SEATTLE MARINERS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S TILT…the Mariners continue a 10-game road trip (7-1) tonight with the 2nd of 3 games against the Chicago White Sox (1-0)…Seattle is coming off a series win against the Kansas City Royals (3-1) and a sweep of the Houston Astros (3-0) on the current trip…following an off day Thursday, the Mariners will open up a 6-game homestand against the Royals (3 G, 8/25-8/27) and Oakland Athletics (3 G, 8/28-8/30)…tonight’s game will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS with Dave Sims and Ryan Rowland-Smith on the call and broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr. on the call.
ODDS AND ENDS…the Mariners defeated the White Sox by a 14-2 score in last night’s series opener, registering a season-high 14 runs…Seattle has won a season-high 7 consecutive games (8/15-c)..the Mariners are 15-3 over their last 18, 17-4 over their last 21, 20-5 over their last 25, 23-7 over their last 30 and 32-13 over their last 45 games…the Mariners are 54-19 when scoring at least 4 runs and 16-36 when scoring 3-or-fewer…the Mariners are 34-28 at T-Mobile Park and 36-27 on the road this season…they are 23-20 in day games and 47-35 at night.
- Series-ly Awesome – Seattle has won 7 consecutive road series and 8 of its last 9 overall series… Seattle holds a 11-2-1 series record over its last 14 series dating back to June 30.
- W7 – The Mariners 7-game winning streak is the longest active streak in the Majors.
- The Bastille – Ty France leads the Majors with 24 hit-by-pitches…defensively, his .999 fielding percentage leads American League first basemen.
BEST IN THE BUSINESS…since July 1, the Mariners are 32-13 (.711), best record in the American League and 2nd-best in the Majors behind only the Dodgers (.714/30-12) during that span…the Mariners have allowed the 2nd-fewest runs (162) in the big leagues since July 1, trailing only Toronto (150 RA)… offensively, Seattle has the best OPS (.806) in the AL and 3rd-best in MLB during that stretch, scoring 235 runs (T-1st in AL w/HOU) and hitting 66 home runs (2nd in AL) since July 1.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES…RHP Bryan Woo, who is slated to start tonight, was reinstated from the 15- day IL (right forearm inflammation)…RHP Luke Weaver (#30) was signed to a Major League contract and is active tonight…RHP Eduard Bazardo and RHP Darren McCaughan were both optioned to Triple-A Tacoma…RHP Emerson Hancock was transferred to the 60-day IL (right shoulder strain).
IT STARTS WITH STARTING PITCHING…the Mariners starting rotation ranks 2nd in the Majors in quality starts (61) this season, trailing only Minnesota (63)…over their last 61 games (6/12-c), Seattle starters lead the Majors in ERA (3.38), going 24-11 with 79 walks and 331 strikeouts…Seattle is the only team in the Majors to have 3 pitchers with 10+ wins this season: Logan Gilbert (11 W), Luis Castillo (10) and George Kirby (10)…Kirby leads the Majors in WHIP (1.02), walks-per-9 innings (0.8) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (9.50)…Castillo ranks 3rd in the AL in WHIP (1.04), while Gilbert ranks T-5th (1.07).
HOT BATS…the Mariners hit 4 home runs last night (Cal Raleigh 2, Dominic Canzone, Teoscar Hernández), tying a season-high…Seattle has hit 4 homers in 8 games this season, 6th-most in the Majors…as a team, Seattle is batting .287 (196×684) with 32 home runs and 106 RBI in 19 games during the month of August…the .287 average ranks 3rd in the Majors to Atlanta (.297) and Kansas City (.288)… the Mariners .862 OPS also ranks 3rd in the Majors in August.
NASTY BULLPENNERS…the Mariners bullpen is 26-21 with a 3.45 ERA (159 ER, 414.2 IP) with 160 walks (14 intentional) and 465 strikeouts this season…they rank 3rd in MLB in ERA, trailing the Yankees (3.20) and Braves (3.43)…over the team’s last 45 games (7/1-c), Seattle relievers rank 2nd in the Majors with a 2.64 ERA (42 ER, 143.0 IP), notching 19 saves with 51 walks and 169 strikeouts.
JULIO RODRÍGUEZ NAMED AL PLAYER OF THE WEEK…yesterday Julio Rodríguez was named American League Player of the Week for Aug. 14-20…Rodríguez batted .568 (21×37) with 7 runs, 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 12 RBI and 6 stolen bases during the week, getting on base at a .579 clip, slugging .838 with a 1.417 OPS…the center fielder hit safely in all 7 games, registering 5 multi-hit games and 4 consecutive games with at least 4 hits…from Aug. 16-19, Julio hit .773 (17×22) with 5 runs, 2 doubles, 2 homers and 8 RBI with a 1.909 OPS…the 17 hits over a 4-game span set a Major League record (since 1901), surpassing Milt Stock (16 H) over a 4-game span for the Brooklyn Robins from June 30-July 3, 1925…he also tied Stock’s MLB record for most consecutive 4+ hit games (4) during that span.
