CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost eight of the last 12 games, 10 of 15 and 22 of 35 as they continue this nine-game, 10-day trip tonight with the series opener at Minnesota.
RHP Lance Lynn, who has struck out 47 over his last fi ve starts (13.65 per 9.0 IP), is scheduled to start for the White Sox.
The Sox are 3-3 on the trip, losing two of three at the Mets after winning two of three at Atlanta last weekend.
The White Sox are in fourth place in the American League Central, 9.0 games behind the division-leading Twins (50-47).
Following this three-game series at Minnesota and an off day on Monday, the Sox begin a six-game homestand vs. the Cubs (7/25-26) and Cleveland (7/27-30).
Chicago went 1-5 on their last homestand from 7/4-9 vs. Toronto (0-3) and St. Louis (1-2) and 3-4 on its last trip from 6/26-7/2 at Los Angeles-AL (2-2) and Oakland (1-2).
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox are playing an American League Central division opponent for the first time since 6/2-4 vs. Detroit.
The Sox are hitting .277/.319/.429 with 10 doubles, five home runs and 31 runs scored (6.2 R/G) over the last five games … they have scored six-plus runs in four of the five contests.
Five of the six games between the White Sox and Twins this season have been decided by two runs or less (Sox are 3-2).
Chicago starters own a 2.83 ERA (11 ER/35.0 IP), .178 (23- 129) average and 43 strikeouts vs. Minnesota this season.
Lance Lynn’s 47 strikeouts are a career high over a five-game span (6/18-7/15), and the most by a White Sox pitcher since teammate Dylan Cease struck out 48 from 4/27-5/17-1/22.
Andrew Benintendi is hitting .340/.389/.427 (35-103) with nine doubles, 11 RBI, nine walks, 15 runs scored and 11 multi-hit eff orts in 25 games since moving to the leadoff spot on 6/17.
Tim Anderson is 9-24 (.375) with a double, two RBI, two walks, a HBP and three runs scored over six second-half games.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Michael Kopech and three relievers combined on a four-hitter as the White Sox avoided a sweep with a 6-2 win over the Mets.
Eloy Jimenez gave the Sox an early lead with a RBI single in the first and Elvis Andrus added a sac fly in the second.
After New York cut the lead to one, Chicago scored four times in the sixth on Yasmani Grandal’s two-run double, Oscar Colás’ sacrifice fly and Andrus’ RBI triple.
Kopech snapped a seven-start winless stretch after allowing one run on two hits with four walks and five strikeouts in 5.2 IP … his IP were his most since 6/4 vs. Detroit (2 ER/7.0 IP).
Tim Anderson went 2-3 with a run scored, his fourth multi-hit effort since the All-Star break … Chicago went 4-9 with RISP.
INJURY UPDATE
Garrett Crochet has been returned from his rehab assignment at Class AAA Charlotte … he has allowed six runs on nine hits with 14 strikeouts in 8.1 IP with Charlotte and Class AA Birmingham.
He has been on the IL since 6/17 with left shoulder inflammation.
SIR LANCELOT
Lance Lynn is 2-1 with a 4.35 ERA (15 ER/31.0 IP), .214 (25- 117) opponents average, .684 opp. OPS, 1.10 WHIP and 47 strikeouts (13.65 per 9.0 IP) over his last five starts.
He has struck out 11-plus in two of his last five starts and 10- plus four times, his second-most in a season (nine in 2019).
Lynn has limited right-handers to a .200/.276/.338 (45-225) slash line with 78 strikeouts and seven home runs this season.
ROBERT’S REMARKABLE RUN
Luis Robert Jr. was named to his first American League All-Star team … he is the first Sox center fi elder (primary position) to make the AL All-Star team since Chet Lemon from 1978-79.
Below is additional information from his season to date.
Is on pace for 46 home runs, which would rank second in franchise history behind Albert Belle’s 49 in 1998.
Joins the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts as the only players in MLB with 20+ 2B, 25+ HR, 50+ RBI and 60+ RS this season
Ranks second in the American League with a 1.042 OPS vs. LHP Ranks sixth among MLB outfielders with eight defensive runs saved
Owns the club single-season record for homers by a center fi elder.
Is looking to become just the 10th White Sox with a 30+ 2B/30+ HR season, joining Frank Thomas (6x), José Abreu (5x), Paul Konerko (4x), Magglio Ordoñez (4x), Carlos Lee (2x), Belle (2x), Jermaine Dye (1x), Joe Crede (1x) and Robin Ventura (1x)
His 26 home runs tied for the fourth-most by a White Sox prior to the All-Star break, and were the most since 29 by Abreu in 2014
One of five players in franchise history (8x) to record 20-plus doubles and homers before the All-Star break, joining Thomas (1993-94, 2003), Abreu (2014, ’19), Dye (2008) and Ordóñez (2000)
WHITE SOX VS. MINNESOTA TWINS
The White Sox and Twins have split the first six games this season, with each team winning two of three at home.
