, and 10 RBI (.906 OPS).
PUTTING THE K IN KEVIN: Kevin Gausman struck out seven batters across 5.0 frames on Sunday…His 146 strikeouts lead all AL pitchers, behind only Spencer Strider (155) for the MLB lead…Is tops in the Majors with a 2.47 FIP (2nd: Sonny Gray – 2.82)…Also ranks 2nd in the AL in K rate (32.7%), T-2nd in innings pitched (109.2), 4th in SO/BB (5.41), and 7th in ERA (3.04).
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Blue Jays are kicking off a six-game, AL Central road trip…Own a 22-22 road record this season for a .500 win%, tied for 7th in the AL…After this trio of games against the White Sox, will play three more in Detroit (37-46) as they head into the All-Star Break. Blue Jays hitters rank 2nd among AL clubs in road AVG (.263), 3rd in road OPS (.750), 4th in road SLG (.424), and 4th in road OBP (.325)…The pitching staff ranks 12th in the AL in road ERA (4.49), 13th in road WHIP (1.39), and 14th in road opponents’ AVG (.266).
CHRISP BASSITT: Chris Bassitt gets the start this evening, coming off 6.0 shutout innings last Thursday vs. SF…Allowed three hits and three walks while recording a career-high 12 strikeouts (previous: 11, 2x)…Tied a franchise record with nine strikeouts through the first four innings. The righty has recorded 11 quality starts, tied for 6th most in the AL…Now has six scoreless starts of 6+ innings, tied with Michael Wacha for the most in the Majors…His six starts of 6+ scoreless innings are also tied with Rogers Clemens (1997) for the most before the All-Star Break in team history.
STARTING SOMETHING: Toronto pitchers have combined for 40 quality starts, tied for 3rd most in the Majors…The starting rotation ranks 3rd in MLB in strikeouts (488), 4th in innings pitched (465.2), 9th in ERA (4.02), 9th in AVG (.243), and 13th in WHIP (1.28). Over the last six contests, Toronto starters have fanned 51 batters over 30.1 innings for a 15.13 SO/9, the highest rate ever recorded over a sixgame span (min. 30 IP), ahead of the Reds’ 14.97 SO/9 from July 24-29, 2020.
OFFENSIVE THINGS: Toronto batters have notched 761 hits this season, 4th most in the Majors…Are currently 3rd in the AL in team AVG (.261), 5th in OBP (.327), 5th in SLG (.418), 5th in OPS (.746), and 5th in extra-base hits (261).
FAN FEST: Rogers Centre has welcomed 1,474,077 fans through 41 games this year…The average attendance of 35,953 is 3rd highest in the AL, more than 3,000 higher than last season, and the team’s best since 2017 (39,554).
VS. THE WHITE SOX: All-Time: 220-202-1
2023: 3-0 Road: 99-108-1
Road: 0-0 Guaranteed Rate Field: 56-68-1
The Blue Jays swept the White Sox when the teams last met in April at Rogers Centre, outscoring the Pale Hose, 20-2, over the three games…Went 4-2 against
Chicago last season, dropping two of the three games in the Windy City.
Bo Bichette went 5-for-12 (.417) with a home run, three RBI, and two walks during the prior series in Toronto…Is a career 19-for-66 (.288) with two
doubles, two homers, and 11 RBI in 16 meetings vs. CWS (.782 OPS).
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. recorded three doubles and drove in two runs during that April series vs. the ChiSox as he went 4-for-14 (.286)…Has batted .264
(23-for-87) across 23 contests against Chicago, including six doubles, three home runs, 11 RBI, and 13 walks (.797 OPS).
Whit Merrrifield is 3-for-9 with a double and three RBI vs. the White Sox so far this season…Leads all current Blue Jays with 110 games played vs. CWS, recording 23 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, and 69 RBI along the way (.765 OPS).
STARTING PITCHER – Chris Bassitt, RHP #40
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 18th start of the season and his 10th on the road…Won his 8th game of the year his last time out, on 6/29 vs. SF, tossing 6.0 shutout innings with 3 hits, 3 walks, and a career-high 12 strikeouts…Tied a franchise record with 9 strikeouts through the first 4.0 innings. Has 6 starts of at least 6.0 scoreless innings this year, tied with Michael Wacha for the most in MLB…Is also tied with Roger Clemens (1997) for the most such starts before the All-Star break in team history. Has held opposing RHH to a .173 AVG, good for 3rd best in the Majors.
