Monday, December 23, 2024
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MLB Preview: Chicago White Sox (48-73) at Colorado Rockies (46-75)

CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:

WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost four of their last five games and 16 of 23 as they continue a five-game, six-game trip tonight with the series opener at Colorado.

RHP Michael Kopech is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are a season-high tying 25 games under .500 (third time).

The Sox opened the trip by splitting two games against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, recording a 5-3 victory on Tuesday before losing, 4-3, on Wednesday night in walkoff fashion.

Following this three-game series, the White Sox return to Chicago for a seven-game homestand vs. Seattle (8/21-23) and Oakland (8/24-27).

The Sox went 2-4 on their last homestand vs. the Yankees (2-1) and Milwaukee (0-3) from 8/7-13 and 2-4 on their last trip to Texas (0-3) and Cleveland (2-1) from 8/1-6.

TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
Tim Anderson tonight will begin serving a five-game suspension for his involvement in an on-field altercation on 8/5 at Cleveland … Anderson originally was suspended six games, but had the number reduced by one game following a settlement with MLB.

Rockies starter Peter Lambert is the brother of White Sox reliever Jimmy Lambert.

The Sox have won three of their last four road games.

Michael Kopech has allowed two runs or less in five of his last six starts on the road, going 3-2 with a 3.33 ERA (10 ER/27.0 IP), .194 (18-93) opponents average and 24 strikeouts.

Elvis Andrus is hitting .364/.364/.545 (16-44) with five doubles, one home run and 13 RBI in his last 11 games … he has hit safely in nine of those contests.

Luis Robert Jr. owns a nine-game hitting streak, batting .355 (11-31) with a double, triple, three homers and six RBI.

TODAY’S TRANSACTIONS
Prior to tonight’s game at Colorado, the White Sox placed OF Eloy Jiménez on the Paternity List and recalled INF Lenyn Sosa from Class AAA Charlotte.

Sosa, 23, is hitting .271/.313/.507 (78-288) with 17 doubles, 17 home runs, 44 RBI and 41 runs scored in 71 games with the Knights this season … he also has appeared in 22 games over two stints with the Sox.

Jiménez is hitting .277/.320/.452 (89-321) with 14 home runs and 50 RBI over 84 games in 2023.

WEDNESDAY’S RECAP
Christopher Morel hit a game-ending, three-run homer off closer Gregory Santos with no outs in the ninth inning as the Cubs rallied for a 4-3 victory, ending the White Sox six-game winning streak at Wrigley Field.

The Sox carried a 3-0 lead into the eighth inning but were unable to extend the lead despite loading the bases with no outs … Cubs reliever Michael Fulmer struck out Luis Robert Jr., Yoán Moncada and Andrew Vaughn in order to end the threat.

Starter Mike Clevinger posted a ND despite holding the Cubs scoreless on three hits with seven strikeouts over a season-high 7.0 IP to lower his ERA to 3.26.

Gavin Sheets gave the Sox a 3-0 lead with a two-run homer off Javier Assad in the fifth … former White Sox Nick Madrigal cut the deficit with a solo home run off Aaron Bummer in the eighth.

The White Sox went 0-6 with RISP as they suffered their 38th loss after leading.

Eloy Jiménez (groin tightness) was scratched from the lineup.

ROBERT’S REMARKABLE RUN
Luis Robert Jr. is attempting to win his first Silver Slugger Award and his second Rawlings Gold Glove® Award (2020) … Robert Jr. would become the first player in White Sox history to win both of those awards in the same season.

Below is additional information from his season to date.

Is the 10th player in White Sox history (27th time) to record 30-plus doubles and 30-plus home runs in a season … Robert Jr. and Mookie Betts are the only MLB players to record those numbers in 2023;

Ranks among the American League leaders in numerous categories, including HR (2nd, 32), SLG (2nd, .567) and XBH (2nd, 63);

Is the only player in MLB with 30-plus 2B, 30-plus HR, 65-plus RBI, 75-plus runs scored and 15-plus SB;

Needs four SB to join Magglio Ordóñez (2001) as the only players in Sox history to hit 30-plus 2B and HR with 20-plus SB;

His 32 HR are the most in Sox history by a CF and the most by an OF since Jermaine Dye (34) in 2008 … is the 23rd player in franchise history (52x) to hit 30 or more in a season;

Is on pace for 43 HR, which would tie Frank Thomas (2000) for the third-highest total in Sox history behind Albert Belle (49 in 1998) and Jermaine Dye (44 in 2006).