CAL THE ELITE CATCHER…Cal Raleigh went 3-for-5 with a double, 2 home runs and 6 RBI last night… Raleigh’s 24 home runs lead the Mariners and lead Major League catchers…he led MLB catchers in home runs (27) during the 2022 season…in last night’s game, Raleigh registered both a career-high in extra-base hits (3) and RBI (6)…the 26-year-old backstop has 5 multi-homer games this season, tied for 2nd-most in the Majors with Mookie Betts-LAD and Max Muncy-LAD, trailing only Matt Olson-ATL (7)…Cal’s 4 multihomer games as a catcher are tied for 14th-most in a season in MLB history…Javy López (8) for the 2003 Braves holds the Major League record for catchers.
YOU GOT ME SAYIN’ TEOOO…Teoscar Hernández went 2-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBI last night… during the Mariners current 7-game winning streak (8/15-c), Teo is batting .452 (14×31) with 4 runs, 5 doubles, 2 homers, 9 RBI and 2 walks, getting on base at a .471 clip, slugging .807 with a 1.277 OPS.
A RAKER’S DOZEN…the Mariners have 13 players this season with at least 50 plate appearances and an above-average OPS+ (100-or-better), most in the Majors and ranking ahead of Atlanta (10)…the 13 Mariners in alphabetical order are José Caballero, Dominic Canzone, J.P. Crawford, Mike Ford, Ty France, Teoscar Hernández, Jarred Kelenic, Cade Marlowe, Dylan Moore, Tom Murphy, Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez and Eugenio Suárez…the Major League record by a team is 14 players, accomplished twice (1983 Yankees and 2019 Yankees)…the Mariners record is 12 players in 2019.
HOME SWEET HOMESTAND…the Mariners return home Friday and open a 6-game homestand against the Kansas City Royals (3 G, 8/25-8/27) and Oakland Athletics (3 G, 8/28-8/30), highlighted by Fireworks Night on Friday, August 25, Native American Heritage Night on Monday, August 28, Julio Rodríguez Funko Pop! Collectible Night on Tuesday, August 29 and Death Cabby for Cutie Day on Wednesday, Aug. 30…tickets are available at Mariners.com/tickets.
AS YOU MAY KNOW…Julio Rodríguez is sitting on 49 career home runs in 253 games played…if Julio homers over his next 15 games, he would become the fastest player in Mariners history to reach 50 career home runs, surpassing Alex Rodriguez (269th career game), but…DID YOU KNOW?…that Julio would also become just the 2nd player in Major League history with 50+ home runs and 50+ stolen bases through their first 2 Major League seasons?…the 22-year-old outfielder would join Ronald Acuña Jr.-ATL, who totaled 67 homers and 53 steals through his first 2 Major League seasons (2018-19)…Julio comes into play tonight with 58 career steals.
MARINERS STARTER
RHP BRYAN WOO
2023/Career MLB Breakdown:
W-L ERA G/GS IP H R ER BB SO HR
Overall 1-3 4.75 11/11 55.0 51 32 29 17 60 8
Home 0-2 5.85 4/4 20.0 21 15 13 5 27 6
Road 1-1 4.11 7/7 35.0 30 17 16 12 33 2
vs. CHW 0-0 3.18 1/1 5.2 3 2 2 0 9 2
ABOUT BRYAN WOO…
- The 23-year-old right-handed pitcher is scheduled to make his 12th Major League start and 2nd career start against Chicago-AL.
- Selected by Seattle in the 6th round (174th overall) of the 2021 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Cal Poly University… signed by Mariners scout Chris Hom.
- Spent 3 seasons at Cal Poly before being drafted, making 31 appearances (6 GS) for the Mustangs.
- Did not pitch in 2021 while recovering from right elbow surgery.
LAST TIME OUT…ND in his 11th Major League start at Los Angeles-AL, tossed 6.0 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts. OUCH…is making his first start since being placed on the injured list on August 8 (retroactive to August 5) with right forearm inflammation.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN…is set to make the 8th road start of his career with his start against the White Sox…Woo currently holds a 4.11 ERA (16 ER, 35.0 IP) with 12 walks and 33 strikeouts when pitching on the road…he has only made 4 starts at home so far.
HIGH QUALITY…recorded his 2nd career quality start after pitching 6.0 innings and allowing just 1 earned run against Houston on 7/8…his first career quality start came on 7/3 against San Francisco.
