CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost four straight games, 10 of the last 12, 18 of 24 and 32 of 47 as they continue a six-game trip tonight with the series opener at Cleveland.
RHP Mike Clevinger, who has made three scoreless starts over his last six outings, is scheduled to start for the White Sox.
The White Sox opened the trip losing all three games at Texas, including a 5-3 setback in yesterday’s series finale.
The Sox are in fourth place in the American League Central, 13.0 games behind the division-leading Twins (56-54).
Following this series, the White Sox will return home for six games vs. the Yankees (8/7-9) and Milwaukee Brewers (8/11-13).
Chicago went 2-4 on their last homestand from 7/25-30 vs. the Cubs and Cleveland and 3-6 on their last trip from 7/14-23 at Atlanta, New York-NL and Minnesota following the All-Star break.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox are a season-high 24 games under .500 … the last time they were 25 games under .500 was at the end of the 2018 season (62-100).
Chicago is hitting .159/.197/.190 (20-126) with one double, one homer, four runs scored and six walks over the last four games.
The Sox have lost eight of their last nine road games … seven of the contests have been decided by four or less.
The White Sox are 6-2 with a 31-13 edge in runs scored at Cleveland since 7/12/22 (five games decided by three or less).
Mike Clevinger is 2-1 with a 2.23 ERA (8 ER/32.1 IP), .195 opp. average, .1.02 WHIP and 23 strikeouts in his last six starts.
Tim Anderson is hitting .329 (24-73) with two doubles, a homer, six RBI, five walks and nine multihit eff orts in his last 18 games, raising his average from .223 to .246 during that span.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
Texas scored five unanswered runs in its 5-3, comeback win over Chicago to complete a three-game sweep at Globe Life Field.
The Sox scored three times in the first off Max Scherzer on a RBI walk by Yasmani Grandal and two-run 1B by Gavin Sheets.
Texas erased the deficit with single runs in the second and third, scored twice in the fourth and added a run in the eighth.
Touki Toussaint suffered the loss after allowing four runs on five hits, including two home runs, with four walks and a season-high nine strikeouts over 5.1 IP (most strikeouts since 7/25/21).
The Sox went 1-7 with RISP and left eight on base.
FAMILIAR FACE
RHP Mike Clevinger is making his fifth career start vs. Cleveland (two with the White Sox and two with San Diego).
He went 42-22 with a 3.20 ERA (186 ER/523.1 IP) and 584 strikeouts 101 games (88 starts) with Cleveland from 2017-20.
Clevinger pitched in the postseason with the Guardians from 2016-18, and helped the club win the AL pennant in 2016.
CLEVELAND DOESN’T ROCK
White Sox starters owns a 2.15 ERA (25 ER/104.2 IP), .234 (92-393) opp. average, six home runs allowed, a .635 OPS and 74 strikeouts over the last 18 games vs. Cleveland since 7/23/22.
Sox starters have allowed three earned runs or less in 17 games, two or less 13 times and one or less 10 times.
The last time a Chicago starter allowed five-plus earned runs against the Guardians was 7/22/22 (Lucas Giolito; 6 ER/3.0 IP).
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 tied for fourth in MLB with 29 home runs
Is on pace for 43 home runs, which would be six shy of tying the franchise record set by OF Albert Belle (49) in 1998
Joins Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. the only players in the major leagues with 25+ 2B, 25+ HR, 60+ RBI, 70+ R and 10+ SB this season
Ranks seventh in MLB with 18 home runs of 400-plus feet in 2023
Is tied for seventh among MLB OFs with seven defensive runs saved
Owns the single-season club record for homers by a center fielder
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).
CLOSE CALLS
Seventy of Chicago’s 110 games (63.6 percent) this season have been decided by three runs or less (28-42).
The White Sox are 15-19 in one-run games and 6-9 in two-run games in 2023 … 45 of the last 52 games since 6/2 at Detroit have been decided by four runs or less (17-28 record).
