Friday, November 22, 2024
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MLB Preview: Chicago White Sox (54-86) at Detroit Tigers (64-76)

CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:

WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost five of the last six games, 17 of their last 24 and 29 of 42 as they continue a six-game, seven-day trip tonight with the series opener at Detroit. RHP Mike Clevinger is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are 32 games under .500 and own an “elimination number” of four in the American League Central division standings. The Sox opened the trip by losing two of three at Kansas City, including a 6-4 win on Wednesday night to avoid a sweep. Following this weekend’s series at Comerica Park, Chicago will return home for seven games vs. the Royals (9/11-13) and Minnesota (9/14-17) before taking their final trip of the season to Washington (9/18-20) and Boston (9/22-24). The White Sox went 0-3 on their last homestand vs. Detroit from 9/1-3 and 1-2 on their last trip to Baltimore from 8/28-30.

TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
Chicago is looking to win consecutive games for the first time since 8/26-27 vs. Oakland, and back-to-back on the road for the first time since 8/5-6 at Cleveland. White Sox starting pitchers own a 7.88 ERA (77 ER/88.0 IP) and .296 opponents average over the last 19 games. Chicago is looking to hit three-plus home runs in three consecutive games for the first time since 7/27-29/10 (10 homers total). Yoán Moncada has reached safely in 16 straight games, tied with Andrew Vaughn for the Sox longest on-base streak in 2023. Elvis Andrus has hit safely in 18 of his last 23 games, slashing .395/.422/.593 (34-86) with eight doubles, three homers, 17 RBI, 11 multihit eff orts and a 1.015 OPS. Andrew Vaughn is looking to become the first Sox with three straight three-hit games since Luis Robert Jr. from 7/12-2-14/22.

TIGER TAMER
Mike Clevinger is 8-3 with a 2.43 ERA (22 ER/81.1 IP), .230 (70-304) opp. average, .624 OPS, 1.17 WHIP and 85 strikeouts (9.41 per 9.0 IP) in 15 career games (14 GS/nine QS) vs. Detroit. His 2.43 ERA is the third-lowest among active pitchers vs. the Tigers (min. 80.0 IP) … teammate Dylan Cease ranks first (2.07). Clevinger has allowed two earned runs or less in 12 starts, one or less nine times and zero earned runs in six … he is 3-1 with a 1.63 ERA (7 ER/38.2 IP) and 0.91 WHIP in his last six road starts.

YOYO’S GONE STREAKING
Yoán Moncada has reached base safely in 16 consecutive games with a plate appearance since 8/19, tied with Andrew Vaughn (3/30-4/18-1) for the Sox longest on-base streak in 2023. Moncada’s on-base streak is tied for the sixth-longest active in MLB, trailing Teoscar Hernández (22), Charlie Blackmon (20), Mark Canha (18), Brandon Lowe (17) and Trea Turner (17) … it also marks the second-longest of his career (28; 8/14-9/19/21). He is hitting .386/.426/.614 (22-57) with four doubles, three homers, 11 RBI, four walks and a 1.040 OPS during the streak.

LONGBALL LOGISTICS
Chicago has hit three home runs in each of its last two games after recording four consecutive homerless contests. The last time the White Sox hit three-plus home runs in three consecutive games was 7/27-29/10 (10 homers total).

PEDRO HEADED TO THE HALL
Manager Pedro Grifol tonight will be inducted into the Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame as part of a nine-person class. Joining Grifol in the class is former FSU teammate, 13-year MLB veteran and ESPN/MLB Network Radio analyst Eduardo Perez. Grifol was a three-year letterman and starting catcher from 1989-91, and helped the Seminoles reach the College World Series in 1989 and 1991 … he was a Freshman All-America selection in 1989, an All-Metro Conference selection in 1990 and named first-team All-America by Baseball America in 1991.

WHITE SOX VS. DETROIT TIGERS
The White Sox are 4-6 vs. the Tigers this season following a three-game sweep last weekend at Guaranteed Rate Field … Chicago was outscored by a 17-4 margin in the three games. The Sox are hitting .215/.265/.303 with four homers, own a 3.91 ERA (39 ER/89.2 IP) and have been outscored 43-37. The White Sox swept a three-game set at home from 6/2-4 after losing three of four at Comerica Park from 5/25-28. The Sox are 49-27 against Detroit since 2019, including a 21-14 mark at Comerica Park … they have won four straight season series (last season series loss was in 2018; 7-12).