AMONG MARINERS GREATS…Woo’s 54 strikeouts are the 4th most in Mariners history in a pitcher’s first 10 career starts, he trails Michael Pineda (66), Félix Hernández (65) and Erik Hanson (57).
IN THE WIN COLUMN…Woo earned his 1st career win on 6/22 against New York-AL…he carried a no hitter into the 6th inning before giving up a 1-out single to Gelyber Torres…he became the 5th Mariners pitcher this season to carry a no-hitter into the 6th inning (also: Bryce Miller, Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, Easton McGee).
CAREER-HIGH PUNCHIES…recorded a new career high in strikeouts in his outing against the White Sox on 6/16 with 9…his Minor League career high is 11 which he achieved on 8/19/22 against Vancouver.
IN THE ZONE…has allowed 17 walks while striking out 60 batters in 11 starts… he currently has a 3.53 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost seven of their last nine games and 19 of 27 as they continue a seven-game homestand tonight against the Seattle Mariners.
RHP Mike Clevinger, who is 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA (9 ER/44.1 IP) over his last eight starts dating back to 5/17, is scheduled to start for the White Sox.
The Sox opened the homestand last night with 14-2 loss to the Mariners, marking the third time in the last four games they have allowed 10-plus runs.
Following this three-game series, the Sox conclude the homestand this weekend with four vs. Oakland (8/24-27) before taking a brief three-game trip to Baltimore (8/28-30).
The Sox went 2-3 on their last trip to the Cubs (1-1) and Colorado (1-2) from 8/15-20 and 2-4 on their last homestand vs. the Yankees (2-1) and Milwaukee (0-3) from 8/7-13.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
Darrin Jackson celebrates his 60th birthday.
The White Sox have allowed 44 runs on 50 hits (nine home runs) over the last four games.
Mike Clevinger owns a 1.57 ERA (4 ER/23.0 IP) in four starts since being reinstated from the injured list on 7/29.
Tim Anderson, who will complete his five-game suspension tonight, is a career .388/.399/.619 (52-134) hitter with 24 runs scored in 33 games against Seattle.
Elvis Andrus is hitting .383/.393/.600 (23-60) with seven doubles, two home runs, 14 RBI and eight multihit eff orts in his last 15 games.
Eloy Jiménez is batting .321/.367/.589 (18-56) with four home runs and nine RBI in 15 career games against the Mariners.
SEBY ON REHAB
C Seby Zavala will begin a rehab assignment tonight with Class AAA Charlotte … Zavala has been on the 10-day injured list since 8/6 (retro to 8/3) with a strained left oblique.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
The Mariners scored five runs in the first inning and went on to record a 14-2 victory over the White Sox, their largest winning margin in the 466-game history of the series.
Touki Toussaint suffered the loss, allowing seven runs on seven hits (two home runs) and four walks over 4.0 IP … three relievers combined to give up seven runs over the final 5.0 IP.
1-2 hitters Elvis Andrus and Andrew Benintendi collected two hits apiece, and Eloy Jiménez hit a RBI double after being reinstated from the Paternity List prior to the game.
The Sox gave up 10-plus runs for the third time in the last four games, matching their total from the previous 63 games.
Jackson spent two of his 12 MLB seasons with the White Sox (1994, ’99) before transitioning into the Sox television booth in 2000, where he paired with Hall of Famer Ken “Hawk” Harrelson for nine seasons.
Jackson moved to the White Sox radio booth in 2009, where he worked alongside Ed Farmer for 12 seasons before spending the last three with Len Kasper.
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 fi rst 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, 33), SLG (2nd, .559) and XBH (2nd, 64);
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 33 HR are the most in Sox history by a CF and the most by an OF since Jermaine Dye (34) in 2008 … 24 of his 33 HR have been solo shots, tied for the third-highest total in Sox history behind Albert Belle (26 in 1998) and Frank Thomas (25 in 1994);
Is on pace for 43 HR, which would tie Thomas (2000) for the third-highest total in Sox history behind Belle (49 in 1998) and Dye (44 in 2006).
Has already set career highs in every offensive category … his 119 games played are 21 more than his previous career best.
WHITE SOX VS. SEATTLE MARINERS
The White Sox are 1-3 against the Seattle in 2023 … the Sox are hitting .215/.247/.340 (31-144) with a 6.00 ERA (24 ER/36.0 IP) and have been outscored, 25-9.
The Mariners won two of three games from 6/16-18 at T-Mobile Park … the first two games were decided by one run, while the series finale was a one-run game until the eighth inning.
In Chicago’s 4-3 win on 6/17, Zach Remillard became the first player in the modern era (1901-) to record both a game-tying hit and a go-ahead hit in the ninth inning or later in his MLB debut
The Sox went 4-2 against the Mariners in 2022 for their first season series victory since 2016.