WHITE SOX VS. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
The White Sox and Guardians will play their second series over a 14-day span from 7/27-8/6 … the Sox lead the season series, 6-4, going 4-3 at home and 2-1 at Progressive Field.
The White Sox are hitting .246/.307/.404 with 13 homers, own a 2.43 ERA (24 ER/89.0 IP) and a 39-26 edge in runs scored.
The Sox are 23-25 since the start of 2021, including 32 contests decided by three runs or less (14-18 record).
The White Sox have won six of the last eight on the road but are 12-17 at Progressive Field since the start of 2020 … 21 of the last 29 have been decided by three runs or less (Sox are 7-14).
CENTRAL DIVISION DYNAMICS
Chicago is 17-16 vs. the American League Central, including a 12-4 mark at Guaranteed Rate Field and 5-12 road record.
The White Sox have lost fi ve of the last seven vs the division, and five straight on the road (last road win on 5/26 at Detroit).
Eloy Jimenez is 18-51 (.353) with three home runs, 12 RBI and a .979 OPS in 13 games vs. the Central this season.
STARTING PITCHER – #52 MIKE CLEVINGER RHP
CLEVINGER AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 14th start of the season, eighth on the road and third against Cleveland.
Was reinstated from the 15-day injured list on 7/29 … was placed on the IL on 6/16 (retroactive 6/15) with right bicep inflammation.
Has limited opponents to three runs or less in 10 of his first 13 starts, including five scoreless efforts.
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 42 games (41 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
Earned the win on 7/29 vs. Cleveland, his first start since 6/14 … spun 5.0 scoreless IP with two hits, no walks and three strikeouts … marked his fifth scoreless
start this season and first start without issuing a walk.
Exited the game in the sixth inning with Chicago leading, 3-0 … the White Sox won, 7-2.
Owned a 62.5 first-strike percentage and 9.4 swinging-strike percentage (eight swing and misses) vs. 16 batters … threw 72 pitches (53 strikes) with the following
pitch breakdown: 35 four-seam fastballs (95.0 mph avg; 96.4 mph max), 22 changeups (86.5 avg; 88.5 max), 11 sliders (78.7 avg; 81.3 max) three cutters (85.0 avg; 85.4 max) and one sinker (94.1 max).
OF LATE
Is 2-1 with a 2.23 ERA (8 ER/32.1 IP), .195 (23-118) opponents average, 10 walks and 23 strikeouts over his last six starts (two quality).
Three of his last four starts have been scoreless, allowing three total runs across 20.1 IP (1.33 ERA).
His three runs allowed are the fewest across a four start span since 8/18-9/3/19 when he allowed three runs across 25.2 IP with Cleveland.
His 1.33 ERA since 6/1 ranks ninth in MLB and fourth in the American League (min. 20.0 IP).
START STRONG
Is limiting opponents to a .176 (16-91) average across the first two innings this season, compared to a .269 (45-167) mark from the third-seventh inning.
Is holding opponents to a .162 (17-105) average with 29 strikeouts the first time through the lineup, compared to a .333 (34-102) the second time through.
Owns a 2.54 ERA (11 ER/39.0 IP) from the first-third inning this year, compared to a 5.02 ERA (16 ER/28.2 IP) from the fourth-seventh.
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 .194 (21-108) average with runners on base, .156 (10-64) average with RISP and .069 (2-29) average with RISP/two outs this season.
His opponents average with RISP/two outs is tied for second-lowest in MLB (min. 30 PA), his opponents average with RISP is the seventh-lowest (min. 60 PA) and his opponents average with runners on is tied for the 10th-lowest (min. 100 PA).
VS. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS || A.L. CENTRAL
Will make his fifth career start against the Cleveland Guardians and second at Progressive Field as the visitor.
Has allowed three or fewer runs in all four starts (two quality) … is 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA (2 ER/11.0 IP) this year against Cleveland.