WHITE SOX VS. COLORADO
The White Sox lead the all-time series, 10-9, including an 8-6 record at Coors Field … the teams split four games in 2022, including two games in Colorado from 7/26-27 and in Chicago from 9/13-14 … the Rockies earned a walkoff win on 7/27.

The White Sox batted .263/.319/.368 (35-133) with a 3.09 ERA (12 ER/35.0 IP) against the Rockies last season … they were outscored 12-11.

Sox first-base coach Daryl Boston was a member of the inaugural Rockies team in 1993, batting .261/.325/.464 (76-291) with 14 home runs and 40 RBI in 124 games.

INTERLEAGUE INSIGHT
The White Sox are 265-252 (.513) all-time in interleague play (131-129 on the road), the 10th-best record in MLB.

The Sox are 12-22 this season after going 11-9 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2021.

The White Sox rank third all-time with 641 home runs, trailing only Toronto (676) and the Yankees (647).

Eloy Jiménez is a .283/.338/.513 (75-265) hitter with 16 home runs and 46 RBI in 72 career interleague games … Luis Robert Jr. owns a .300/.354/.584 (75-250) slash line with 18 homers and 46 RBI in 67 career interleague games.

34 STARTER MICHAEL KOPECH RHP

KOPECH AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 23rd start of the season, 11th on the road and first against the Colorado Rockies.

Is 2-6 with a 4.94 ERA (30 ER/54.2 IP), 1.72 WHIP, .245 (51-208) opponents average and 56 strikeouts in his last 12 starts … has given up 43 walks in that span.

Is the only White Sox starter this season to carry a hitless game into the six inning in three different outings.

Has recorded 5.0-plus IP in 14 of his 22 starts this season and 6.0-plus IP six times … has allowed one run or less in seven outings.

Went 3-7 with a 4.08 ERA (39 ER/86.0 IP), .217 (68-313) opponents average and 97 strikeouts over 16 starts in the first half of the season … his 86.0 IP and 97 strikeouts were the highest first-half totals in his career.

His 5.79 BB/9 is the highest in baseball this season (minimum 100.0 IP) … has issued 23 walks in his last six starts (26.0 IP).

Is receiving 4.74 runs of support this season (54 RS/102.1 IP) … the Sox have scored six-plus runs in four of his starts and two runs or less in 16.

Has gone 12-20 with 3.99 ERA (115 ER/259.2 IP), .215 (204-949) opponents average and 259 strikeouts in 55 career starts and 3-3 with 3.90 ERA (24 ER/55.1 IP), .225 (47-209) opponents average and 80 strikeouts in 40 career relief appearances.

Has recorded 100-plus strikeouts in each of his last three seasons (2021-23).

Spent his first full season in the major leagues in 2021, pitching out of the bullpen (40 games) while making four starts … opted out of the 2020 season for personal reasons … missed the entire 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery (performed on 9/18/18).

LAST START
Received a no decision on 8/11 vs. Milwaukee, allowing four runs on five hits with five walks and four strikeouts over 4.1 IP … threw 96 pitches (49 strikes).

Surrendered a solo home run to Víctor Caratini in the second.

Departed the game in the fifth with the White Sox leading, 5-4 … the Sox lost 7-6 in extra innings … Eloy Jiménez went 3-5 with a homer.

Owned a 34.8 first-strike percentage and 9.4 swinging-strike percentage (10 swing and misses) vs. 23 batters … threw 60 four-seam fastballs (93.5 mph avg; 96.2 mph
max), 28 sliders (84.2 mph avg; 86.6 max) and eight changeups (87.8 mph avg; max 89.8).

DAMAGE CONTROL
Opponents are batting .194 (19-98) with RISP, .222 (12-54) with RISP/two outs and .167 (1-6) with the bases loaded against him this season.

His .194 opponents average with RISP is the fourth-lowest mark in the major leagues in 2023.

Has limited opponents to a.189 (44-233) average with RISP, .187 (23-123) with RISP/two outs and .214 (3-14) with the bases loaded in his career.

HEATER ON AND RELIABLE
His four-seam fastball has held the opposition to a .205 (99-483) batting average, the third-lowest in Major League Baseball since 2022 (min. 2,000 fastballs thrown) … opponents own a .221 (53-240) average on his fastball this season, fourth-lowest in MLB (min. 1,000 fastballs thrown).