FAMILIAR FACE
White Sox manager Pedro Grifol spent 13 seasons in the Seattle organization from 2000-12 … Grifol served as manager at Class A High Desert in 2012, guiding the Mavericks to a 83- 57 regular-season record and a berth in the California League playoff s while earning CL Manager of the Year honors.0
Grifol also worked as an area scout for south Florida and Puerto Rico (2000-05), manager for Advanced Rookie Everett (2003-05), Coordinator of Instruction (2006-08) and Director of Minor League Operations (2008-11).
STARTING PITCHER – #52 MIKE CLEVINGER RHP
CLEVINGER AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 17th start of the season, eighth at home and first against the Mariners.
Has gone 3-2 with a 2.15 ERA (12 ER/50.1 IP), .204 (37-181) opponents average, 16 walks and 38 strikeouts over his last nine starts (four quality).
Has limited opponents to three earned runs or less in nine straight starts, his longest streak since 7/22-9/28/22 (13 games).
Agreed to terms with Chicago on a one-year, $12-million deal in December (includes a mutual option for 2024).
Has appeared in just 47 games (46 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) from 2020-22.
LAST START
Did not factor in the decision on 8/16 at Chicago-NL after pitching 7.0 scoreless IP, allowing three hits with two walks, a hit batter and seven strikeouts.
Marked his second straight quality start and fifth of the season … has not allowed a home run in four of his last five starts.
Exited the game in the eighth inning with the White Sox leading, 3-0 … The White Sox lost, 4-3, on a Christopher Morel game-ending three-run home run.
Owned a 61.5 first-strike percentage and 9.8 swinging-strike percentage (11 swing and misses) vs. 26 batters … threw 102 pitches (68 strikes) with the following pitch breakdown: 51 four-seam fastballs (94.9 mph avg; 97.6 mph max), 30 sliders (78.6 avg; 80.3 max), 13 changeups (85.8 avg; 88.5 max) and three sinkers (93.5 avg; 94.7 max).
OF LATE
Is 3-2 with a 2.15 ERA (12 ER/50.1 IP), .204 (37-181) opponents average, 16 walks and 38 strikeouts over his last nine starts (four quality).
Owns a 1.30 ERA (4 ER/27.2 IP) across his last five starts with three scoreless efforts.
Is 2-2 with a 1.64 ERA (7 ER/38.1 IP) in his last seven starts, his lowest ERA over a seven-game span since 8/24-9/24/19 (1.37) … his 1.64 ERA since 6/1 ranks third in the American League and fifth in MLB.
Allowed three runs from 6/2-7/29 (20.1 IP), the fewest across a four-start span since 8/18-9/3/19 when he allowed three runs across 25.2 IP with Cleveland.
START STRONG
Is limiting opponents to a .196 (22-112) average across the first two innings this season, compared to a .254 (53- 209) mark from the third-seventh inning.
Is holding opponents to a .180 (23-128) average with 35 strikeouts the first time through the lineup, compared to a .310 (39-126) the second time through.
Owns a 2.25 ERA (12 ER/48.0 IP) from the first-third innings this year, compared to a 4.54 ERA (19 ER/37.2 IP) from the fourth-seventh.
HOME SWEET HOME
Is 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA (8 ER/36.0 IP), .217 (28-129) opponents average, 15 walks and 34 strikeouts at home this year.
Is 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA (1 ER/16.0 IP) in his last three starts at Guaranteed Rate Field.
His 2.00 home ERA ranks first in the American League and fourth in MLB (minimum 35.0 IP).
BEND DON’T BREAK
Is limiting opponents to a .203 (27-133) average with runners on base, .139 (11-79) average with RISP and .057 (2-35) average with RISP/two outs this season.
His opponents average with RISP/two outs is the lowest in MLB (min. 40 PA), his opponents average with RISP is the lowest (min. 80 PA) and his opponents average with runners on is sixth-lowest (min. 150 PA).
VS. SEATTLE MARINERS || A.L. WEST
Will make his fourth career start against the Mariners and first this season.
Is 0-2 with a 7.41 ERA (14 ER/17.0 IP), .309 (21-68) opponents average, five walks and 12 strikeouts lifetime.
Last faced Seattle on 9/14/22 at T-Mobile Park with San Diego … suffered the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits (career-high three home runs) with two walks, two hit batters and two strikeouts in 5.0 IP.
Is 7-9 with a 4.08 ERA (56 ER/123.2 IP), .239 (108- 452) opponents average, 49 walks and 125 strikeouts in 25 career appearances (22 starts/11 quality) against the
American League West.