Is 20-8 with a 2.99 ERA (92 ER/277.1 IP), .225 (231- 1,027) opponents average and 314 strikeouts in 54 career games (46 starts) at Progressive Field.
Pitched for Cleveland from 2016-20, going 42-22 with a 3.20 ERA (186 ER/523.1 IP) and 584 strikeouts in 101 games (88 starts).
Is 28-9 with a 2.31 ERA (84 ER/327.0 IP), 103 walks and 347 strikeouts in 60 career appearances (53 starts/34 quality) against the American League Central.
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS NOTES:
GUARDS DROP 5 OF 6 AFTER ASTROS SWEEP
After departing Chicago with a series split against the White Sox, the Cleveland Guardians dropped Wednesday afternoon’s series finale at Houston’s Minute Maid Park by a 3-2 margin, completing a 3-game sweep at the hands of the Astros…Cleveland finished the road trip at 2-5…Cleveland has gone 11-6-2 over last 19 series (32-28 record since May 26). » The Guardians and Astros traded 2-run rallies in the 2nd inning… Cleveland jumped out to an early lead on a 2-run double by GABRIEL ARIAS that capitalized on a pair of 2-out singles from BRAYAN ROCCHIO and OSCAR GONZALEZ off Houston starter Ronel Blanco (4.0IP, 5H, 2R-ER, 4BB, 3SO, 77 pitches)…Gonzalez finishd the contest with 3 of Cleveland’s 7 hits…the Astros answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the same frame, both coming on the first (14) of 2 home runs hit by Chas McCormick…the former was the only damage allowed by TANNER BIBEE (5.0IP, 7H, 2R-ER, 4BB, 4SO, HR, 90 pitches)…the right-hander pitched through traffic for much of the afternoon, but managed to strand 7 baserunners…the score remained tied at 2-2 until McCormick led off the 6th by greeting NICK SANDLIN with a solo homer (15) to left-center field.
Cleveland (53-56) sits in 2nd place in the AL Central standings, 2.5 games behind 2nd-place Minnesota (56-54) and 4.5 games ahead of 3rd-place Detroit (-7.0G, 48-60)…despite dropping 5 of last 6, Guardians have still won 8 of 16, 21 of 39, 28 of 52 and 31 of last 58…have also dropped 50 of last 94 overall since starting year 9-6.
TALKIN’ BOUT CHI TOWN
The Guardians open up this 7-game homestand with a 3-game series against the Chicago White Sox, the last of 4 series against their divisional opponent and second at home this season… Cleveland has dropped 6 of its 10 matchups against Chicago-AL this year…the two clubs last faced off from July 27-30 at Guaranteed Rate Field…the Guards dropped 2 of 3 at home from May 16-18, lost 2 of 3 on the road from May 22-24 and split a 4-game set from July 27-30 in Chicago…Cleveland must sweep the ChiSox to win the season series, having last dropped a season series against Chicago-AL in 2021, dropping 10 of 19 contests.
During the Terry Francona era (since 2013), the Guards are 115-76 against Chicago-AL, the most wins of any team against the White Sox during that span…since 2013, the Guardians are 59-34 against Chicago-AL at Progressive Field, the 2nd-most victories against any club at the ballpark during that stretch (Kansas City, 65)…Cleveland is 1,115-1,122 all-time against the White Sox.
WELCOME TO CLASE, I’M YOUR CLOSER EMMANUEL EMMANUEL CLASE needs one save to pass Mike Jackson (94) for 6th-most saves in franchise history….he is 10 saves away from José Mesa (104) for 5th-most in club history…his 28 saves are T2nd-most in the American League, behind BAL’s Felix Bautista (29), and T4th in MLB with TOR’s Jordan Romano…his 50 appearances this season rank T4th in the AL/T8th in MLB with multiple other players…since joining Cleveland in 2021, Clase leads all MLB relievers with a 1.74 ERA (37ER/191.0IP), 79 points lower than TB’s Jeffrey Springs’ 2.53 ERA (55ER/196.0IP), the 2ndlowest ERA during that stretch (min 90.0IP)…Clase’s 70 saves since the start of last season lead MLB, ahead of BOS’s Kenley Jansen (65).