MIGGY’S FAREWELL TO THE SOX
Miguel Cabrera is playing his final series vs. the White Sox this weekend at Comerica Park. On Sunday in Chicago, the Sox and fellow Venezuelan Elvis Andrus presented Cabrera with a $5,000 check made payable to the Miguel Cabrera Foundation, a fully customized Detroit Tigers bench and a bottle of Remy Martin Louis XIII. He has played 231 career games against the White Sox (117-114 record), hitting .283/.358/.475 (245-866) with 40 home runs and 130 RBI … his 40 homers are his third-highest total against any team, and his 245 hits and 130 RBI are fourth-most. Cabrera made his Tigers debut against the White Sox on 4/4/08, an 8-5 loss at Comerica Park.

CENTRAL DIVISION DYNAMICS
Chicago currently is 1-5 during its 16-game stretch vs. American League Central opponents … the stretch from 9/1-17 marks the end of the club’s matchups vs. the division in 2023. The White Sox are 20-22 against the AL Central this season, including 12-7 at Guaranteed Rate Field and 8-15 on the road … they are 5-11 and have been outscored, 81-54, since 7/21. The White Sox posted a losing record (37-39) against the division in 2022 after combining to go 69-47 in 2020-21.

STARTER – #52 MIKE CLEVINGER RHP

CLEVINGER AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 20th start of the season, 10th on the road and third against the Tigers. Three of his last five starts have been quality efforts. Went 4-3 with a 2.24 ERA (14 ER/45.1 IP), .204 (41-201) opponents average, 20 walks and 50 strikeouts in 10 starts from 5/18-8/27. Limited opponents to three earned runs or less in nine straight starts from 5/11-8/22, 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 50 games (49 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
Suffered the loss on 9/2 vs. Detroit after allowing eight runs on 12 hits (one home run) with no walks and two strikeouts in 4.0 IP … marked career highs in runs and hits allowed. Exited the game in the fifth inning with the White Sox trailing, 8-0 … Chicago lost, 10-0. Owned a 69.6 first-strike percentage and 8.5 swinging-strike percentage (seven swing and misses) vs. 23 batters … threw 71 pitches (52 strikes) with the following pitch breakdown: 33 four-seam fastballs (94.3 mph avg; 95.9 mph max), 19 sliders (79.0 avg; 81.6 max) 13 changeups (85.7 avg; 88.2 max), five cutters (85.0 avg; 87.3 max) and one sinker (92.9 max).

WHAT A STRETCH!
Went 4-3 with a 2.24 ERA (14 ER/56.1 IP), .204 (41- 201) opponents average, 20 walks and 50 strikeouts in 10 starts (four quality) from 5/18-8/27. His 2.43 ERA during that stretch ranked second-best in the American League and fifth in the majors (minimum 50.0 IP). Is 3-4 with a 3.31 ERA (20 ER/54.1 IP) in 10 starts since 6/1, the 10th-lowest ERA in the American League (minimum 50.0 IP). 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 holding opponents to a .203 (31-153) average with 42 strikeouts the first time through the lineup, compared to a .307 (46-150) the second time through. Owns a 3.16 ERA (20 ER/57.0 IP) from the first-third innings this year, compared to a 4.83 ERA (24 ER/44.2 IP) from the fourth-seventh … allowed four runs in the first inning in his last start after allowing five runs in the first inning in his previous 18 starts this year.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Is 2-4 with a 4.17 ERA (23 ER/49.2 IP), .245 (47-192) opponents average, 17 walks and 37 strikeouts in nine road starts this year. Is 0-1 with a 1.62 ERA (3 ER/16.2 IP), .226 (14-62) opponents average, five walks and 14 strikeouts in his last three road starts with two scoreless efforts.

BEND DON’T BREAK
Is limiting opponents to a .233 (38-163) average with runners on base, .167 (16-96) average with RISP and .136 (6-44) average with RISP/two outs this season. His opponents average with RISP/two outs is the fourth-lowest in MLB (min. 50 PA) and his opponents average with RISP is the third-lowest (min. 100 PA).

VS. DETROIT TIGERS || A.L. CENTRAL
Will make his 16th career appearance (15th start) against the Tigers and third this season. Will be making his second consecutive start against Detroit after facing them on 9/2 in Chicago. Is 8-3 with a 2.43 ERA (22 ER/81.1 IP), .230 (70-304) opponents average, 25 walks and 85 strikeouts lifetime. Has gone 28-11 with a 2.54 ERA (95 ER/336.0 IP), .213 (264-1238) opponents average, 104 walks and 351 strikeouts in 62 career appearances (55 starts/34 quality) against the American League Central.

DETROIT TIGERS NOTES:

TIGERS SALVAGE SERIES FINALE WITH 10-3 WIN: The Tigers scored eight runs in the first four innings and cruised to a 10-3 win over the Yankees on Thursday. Matt Vierling had four hits, including a pair of doubles, scored four runs and drove in two. Spencer Torkelson blasted a pair of two-run homers, while Andy Ibáñez homered and drove in three. Eduardo Rodriguez started and picked up his 11th win of the season, giving up three runs on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Will Vest, Miguel Díaz and Trey Wingenter each threw a scoreless inning in relief to close out the victory.