2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Picked up the win on 6/7 vs. HOU, tossing 8.0 frames of 2-run ball with 4 hits, no walks, and 5 strikeouts on just 81 pitches (58 strikes)…Marked His 10th quality start of the year. Earned his 6th win of the year on 6/2 at NYM, throwing 7.2 frames of shutout ball with 3 hits, no walks, and 8 strikeouts…Returned home immediately after his start for the birth of his son, Colson, and was placed on the Paternity List from 6/3-6/5. Allowed 6 runs (2 earned) across 6.1 frames of work on 5/22 at TB…Had his career-best scoreless innings streak ended at 28.0…Marked the 2ndlongest single-season streak in franchise history (Roger Clemens: 33.0 IP from 8/15-9/5/98), and the 3rd-longest overall (Dave Stieb: 34.0 IP from 9/13/88-4/5/89). Tossed 7.0 shutout innings on 5/17 vs. NYY, giving up 3 hits, a walk, and a hit batter with 7 strikeouts…Became just the 4th non-opener in Blue Jays history to throw 3 consecutive scoreless starts in a single season, joining Roger Clemens (1998), Al Leiter (1995), and Dave Stieb (1988). Threw a complete game shutout on 5/12 vs. ATL, the 2nd CG SO of his career (also: 5/27/21 vs. LAA), and the 1st nine-inning complete game shutout by a Blue Jay since Mark Buehrle on 6/3/15 at WAS…Scattered 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 hit batters while striking out a season-high 8 on 103 pitches (70 strikes). Improved to 4-2 on the year on 5/5 at PIT…Threw a then season-high 7.0 shutout innings, scattering 4 hits and 4 walks with 5 strikeouts. Logged 6.1 innings of work on 4/24 vs. CWS, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, while walking 3 and recording 4 strikeouts…Left the game in the 7th with right lower back tightness…Was his 4th straight quality start, going 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA (6 ER/24.2 IP) over that span.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
the Chicago White Sox have won three of their last five games but lost 13 of 21 as they begin the final homestand of the first half with the series opener vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.
RHP Lucas Giolito, who has allowed two earned runs or less in four of his last five starts, is scheduled to start for Chicago.
The White Sox are in fourth place in the American League Central, 6.0 games behind division-leading Minnesota.
The Sox went 3-4 on their last trip from 6/26-7/2, splitting four games at the Angels and losing two of three at Oakland … they avoided a sweep at the Coliseum with an 8-7 win on Sunday.
Following this three-game series vs. the Blue Jays, the White Sox will conclude the first half with a weekend series vs. St. Louis … the Sox will open the post All-Star break portion of the schedule with a nine-game, 10-day trip at Atlanta (7/14-16), the Mets (7/18-20) and the Twins (7/21-23).
Chicago went 3-3 on their last homestand vs. Texas (1-2) and Boston (2-1) from 6/19-25.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox have scored 38 runs over the last five games (7.6 R/G), compared to 32 in their previous 11 (2.9 R/G).
The White Sox rank third in MLB with a 3.60 ERA (164 ER/409.2 IP) in 46 games since 5/13, but they have posted a 6.15 mark (36 ER/52.2 IP) over the last six contests.
Chicago has been outscored by a 20-2 margin in its three losses to Toronto this season, and is 2-7 vs. the Blue Jays since the start of the 2022 season (outscored 63-33).
The Sox have walked five-plus times in each of the last four games, their longest such streak since 4/6-11/21 (also four).
Lucas Giolito is 2-1 with a 2.32 ERA (8 ER/31. IP), .198 (23-116) average, 1.00 WHIP and 39 strikeouts (11.32 per 9.0 IP) over his last five starts (allowed two earned runs or less four times). l Luis Robert Jr. has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games, going 16-44 (.364) with six homers, eight RBI and a 1.258 OPS.
ROSTER MOVES
The White Sox today recalled OF Oscar Colás from Class AAA Charlotte and optioned OF Clint Frazier to Charlotte.