RUMBLE, YOUNG MAN, RUMBLE
Cleveland is one of 2 MLB teams (also Oakland) to have 6 different rookies throw 30.0+ innings this season; TANNER BIBEE (94.2IP) LOGAN ALLEN (80.1IP), XZAVION CURRY (59.0IP), GAVIN WILLIAMS (42.2IP) PEYTON BATTENFIELD (34.2IP) and HUNTER GADDIS (31.1IP)…38.97% of Cleveland’s innings pitched this season (379.1IP/973.1IP) have come via rookies, 2nd in MLB behind Oakland (42.04%)…the Guards rookies rank amongst MLB clubs’ rookies in wins (18, 1st), games started (55, 1st), strikeouts (344, 2nd) and innings pitched (379.1, 2nd)… Cleveland possesses the youngest average age of pitchers (26.1) among MLB clubs this season, ahead of Miami (27.4).
LET’S GET IT STARTED
Cleveland’s starting pitchers have had a strong start to the second half, holding opponents to 2-or-fewer earned runs in 15 of the rotation’s 18 outings…they have lasted 5.0-or-more innings in 13 of their 18 starts since the All-Star break, with 3 of those 5 outings being XZAVION CURRY’s spot starts…the rotation’s 2.63 ERA (29ER/99.1IP) to start the second half is the lowest in MLB, 24 points lower than the next-best team (San Diego, 2.87)…Guardians starters also lead MLB rotations in opposing batting average (.213), opposing slugging percentage (.334) and H/9 (6.89).
MIGHTY MILAN
On August 3, INF MILAN TOLENTINO earned Midwest League Player of the Month honors for his performance in July for High-A Lake County…he slashed .376/.398/.570/.968 in July and led all Midwest League hitters in runs (20), hits (35), total bases (53) and sacrifice flies (4)…he also ranked among Midwest League hitters in batting average (.376, 2nd), SLG (.570, 4th) and RBI (16, 6th)…he tallied 12 multi-hit games and posted 2 separate hitting streaks of 11 games…for his efforts this past month, Tolentino was promoted to AA Akron earlier today…per MLB.com, Tolentino is the organization’s #20 overall prospect and #7 middle infield prospect… the 21-year-old was selected by Cleveland in the 4th round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Mission Viejo, California.
NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES
Prior to tonight’s game, the Guardians placed 1B JOSH NAYLOR and INF TYLER FREEMAN on the 10-day Injured List. As corresponding moves, Cleveland has acquired OF COLE CALHOUN from the Los Angeles Dodgers for cash considerations and called up INF JOSÉ TENA from AAA Columbus.
Calhoun has spent this season with AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (NYY) and AAA Oklahoma City (LAD)…this season, Calhoun is hitting .297 (69-for-232) with 17 2B, 5 3B, 9 HR and 46 RBI in 58 games. In his 11-year MLB career, he is hitting .243 (1,042-for4,291) with 198 2B, 18 3B, 173 HR and 557 RBI in 1,196 career games.
Tena spent most of this season with AA Akron (81 games) and AAA Columbus (one game)…is batting .260 (81-for-311) with 21 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 39 RBI and 16 steals…has appeared in 74 at SS between the two levels…is making his debut at the Major League level after signing with Cleveland as an international amateur free agent in July 2017…enters today currently on an 11-game hit streak between Akron and Columbus…Tena won Eastern League Player of the Week for the week of May 30-June 4, batting 11-for-25 with 6 R, 4 XBH and 6 RBI during the stretch.
STAND FOR THE LAND
The Guardians announced that tonight’s game is sold out, marking the club’s fifth sellout this season…joins Opening Day on April 7 vs. Seattle, July 3 vs. Atlanta and July 22-23 vs. Philadelphia…Progressive Field last had 5+ sellouts within the first 53 home games of the season in 2019 (6 times).