MULTI-HOMER TORK: Spencer Torkelson blasted a pair of two-run homers last night, recording his fifth multi-homer game of the season, which is tied for the American League lead. With his two round-trippers last night, Torkelson now has 27 on the season, which is tied with Willie Horton for the third-most by a Tigers player in their age23 season. Only Rudy York (35 homers in 1937) and Matt Nokes (32 in 1987) have hit more homers in their age-23 season.

VIERLING HEATING UP: Matt Vierling posted his second four-hit game of the season last night against the Yankees, finishing the game 4×5 with a career-high four runs scored, two doubles and two RBI. Vierling has hit safely in his last seven games with at least one at-bat, over which he has gone 10×26 with two doubles and two RBI.

KEEP CALM AND KERRY ON: Kerry Carpenter had a pair of hits last night and has now hit safely in 28 of his last 32 games, over which he is batting .370/.427/.655 with five doubles, one triple, nine home runs and 22 RBI. Among qualified American League hitters since August 4, Carpenter ranks third in batting average and OPS (1.083), while he is fourth in on-base percentage and slugging percentage, tied for sixth in home runs and tied for 10th in RBI.

AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers tonight begin a six-game homestand, which includes three games vs. Chicago (AL) (September 8-10) and three games vs. Cincinnati (September 12-14). Detroit is 29-40 at Comerica Park this season. As a team, the Tigers are hitting .241/.308/.379 at home, while the pitching staff has a 4.83 ERA (632.0IP/339ER).

TIGERS AND WHITE SOX: The Tigers and White Sox begin their final series of the season tonight. Detroit has a 6-4 record against Chicago (AL) this season, including a 3-1 mark at Comerica Park. The Tigers are looking to win the season series against the White Sox for the first time since 2018.

AGAINST THE AL CENTRAL: The Tigers continue divisional play tonight against the White Sox. Detroit is 28-15 against American League Central teams so far this season. The Tigers are 10-2-1 in their 13 series against division opponents. Detroit has clinched its first winning record against the AL Central since 2016 (38-37).

INJURY REHAB UPDATE: Andrew Vasquez began an injury rehab assignment with Triple A Toledo last night, striking out one in a perfect inning of relief. Vasquez has been on the injured list since August 29 with left calf tightness.

TIGERS ON THE IL:

  • LHP Tyler Alexander (left lat/shoulder strain, 60-day IL on July 4, retroactive to July 3)
  • LHP Matthew Boyd (left elbow sprain, 60-day IL on June 27)
  • RHP Mason Englert (left hip tightness, 15-day IL on July 24, retroactive to July 23)
  • OF Riley Greene (right elbow inflammation, 10-day IL on September 2)
  • RHP Matt Manning (right foot fracture, 15-day IL on September 7)
  • OF Austin Meadows (anxiety, 60-day IL on April 8, retroactive to April 7)
  • RHP Casey Mize (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on February 17)
  • RHP Freddy Pacheco (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on March 27)
  • LHP Andrew Vasquez (left calf tightness, 15-day IL on August 29, retroactive to August 28)

TONIGHT’S TIGERS STARTING PITCHER

45 Reese Olson • 3-6, 4.65 ERA (79.1IP/41ER

  • Olson will make the 18th appearance and 15th start of his Major League career tonight in the series opener vs. Chicago (AL). Earned his third win of the season in his last start on Saturday at the White Sox, throwing a career-long 7.0 shutout innings with four hits allowed and one strikeout. Has made two starts against the White Sox in his rookie season, and has a 1-1 record with a 1.50 ERA (12.0IP/2ER) and seven strikeouts… in 10 appearances, including eight starts, at Comerica Park, Olson is 2-4 with a 5.21 ERA (46.2IP/27ER) and 57 strikeouts. Struck out a season-high 10 batters in 4.1 innings on August 28 vs. New York (AL)…joined Tyler Alexander (10 strikeouts in 3.2 innings on August 2, 2020 vs. Cincinnati) as the only Tigers pitchers to strike out 10 batters in 4.1 innings-or-less. • Earned his first big league win on June 24 vs. Minnesota, allowing one run on four hits with a walk and nine strikeouts in 5.1 innings… became the 11th Tigers pitcher since 1901 to strike out nine-or-more batters in one of his first five Major League games. Made his Major League debut on June 2 at Chicago (AL), allowing two runs on two hits with one walk and six strikeouts in 5.0 innings… carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning until allowing a single to Romy Gonzalez…according to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became the first Tigers pitcher to throw at least 5.0 no-hit innings in his debut since Bill Slayback pitched 7.0 hitless innings on June 26, 1972 vs. New York (AL).
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