The Sox are hitting .203/.279/.324 with six home runs, own a 2.53 ERA (16 ER/57.0 IP) and have been outscored, 23-20.
Chicago is 30-24 vs. Minnesota since the start of the 2020 season (19-10 at home) after going 20-37 from 2017-19.
The White Sox have gone 5-10 at Target Field since 8/10/21, including nine games decided by three runs or less.
The Sox are 1-4-1 over the last six season series since 2017.
MINNESOTA NICE
Tim Anderson is 17-47 (.362) with three home runs, seven RBI and five multi-hit eff orts in his last 11 games at Target Field … his last homer came on 7/15/22 at the Twins.
Andrew Benintendi has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games vs. the Twins, going 22-63 (.349) with four RBI and seven walks.
Eloy Jiménez is 6-13 (.462) with two home runs and six RBI in three games vs. Minnesota this season.
Luis Robert Jr. is 13-35 (.371) with four home runs, 11 RBI and a 1.263 OPS in his last 10 games vs. the Twins.
STARTIN PITCHER – #33 LANCE LYNN RHP
LYNN AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 20th start of the season, 12 on the road and second against the Minnesota Twins.
Has gone 2-1 with a 4.35 ERA (15 ER/31.0 IP), 1.10 WHIP, .214 (25-117) opponents average and 47 strikeouts over his last four starts … the 47 punchouts are the most
over a four-game in his career and the most by a White Sox since Lucas Giolito (48) from 4/27-5/17/22.
Has surrendered 24 home runs this season, the most in the majors … has allowed a homer in 14 of his 19 starts, including in seven of his last 10.
Owns a 9.47 ERA (20 ER/19.0 IP) and .313 (26-83) opponents average in the first inning … his 9.47 ERA is the highest mark in baseball this season while his 20 runs
allowed are the third-most.
Is one of just seven pitchers in MLB history with 125-plus wins (129) and an average of 9.0-plus strikeouts per 9.0 IP (9.17) in his career.
Ranks among MLB active pitchers in SO/9.0 IP (8th, 9.17), HR/9.0 IP (9th, 0.97), opponents average (9th, .242), wins (9th, 129), starts (9th, 304), opponents SLG
(10th, .387), IP (10th, 1,813.2), strikeouts (10th, 1,848), opponents OPS (11th, .699), ERA (12th, 3.67), WHIP (13th, 1.27) and opponents OBP (13th, .312).
Signed a two-year contract extension with a club option with the White Sox on 7/17/21 … the Sox hold an $18-million option for 2024 with a $1-million buyout.
Is a two-time All-Star (2012 and 2021) … has finished fifth in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2019, sixth in 2020 and third in 2021 … was a member of the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
LAST START
Earned the win on 7/15 at Atlanta, allowing four runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts over 5.1 IP … threw 97 pitches (62 strikes) … surrendered a two-run homer to Ronald Acuña Jr. and a solo shot to Eddie Rosario in the third inning.
Departed the game in the sixth with the Sox leading, 5-4 … Andrew Benintendi went 3-5 with three RBI and Jake Burger hit his 20th home run of the season.
Owned a 66.7 first-strike percentage and 12.2 swinging-strike percentage (16 swing and misses) vs. 24 batters … threw 43 four-seam fastballs (92.7 avg; 94.5 max), 6 cutters (89.1 mph avg; 91.3 mph max), 10 sliders (82.6 avg; 83.8 max), seven curveballs (79.9 avg; 82.0 max), seven changeups (85.2 avg; 86.4 max), four sinkers (90.9 avg; 92.1 max).
VS. MINNESOTA TWINS || A.L. CENTRAL
Is scheduled to make his 10th career start vs. the Twins and 15th at Target Field (sixth as the visiting pitcher).
Has allowed three runs or less in six of his nine career starts vs. Minnesota.
Received a no decision in his last start on 4/11 in Minnesota, allowing three runs on seven hits over 6.0 IP.
Pitched for the Twins in 2018, going 7-8 with a 5.10 ERA (58 ER/102.1 IP), 100 strikeouts and a .263 (105-399) opponents average in 20 starts.
Is 3-1 with a 4.20 ERA (14 ER/30,0 IP) and a .252 (30-119) opponents average over five starts against the American League Central this season.
MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
THE TWINS: Completed their seven-game, West Coast road-trip with a record of 5-2, sweeping the A’s in Oakland last weekend, followed by a 2-2 series split against the Mariners in Seattle this week…tonight, the Twins will begin a six-game homestand with three against the Chicago White Sox this weekend, then host the Mariners for three games from Monday-Wednesday…the Twins have gone 26-22 at home and 24-26 on the road.
In 13 games since July 3, the Twins have scored 5.3 runs-per-game…additionally, they have scored at least five runs in six of their last seven games.
BATS GO TO SLEEP IN SEATTLE: The Twins were shut out by the Mariners yesterday afternoon at T-Mobile Park, losing by a score of 5-0…it marked their seventh time being shut out this season and sixth time on the road…Pablo López (5-6) was the starter and loser, allowing two runs on six hits in 5.0 innings pitched, with two walks and seven strikeouts…the offense recorded five hits, just one going for extra bases — a Kyle Farmer triple…Matt Wallner had two of the club’s five hits.
TWINS AND SOX: Twins and White Sox are playing the seventh of 13 meetings this season… Minnesota has gone 3-3 against the Sox this season, going 2-1 at Target Field from April 10-12 and 1-2 at Guaranteed Rate Field from May 2-4…since 2015, the Twins have gone 81-68 against the Sox, their most wins against any opponent in that span.
Five of the six games between these two this season have been decided by two runs-or-fewer, while three have been decided by one run.
The Twins have beat the Sox 67 times (53 losses) at Target Field (since 2010), second most against any opponent (Kansas City – 72).
Byron Buxton is hitting .355 (33-for-93) with eight doubles, 10 home runs, 20 RBI, a .408 on-base percentage, a .785 slugging percentage and a 1.193 OPS in his last 25 games vs. the White Sox…Buxton’s 17 career home runs and 41 RBI against the Sox are his most against any opponent…he has a .417 on-base percentage in six games vs. the Sox this season, drawing five walks and recording five hits in 24 plate appearances.
Notable individual numbers vs. Lance Lynn: Donovan Solano is 4-for-6 (.667)…Ryan Jeffers is 3-for-5 (.600)…Michael A. Taylor is 4-for-13 (.308) with a solo home run…Willi Castro is 3-for-10 (.300) with two solo home runs and two walks…Christian Vázquez is 1-for-14 (.071) with a walk…Max Kepler is 1-for-16 (.063) with four walks.
FEELING MINNESOTA: Despite being swept in three games by Baltimore from July 7-9, leading up to the All-Star break, the Twins have gone 5-3 in their last eight home games…Twins batters have slashed .243/.320/.428 with a .748 OPS and 4.4 runs-per-game in 48 home games this season, compared to .228/.306/.390 with a .696 OPS and 4.2 runs-per-game in 50 road games.
Donovan Solano is hitting .325 (38-for-117) with 11 doubles, two home runs, 15 walks, a .410 on-base percentage and an .881 OPS in 41 games at Target Field this season… Solano ranks fifth in the AL in OBP at home and ninth in batting average (min. 100 PA).
WAVE HELLO TO THE TOP: Twins starters have combined to go 29-30, 3.80 ERA (554.0 IP, 234 ER) with 150 walks, 607 strikeouts and a .233 opponent batting average…Twins starters have struck out 607 hitters, most in the majors and 41 more than the next-closest team (CWS – 566)…they are on pace to fan 1,003 batters, which would shatter the club record of 870, done in 1967…below are Twins starting pitching ranks among the other MLB teams:
INNINGS ERA BAA BB/9.0 FIP WHIP K’s OPS
MIN – 554.0 TB – 3.61 MIN – .233 SEA – 2.07 MIN – 3.58 SEA – 1.12 MIN – 607 SEA – .672
TEX – 547.2 TEX – 3.63 TB – .234 SF – 2.40 TB – 3.60 MIN – 1.15 CWS – 566 MIN – .672
HOU – 544.1 SD – 3.69 SEA – .235 MIN – 2.44 SEA – 3.78 TB – 1.17 TOR – 549 TB – .678
SEA – 539.2 HOU – 3.75 MIL – .236 PHI – 2.50 MIA – 3.90 PHI – 1.20 LAA – 538 PHI – .700
TOR – 530.2 MIN – 3.80 SD – .240 TB – 2.57 PHI – 3.94 TEX – 1.21 MIA – 534 SD – .702
EDDIE, MONEY: Edouard Julien has reached base safely in 19 of his last 30 plate appearances… in 11 games since July 3, he is hitting .563 (18-for-32) with three doubles, five home runs, seven RBI, 10 runs scored, four walks and a 1.736 OPS…since being recalled on June 10, he’s hitting .378 (34-for-90) with nine doubles, five home runs, eight RBI, 12 walks, 17 runs scored, a .447 on-base percentage and a 1.091 OPS in 30 games; since that date, he ranks among the major league leaders (minimum of 100 plate appearances) in batting average (1st), on-base percentage (3rd) and OPS (5th).