Colás is hitting .293/.358/.508 (56-191) with 14 doubles, nine home runs, 29 RBI, 35 runs scored, 18 walks and .866 OPS in 48 games this season with the Knights … he made the White Sox Opening Day roster and appeared in 25 games.
SUNDAY’S RECAP
Gregory Santos induced a game-ending lineout to right field with the tying run on base as the Sox held on for an 8-7 win.
The White Sox built leads of 5-0, 7-3 and 8-3 before holding off an A’s rally over the final two innings.
Seven of Chicago’s nine starters recorded a hit, including four multihit efforts … the club sent 10 hitters to the plate in a five-run fifth, including four hits, two walks an a hit-by-pitch.
Aaron Bummer (1 ER/2.1 IP) earned his first win in relief of Touki Toussaint (2 ER/3.2 IP) … Santos recorded his first save.
Jake Burger went 2-4 with a solo homer, All-Star Luis Robert Jr. was 1-3 with a double and walk and Eloy Jiménez went 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
USE THE FORCE, LUCAS
Lucas Giolito is 2-1 with a 2.32 ERA (8 ER/31. IP), .198 (23-116) average, 1.00 WHIP and 39 strikeouts (11.32 per 9.0 IP) over his last five starts … he has allowed two earned runs or less four times and one or less three times during the five-start span.
He ranks among the AL leaders since 6/1 in ERA (4th), average (6th), on-base pct. (7th, .256), WHIP (8th) and strikeouts (T8th).
INDEPENDENCE DAY INFO
The White Sox have won eight of their last 12 games on the Fourth of July, including seven straight from 2010-16 … the Sox are 101-81 (.555) all-time on July 4.
Chicago lost to Minnesota, 6-3, in 10 innings at Guaranteed Rate Field last season … José Abreu hit a solo home run, and starter Johnny Cueto (2 ER/6.0 IP) received a ND for the Sox.
WHITE SOX VS. TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Toronto leads the season series, 3-0, after recording a sweep in the first meeting from 4/24-26 at Rogers Centre.
The White Sox are batting .121/.192/.132 (11-91) with one extra-base hit and zero home runs, own a 7.13 ERA (19 ER/24.0 IP) and have been outscored, 20-2, this season.
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 Sox are 17-12 vs. Toronto at Guaranteed Rate Field since the start of the 2013 season.
LOOKING FOR AN EDGE VS. THE EAST
The White Sox are 6-13 against American League East teams this season, going 4-6 at home and 2-7 on the road … they have been outscored by a 112-68 margin this season.
Chicago has won five of the last seven games, including consecutive series at the Yankees and vs. Boston, after losing 11 of their first 12 games vs. Baltimore, Tampa Bay and Toronto.
By comparison, the Sox went 34-31 vs. the AL East in 2021-22.
CLOSE CALLS
Thirty-nine of the White Sox 86 games (45.3 percent) this season have been decided by two runs or less … the Sox are 13-13 in one-run games and 5-8 in two-run games … 26 of the last 28 games have been decided by four runs or less.
ARMS RACE
White Sox pitchers have recorded a 3.60 ERA (164 ER/409.2 IP) in 46 games since 5/13, the third-best mark in MLB … the Sox lead MLB with a .219 opp. average, rank fourth with a .684 OPS and eighth with a 1.23 WHIP during that span.
A breakdown of White Sox pitching through their first 40 games of the season and last 46 contests:
Games W-L ERA QS IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG OPS WHIP
Last 46 24-22 3.60 18 409.2 335 179 164 52 168 438 .219 .684 1.22
First 40 13-27 5.66 12 351.2 366 241 221 65 167 385 .263 .817 1.52
GRAB SOME BENCH
The White Sox lead MLB with an average of 9.73 strikeouts per 9.0 IP (823 SO/761.1 IP), which would be the second-highest total in franchise history behind the 2021 club (10.18).
Sox pitchers have struck out 10-plus batters 44 times in 2023, including 15 or more six times (0-6 record).
Lance Lynn (4th, career-high 10.88), Dylan Cease (5th, 10.71), Michael Kopech (8th, 10.15) and Lucas Giolito (10th, 9.79) rank among the American League leaders in strikeouts per 9.0 IP.