Owns the second-highest four-seam fastball usage (62.7%) among pitchers this season (min. 1,500 pitches thrown) … led MLB starters with at least 2,000 pitches
thrown in four-seam fastball usage (61.6%) last season.

His 68 strikeouts via his four-seamer are the 14thmost in baseball in 2023.

GRAB SOME BENCH
Has recorded career-high 116 strikeouts this season and is on pace to strike out 155.

His 9.32 strikeouts per 9.0 IP this season would rank 10th in the American League with the required IP.

Has recorded double-digit strikeout performances four times in his career and twice this season … his last 10- plus strikeout game came on 5/29 vs. Los Angeles-AL
(10 SO/4.1 IP).

VS. COLORADO ROCKIES || INTERLEAGUE

Is scheduled to make his third career start against the Colorado Rockies, second at Coors Field.

Has gone 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA (2 ER/10.1 IP), seven strikeouts and .237 (9-38) opponents average in two careers starts against Colorado.

Has gone 2-4 with a 6.03 ERA (25 ER/37.1 IP), 1.66 WHIP, 32 strikeouts and a .270 (40-148) opponents average against the National League this year and 0-1 with 13.50 (7 ER/4.2 IP) with a .364 (8-22) opponents average against the National League West.

COLORADO ROCKIES NOTES:

HOME BASE

  • The Colorado Rockies continue their six-game homestand this evening with the first game of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox.
  • The Rockies dropped two of three to the Arizona Diamondbacks to begin the homestand, falling to 8-27 with no series wins this season against the NL West.
  • Following this series the Rockies will depart on a six-game road trip to Tampa Bay (Aug. 22-24) and Baltimore (Aug. 25-27) … following this series against the White Sox, the only team below .500 on the Rockies remaining schedule is the San Diego Padres.

ACTION PACKED

  • Tonight, the Rockies host their fifth annual Charity Night presented by AT&T SportsNet and PNC Bank … fans have the opportunity to purchase packages filled with player autographed items and Rockies merchandise both in person at Coors Field on the main concourse behind section 131 and online at Rockies.com/RCN … all proceeds go to the Colorado Rockies Foundation and featured charity this year, Girls Inc. of Metro Denver.
  • Tomorrow, the Rockies continue their 30th anniversary season celebrations with Todd Helton’s return to Coors Field followed by a postgame drone show.

STEP RIGHT UP

  • The Rockies have used a franchise record 32 total pitchers this season, one more than the 2019 club’s 31 hurlers … the Rockies have also tied the franchise record by using 15 different starting pitchers this season, tied with the 1993 and 2014 clubs for the most starters used in franchise history.
  • The Rockies have used 53 total players, tied for the eighth-most in the Majors … the most players used for the club since setting a franchise record with 55 players in 2011.

SOUTH SIDE

  • The Rockies are 9-10 all-time against the Chicago White Sox, with both teams alternating wins and losses since 2017 … Colorado is 6-8 all-time against the White Sox at Coors Field but has won or split each of the last three series since 2017.
  • Each of the Rockies’ next three series and four of the next five series are against AL clubs, having gone 13-18 in Interleague play this season … eight of the Rockies’ 30 games so far after the All-Star Break have come against AL clubs, all eight of them at home, with the Rockies going 4-4.

GOLDEN

  • Ryan McMahon’s 15 defensive runs saved are tied for the fifth-most in the Majors … his 16 DRS just at third base lead all Major League third basemen.
  • Rookie shortstop Ezequiel Tovar’s 10 DRS rank fifth among all shortstops, third in the NL … his .986 fielding percentage currently stands as the second-best fielding percentage by a rookie shortstop in Major League history (min. 100 games) trailing Troy Tulowitzki (.987, 2007) (via. STATS PERFORM).
  • Rookie center fielder Brenton Doyle’s 10 defensive runs saved on the season are tied for the third-most among all center fielders while his 95.6 MPH average arm strength ranks seventh among all outfielders … Doyle’s active 82-game errorless streak is the second-longest by a rookie in Rockies history behind Matt Reynold’s 94 games from 2010-11.
  • Rookie outfielder Nolan Jones has totaled six DRS in the outfield while starting 31 games in right field and 18 in left field … his average arm strength of 98.4 MPH is the best among all position players.
  • Jones has 10 outfield assists, tied for the second-most in the NL, the most among all rookies and tied for the most by a rookie Rockies outfielder in franchise history with Brad Hawpe (2005).