Julien leads all major league rookies this season (minimum of 150 plate appearances) in OPS (.957, 1st), batting average on balls in play (.433, 1st), slugging percentage (.566, 1st) and on-base percentage (.391, 1st).
Julien has hit safely in a season/career-long eight-straight games, hitting .593 (16-for-27) with a 1.670 OPS in that span…the streak is tied with four others for the second longest for a Twin this season (also Lewis, Buxton, Castro and Polanco)…the season long for the Twins is 11, done by Donovan Solano, from April 5-16.
LIVING HIS BEST KIRIL-LIFE: Alex Kirilloff is hitting .333 (20-for-60) with three doubles, one triple, three home runs, 14 RBI, four walks, seven runs scored, a .388 on-base percentage, a .567 slugging percentage and a .955 OPS in his last 17 games, since June 26…he has three home runs and nine RBI in his last five games.
Kirilloff has a .475 (19-for-40) batting average on ball hit to the opposite field, the fifth best among left-handed batters in MLB (minimum of 750 pitches seen), trailing Jesús Sánchez (.532), Nathaniel Lowe (.500), Nick Pratto (.486) and Brandon Belt (.483).
C4 IGNITING THE LINEUP: With yesterday’s day off for Correa, it marked the first time he had not led off since being inserted into the leadoff spot on June 30…since that date, he has reached safely in 14 of 15 games, hitting .311 (19-for-61) with a .382 on-base percentage and an .825 OPS, while leading the team in hits and times on base (26)…post-All-Star break over the last two seasons combined, he is hitting .304 (85-for-280) with an .868 OPS in 72 games.
TO THE WINDOW, TO THE WALLNER: Matt Wallner is hitting .471 (8-for-17) with one home run, three RBI, three walks, a .571 on-base percentage, a .647 slugging percentage and a 1.218 OPS in his last six major league games…in his last 42 games (since May 27) between Minnesota and Triple-A St. Paul combined, he is hitting .325 (52-for-160) with 11 doubles, eight home runs, 34 RBI, a .432 on-base percentage and a 1.001 OPS.
Of Wallner’s three career home runs, his second came against Lance Lynn here on Sep- tember 27, 2022 vs. the White Sox…the homer registered at 113.8 mph exit velocity, the fifth-hardest hit ball by a Twin in 2022…the home run was measured at a 45.0° launch angle, one of nine players in baseball to hit a home run at that sharp of launch angle in 2022…also tied Eduardo Escobar (June 18, 2016 vs. New York-AL) for highest launch angle on a home run in club history in the Statcast Era.
TWINS INK SOTO: Earlier today, the Twins signed their 34th overall (Comp. Balance Rd A) selection, right-handed pitcher Charlee Soto… the 6-foot-5, 210-pound right-hander posted a 0.52 ERA (42.0 IP, 4 ER) with five walks and 69 strikeouts in 12 appearances his senior season at Reborn Christian Academy (FL)…the Twins have now signed 18 of their 21 draft selections.
STARTING PITCHER – JOE RYAN #41
2023: 8-6, 3.77 ERA CAREER: 23-15, 3.68 ERA
Making his 20th start and appearance of 2023 and his 10th home start of the year…also his 52nd career start and appearance.
Facing Chicago-AL for the second time this year and third time in his career; is 0-0, 1.80 ERA (10.0 IP, 2 ER) with four walks and 10 strikeouts in two previous starts vs. the White Sox.
Owns the most strikeouts (312) and the third-most wins (23) through a pitcher’s first 51 career games in Twins history (since 1961).
LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor into the decision on July 16 at Oakland in the Twins’ 5-4 win over the Athletics…pitched 5.1 innings and allowed three runs on five hits (1 HR), with a season-high-tying three walks and seven strikeouts…allowed a solo home run to designated hitter Jordan Diaz in the second inning…later permitted two runs on three hits, one walk and a sacrifice fly by Diaz in the bottom of the fourth…struck out the side in the fifth inning…was relieved by Jorge López with two on and one out in the sixth inning and Minnesota trailing 3-2; López induced an inning-ending double play to escape the jam…Twins scored three runs in the top of the seventh to complete the comeback win and the three-game series sweep over Oakland.
Tied his season high with three walks issued, also walking three on May 30 at Houston.