TONIGHT’S STARTER – #41 LOGAN ALLEN LHP
ALLEN ON THE ROAD
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
2023 3-2 3.27 8 8 41.1 37 15 15 17 46
Career 3-2 3.27 8 8 41.1 37 15 15 17 46
ALLEN’S MLB CAREER
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
2023 4-4 3.70 15 15 80.1 82 35 33 28 80
2023 4-4 3.70 15 15 80.1 82 35 33 28 80
TONIGHT’S START
The 24-year-old southpaw is making his 16th career MLB start, eighth at home, in the opener of this 3-game set with the Chicago White Sox…Allen was originally selected by Cleveland in the 2nd Round (56th overall) of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Florida International University…entered the season as Cleveland’s #8 prospect according to MLB.com…is starting on extended 5 days’ rest; owns a 4.25 ERA (20ER/42.1IP) in 8 career starts on 5 days’ rest.
LAST TIME OUT
Allen’s last start came on Saturday in a 7-2 loss to the White Sox…Chicago-AL opened up the scoring with a leadoff home run from Tim Anderson…following the home run, he retired 8 of the next 9 hitters through the 3rd inning…he faced some trouble in the 4th frame after walking Yoan Moncada to open up the inning… Allen’s defense backed him up, throwing out Moncada at home after he tried to score on a double from Eloy Jimenez…the White Sox scored 2 more runs in the 5th via a 2-run single from Moncada…Andrew Vaughn would then take Allen deep for a 2-run home run in the 6th…the left-hander retired the next two batters he faced, ending his day.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
This will be his fourth start against the White Sox this season and the second time he will face Chicago-AL in back-to-back outings…through 3 starts against the White Sox, he is 0-2 with a 4.58 ERA (9ER/17.2IP)…he suffered the loss in his sole start against Chicago-AL at Progressive Field, allowing 4R/3ER on 7 hits over 6.0 innings.
The rookie is making his 8th career start against the AL Central, holding a 1-3 record with a 3.83 ERA (17ER/40.0IP) with 30 strikeouts and 11 walks…has made 3 starts against the division at home this season, posting a 4.34 ERA (9ER/18.2IP)…has worked 5.0-or-more innings in 6 of his 7 starts against the division.
THE ALLEN WRENCH
Allen started his MLB career with 8 straight starts of 3-or-fewer runs allowed, becoming the third Cleveland pitcher with 8-or-more such outings to begin a career, joining Aaron Civale (9, 2019) and Cliff Lee (10, 2002-03)…joined Herb Score (1955) as the only 2 pitchers in franchise history with 8+SO in their first 2 career starts… became the third pitcher in Cleveland history with 6.0+IP, 8+SO and one-or-fewer earned runs in an MLB debut, joining McKenzie and Luis Tiant…his 8 strikeouts rank T4th in a Cleveland MLB debut.
RISP-Y BUSINESS
Opposing teams are hitting .191 (13-for-68) against Allen with runners in scoring position, the lowest of any starter on the roster (min 30.0IP), and .107 (3-for-28) with runners in scoring position and 2 outs…the .107 average with RISP and 2 outs ranks 7th among AL pitchers (min. 30 BF) and his .191 RISP average ranks 8th among AL pitchers (min. 75 BF)…comparatively, with no runners on base, opposing hitters are slashing .270 (50-for-185).
CLEAN-UP ON AISLE 4
Since making his MLB debut on April 23, Allen has fared well when facing opposing cleanup hitters…the #4 spot in opposing team’s lineups are batting .150 (6-for-40) with 2 total extra-base hits…the #8 spot in opposing lineups is the only other spot batting below .200 against Allen (.188, 6-for-32)…he ranks 1st in the American League/4th in MLB in opposing average against cleanup hitters and 1st in the American League/3rd in MLB in OPS (.421)