NEW BLOOD

  • Ezequiel Tovar has recorded a season-high three hits twice in his last three games and is slashing .298/.344/.526 with four doubles and three home runs in 15 games in August.
  • Tovar ranks in the top 10 among all rookies in franchise history in home runs (13, T-6th), doubles (27, 8th), RBI (53, T-8th) and hits (111, T-9th).
  • Nolan Jones ranks tied for 10th among rookies in franchise history with 12 home runs … his 18.18 at-bats per home run rate ranks fourth among rookies in franchise history, trailing Trevor Story (13.78, 2016), Wilin Rosario (14.14, 2012) and Jose Ortiz (15.69, 2001).
  • Tovar and Jones are the third pair of rookies in franchise history to each hit at least 10 home runs in a season, joining Luis Gonzalez/Matt Holliday (2004) and Garrett Atkins/Clint Barmes (2005).

KEEP AN EYE

  • The Rockies placed five Minor League players in the recently updated MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospects: SS Adael Amador (#21), OF Yanquiel Fernandez (#53), RHP Chase Dollander (#63), OF Jordan Beck (#88) and OF Zac Veen (#99).

ROCKIES STARTING PITCHER – #20 PETER LAMBERT RHP

MEET PETE

  • Peter Lambert makes his seventh start of the season today … recalled on July 21, his third stint on the active roster this season … recalled the first time April
    18 but optioned the following day without making an appearance … recalled a second time May 4 before being optioned on July 2.
  • Native of San Dimas, Calif., selected by Colorado in the second round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of San Dimas High School.
  • Brother Jimmy pitches for the Chicago White Sox … have appeared in the same game in the Major Leagues.

LAST TIME OUT

  • Lost third consecutive start on Aug. 12 against the Dodgers … in the quality start he tossed six innings with three runs allowed … allowed seven hits, one walk and struck out four.
  • Three consecutive losing decisions ties the worst stretch of his career … six innings last time out ties his season-high (also: July 26 at Washington).

HOT JULY

  • Did not allow an earned run in three starts during the month of July, tossing 14 innings while yielding one unearned run … walked three and struck out seven while holding opposing hitters to a .163/.226/.224 slash line.
  • Was the only pitcher in baseball during the month to start at least three games and not surrender an earned run.
  • His opponents’ .163 average was the fourth-lowest in baseball during July, the second-lowest in the National League.

CHICAGO STYLE

  • Has never pitched against the White Sox in his career.
  • Made his only career appearance against the AL Central on July 1 vs. Detroit … went three scoreless innings with two hits allowed.
  • His older brother, Jimmy, was drafted by the White Sox in 2016 and has made 77 appearances over four Major League seasons with the club.

THAT’S A RELIEF

  • Has made 14 relief appearances and six starts across his three stints with the Rockies this season, going 2-4 with a 5.46 ERA (59.1 IP, 36 ER).
  • Made his season debut on May 10 at Pittsburgh, his first Major League appearance since Sept. 29, 2021 and the first relief appearance in his professional career.
  • Combined to toss 5.2 scoreless innings across his first two appearances of the season May 10-13.
  • Went 1-1 with an 8.20 ERA (18.2 IP, 17 ER) over his following eight appearances, allowing at least one run in each appearances.
  • Earned the win on May 28 vs. New York-NL, allowing one run on three hits across 2.2 innings in an 11-10 Rockies win … first win since Sept. 14, 2019.
  • Made a spot-start for the Rockies in a bullpen game on July 1 before becoming a mainstay in the rotation on July 21 … scoreless in his first three starts (14.0 IP) before allowing nine earned runs across his last two (8.0 IP).

MINOR MATTERS

  • Has made seven total starts with Triple-A Albuquerque, going 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA (21.2 IP, 10 ER), 14 walks and 21 strikeouts … has held opponents to a .244 average with no home runs allowed.
  • Made five of his seven starts in April and went 0-2 with a 4.73 ERA (13.1 IP, 7 ER.

A SMALL STEP

  • Did not appear in the Majors and made just four Minor League starts in 2022 … all four starts came from May 17-June 1, going 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA (8.2 IP, 6 ER).
  • Missed time with right elbow inflammation.
  • Started three games in the Arizona Fall League, going 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA (7.0 IP, 7 ER).
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