Cease (3rd, 16) and Giolito (T4th, 15) rank among the all-time franchise leaders in double-digit strikeout games.
LONG BALL LOGISTICS
The Sox rank seventh in the American League with 99 homers, including 29 in the last 18 games (25 solo; eight multiHR efforts).
The White Sox this season are 29-30 when homering, 14-11 in multihomer games and 8-19 when homerless.
Luis Robert Jr. (2nd, career-high 24) and Jake Burger (T6th, career-high 18) rank among the AL leaders this season … Burger and Robert Jr. are tied for third in the AL with 12 homers at home.
STARTING PITCHER – #27 LUCAS GIOLITO RHP
GIOLITO AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 18th start of the season, ninth at home and first vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.
Has gone 2-1 with a 2.32 ERA (8 ER/31.0 IP), .198 (23-116) opponent average, 1.00 WHIP, .644 OPS and 39 strikeouts over his last five starts … has tossed 6.0-
plus IP in 12 of his last 15 starts, and allowed two runs or less in nine.
Opponents are hitting .238 (19-80) against him with RISP and .243 (9-37) with RISP/two outs in 2023.
Is 30 strikeouts away from becoming the 12th pitcher in White Sox history with 1,000 (19 strikeouts away from 1,000 in his career).
Finished sixth in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2019, seventh in 2020 and tied for 11th in 2021.
Threw the 19th no-hitter in White Sox history on 8/25/20 vs. Pittsburgh, walking one with 13 strikeouts.
Won AL Pitcher of the Month honors in May 2019 and AL Player of Week for 8/24-30/20 and 5/27-6/2/19.
LAST START
Earned the win on 6/28 at Los Angeles-AL after allowing four runs on six hits (two home runs) with no walks and nine strikeouts across 7.0 IP.
Marked his fourth start throwing 7.0 IP … has tossed 6.0-plus IP 12 times this year, tied for seventh-most in the American League.
Exited the game in the eighth with the Sox leading, 9-4 … Chicago would win, 11-5 … allowed multiple home runs for the fourth time this season.
Owned a 59.3 first-strike percentage and 15.3 swinging-strike percentage (16 swing and misses) vs. 27 batters … threw 39 four-seam fastballs (93.7 mph avg; 95.1 mph
max), 30 sliders (84.6 avg; 87.0 max), 26 changeups (81.4 avg; 83.1 max) and three curveballs (78.1 avg; 79.8 max) … threw 98 pitches (66 strikes)
POSTING PUNCHOUTS
Has recorded 15 career starts with 10-plus strikeouts, tied for the fourth-most in White Sox history … needs one double-digit strikeout game to tie teammate Dylan Cease for third place (Cease reached 16 on 6/26).
Owns a 11.32 SO per 9.0 IP (39 SO) across his last five starts, eighth-best in theAmerican League since 6/6.
Recorded consecutive 10-plus strikeout games twice in his career from 8/20-25/20 (two) and 8/16-27/19 (three).
THE QUALITY KID
Leads the team and is tied for 12th in the American League with nine quality starts this season.
Four of his last eight starts have been quality, including a 3.15 ERA (16 ER/45.2 IP) in that span.
Has made 80 quality starts in his career, fifth-most in the American League since 2017.
BITTEN BY THE LONG BALL
Has surrendered 16 home runs this season, allowing one three-run homer, two two-run and 13 solo shots … has allowed nine homers on the road, seven at home, eight vs. left-handed hitters and eight vs. righties.
Has allowed 67 home runs since the start of the 2021 season, tied for the fifth-most in baseball … is averaging 1.37 HR/9.0 IP during that span.
VS. TORONTO BLUE JAYS || A.L. EAST
Is scheduled to make his seventh career start and fourth at home against the Blue Jays.
Owns a 2-2 record with a 5.91 ERA (21 ER/32.0 IP), .299 (40-134) opponents average, eight walks and 32 strikeouts against Toronto.
Last faced Toronto on 6/22/22 at home, allowing seven runs on 11 hits (two home runs) with one walk and three strikeouts over 5.0 IP, suffering the loss.
Owns a career 11-9 record with a 4.41 ERA (82 ER/167.1 IP) in 30 career starts (16 quality starts) vs. the AL East.