Threw only 55 of his 91 pitches for strikes, a 60.4 strike percentage; marked his lowest strike percentage of the season and second lowest of his career (42/70 – 60.0% on April 8, 2022 vs. Seattle).
Through 19 starts, Ryan is among the American League leaders in walks-per-9.0 innings (1.68 – 4th), WHIP (1.03 – 6th), quality starts (12 – T-6th), strikeouts (131 – 7th) and WAR (2.4 – 10th).
TWO STARTS AGO: Took the loss on July 9 vs. Baltimore in the Twins’ 15-2 defeat at Target Field, going 4.1 innings and allowing five runs on five hits (2 HR), with two walks and a season-high tying 10 strikeouts…pitched opposite former Twin Kyle Gibson, who earned the win and struck out a career-high-tying 11 batters…allowed a solo home run to leftfielder Austin Hays to start the top of the second…recorded 10 of his first 11 outs via the strikeout…allowed four of the first five batters he faced in the top of the fifth to reach, surrendering a two-run homer to Ramón Urías and issuing back- to-back walks before he was relieved by Jovani Moran, who allowed both inherited runners to score… Twins bullpen allowed 10 runs on 12 hits as Minnesota was swept by the Orioles to end the first half.
Struck out a season-high 10 batters for the fourth time this year (also, April 8 vs. Houston, April 13 at New York-AL and May 13 vs. Chicago-NL)…one short of his career high of 11 on September 22, 2021 at Chicago-NL.
Threw 98 pitches, the most he has thrown in a start of 5.0-or-fewer innings in his career.
RYAN VS. CHICAGO-AL: Facing the White Sox for the second time this season and third time in his career…is 0-0, 1.80 ERA (10.0 IP, 2 ER) with four walks and 10 strikeouts in his two previous starts vs. Chicago-AL…tossed 6.0 scoreless innings and allowed only one hit vs. the White Sox on May 2 at Guaranteed Rate Field, issuing two walks and striking out seven in a no-decision (Twins fell 3-2)… allowed one-or-fewer hits for the fourth time in his career; had earned the win in his three previous such starts…tonight marks his first career start against Chicago-AL at Target Field.
CENTRAL HEATING: In 21 career starts vs. the American League Central division, Ryan is 12-3 with a 2.22 ERA (125.2 IP, 31 ER), 24 walks, 130 strikeouts and a .183 (82-for-449) opponent batting average…his 2.22 ERA is his lowest against any division in his career…among pitchers who have started at least 20 games against the AL Central, he owns the lowest opponent batting average and third-lowest ERA (Hisashi Iwakuma – 1.99, Pedro Martinez – 2.09) in baseball since the division was formed in 1994.
ON TARGET: In nine home starts this year, Ryan is 5-3, 3.32 ERA (57.0 IP, 21 ER) with eight walks and 70 strikeouts, recording a quality start in five of his nine home outings…Twins have gone 6-3 in his starts at Target Field this season…owns an 8.75 strikeout-to-walk ratio at home in 2023, the third highest among qualified American League pitchers (SEA’s George Kirby – 12.80, TB’s Zach Eflin – 10.67)…lost his last home start on July 9 vs. Baltimore, allowing five runs on five hits (2 HR) in 4.1 innings, with two walks and a season-high-tying 10 strikeouts as the Twins fell 15-2…is 3-3, 4.23 ERA (55.1 IP, 26 ER) with 13 walks and 61 strikeouts in 10 road starts this year. ARyan is 12-8, 3.43 ERA (154.2 IP, 59 ER) with 41 walks and 175 strikeouts in 27 career starts at Target Field…among pitchers with at least 10 career starts at Target Field, he owns the lowest WHIP (0.98), second-lowest opponent batting average (.193), third-lowest opponent
OPS (.588), and ninth-lowest ERA since the park opened in 2010.
Is 11-7, 3.97 ERA (131.1 IP, 58 ER) with 32 walks and 137 strikeouts in 24 career road starts.
LEFT LEADER: Left-handed hitters are batting just .197 (40-for-203) with a .538 OPS and 55 strikeouts against Ryan this year…his .538 opponent OPS against left-handed hitters is the second lowest in the American League this season (min. 15 GS), trailing only DET’s Matthew Boyd (.517)…right-handed hitters are hitting .249 (55-for-221) with a .747 OPS and 76 strikeouts against Ryan in 2023…his .224 (95-for-424) overall opponent batting average in 2023 ranks 10th in the AL among qualified starters.
Over his career, lefties are batting .195 (101-for-517) with a .594 OPS against him…right-handed hitters are hitting .228 (125-for-548) with a .699 OPS off Ryan.
