CHICAGO CUBS NOTES:
Cubs vs. White Sox
The Cubs and the crosstown rival White Sox play four times this season with two two-game series … following the current two-game set at Guaranteed Rate Field, the clubs will meet Aug. 15-16 at Wrigley Field … in 2022, the White Sox took three of four games from the Cubs, sweeping the two-game set at Wrigley Field and splitting at Guaranteed Rate Field.
SO WE MEET AGAIN: The Chicago Cubs today embark on a six-game road trip with the first of two games against the Chicago White Sox in the Crosstown Classic … the Cubs on Sunday finished a 10-game homestand 6-4 following a 7-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, powered by a five-run third inning … Cody Bellinger homered and recorded three RBI, Yan Gomes hit a two-run double and Dansby Swanson and Trey Mancini both drove in a run in support of Jameson Taillon (1 ER/5.2 IP), who picked up his fourth win of the season.
Following yesterday’s off-day, today begins a string of 16-straight gamedays for the Cubs through August 9 … these two games against the White Sox conclude 13-straight days in Chicago following the All-Star Break.
The Cubs tonight begin a six-game road trip at the White Sox (two games starting today) and at the Cardinals (four games starting Thursday).
The Cubs enter play today sitting 5.0 games back of the final wild card spot and 7.0 games behind division-leading Milwaukee.
Chicago is 10-7 in its last 17 games and 11-13 in its last 24 contests since June 25 following a stretch in which it went 11-2 in 13 games from June 9-24.
The Cubs are the only N.L. Central Division club with a positive run differential (+41) … Pittsburgh is at -70, St. Louis -20, Milwaukee -5 and Cincinnati -4.
AMONG THE LEADERS PART ONE: Since June 9, Chicago’s 22-15 record (.595) is the fourth-best in the N.L. and tied for fifth-best in the majors, trailing Atlanta (26-10/.722), Cincinnati (26-13/.667), Baltimore (24-14/.632) and Philadelphia (23-15/.605).
During that span, the Cubs have scored 215 runs, second-most in the major leagues, trailing Atlanta (227), while the club’s .262 batting average (333-for1,269) is the fourth-highest in the N.L. and seventh in the MLB.
AMONG THE LEADERS PART TWO: Entering play today, Justin Steele (2.95) and Marcus Stroman (3.09) own second and third-lowest ERA in the N.L. respectively … no N.L. club since the 2017 Washington Nationals (Max Scherzer – 2nd/2.51, Stephen Strasburg – 3rd/2.52) have had two of the three lowest ERAs in the N.L. on the same time the entire season.
NOTES ABOUT THE CROSSTOWN CLASSIC: The Cubs are 65-73 all-time in Crosstown Classic matchups, with the White Sox outscoring the Cubs 631-629 … since winning three of the final four games of the 2020 season-series, the Cubs have dropped eight of the last 10 games against the White Sox.
All-time in Crosstown Classic games, the Cubs have scored 629 runs (4.6 runs per game) and batted .249 (1,161-for-4,662) with 173 home runs, while Cubs pitchers have posted a 4.36 ERA (593 ER/1,223.2 IP).
Tonight’s starting pitcher, Kyle Hendricks, will make his 12th career start against the White Sox, the second-most Crosstown Classic starts by a Cubs pitcher all-time, trailing Carlos Zambrano (13) … Hendricks is 1-6 with a 4.83 ERA (32 ER/59.2 IP) lifetime against the White Sox.
BELLI BOMBS AWAY: Cody Bellinger in the month of July is batting .452 (33-for-73) with four doubles, seven home runs, 22 RBI, 18 runs scored and a 1.270 OPS … he leads the league in average, slugging percentage, hits and OPS in July, ranks second in OBP, is tied for second in home runs, RBI and is tied for third in runs scored (17).
In his last three games, has recorded nine RBI, tying his career-high for most RBI in a three-game span (last, May 5-8, 2017).
In 29 games since being reinstated from the injured list on June 15 (left knee contusion) has batted .381 (43-for-113) with six doubles, seven home runs, 24 RBI and a 1.031 OPS, including a career-high 13-game hitting streak from June 24-July 7 … he has a 6.5% walk rate and 13.7% strikeout rate in this span.
START AT THE TOP: In 10 games since the All-Star break, the Cubs 1-4 hitters are batting .315 (52-for-165) with 19 extra-base hits (seven home runs), 36 RBI, a .378 OBP, a .521 slugging percentage … in the 20 games prior to the break from June 17-July 9, Chicago’s first four hitters in the order were hitting just .197 (64-for-325) with a .262 OBP, a .342 slugging percentage and 2.50 runs scored per game.
Since July 14, the Cubs top four hitters’ average stands as the best mark in the N.L. and third-best in the majors in that span, while they have the most RBI (36).
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THE TURNING TIDES: Chicago from July 1-17 went 5-8 in 13 games, but have gone 5-1 in its last six games since July 18 … Chicago starting pitchers from July 1-17 posted a 5.65 ERA (45 ER/71.2 IP), allowing three runs or more in 10 of the 13 games, but have pitched to a 3.68 ERA (12 ER/29.1 IP) in the last six games since July 18, allowing three runs or fewer in five of the six contests … here’s a look at the breakdown of July: July AVG OBP SLG R/G BB SO ERA IP ER BB SO July 1-17 .236 .311 .369 4.9 43 129 5.46 117.0 71 40 109 July 18-23 .327 .397 .514 7.6 22 45 3.67 54.0 22 23 56
THE MASTRO OF HIS CRAFT: Miles Mastrobuoni Friday hit his first career home run … since being recalled from Triple-A July 8, he is batting .391 (9-for-23) with one double, one home run, eight runs scored, a .440 OBP and two stolen bases … in 29 games to start the season over two stints with the Cubs, he was batting .145 (9-for-62).
He has four of his five career multi-hit games since July 8 (also Sept. 23, 2022).
THAT’S A LOADED STATEMENT: In the team’s 34 games since June 11, the Cubs are batting .469 (15-for-32) with two home runs, four sacrifice flies, three walks, 45 RBI and a .475 OBP with the bases loaded … in the team’s previous 37 games from May 1-June 10, the Cubs were hitting .125 (3-for-24) with the sacks packed.
The Cubs’ 45 runs scored and 15 hits with the bases loaded since June 11 paces the majors, while the .475 OBP is third.
Nico Hoerner is tied for the league lead in bases-loaded RBI (9) in that span.
Starting Pitcher – #28 RHP Kyle Hendricks (3-4, 3.38)
Last Time Out
Kyle received a no-decision July 19 vs. Washington (1 ER/6.0 IP) … has posted a 3.14 ERA (17 ER/48.2 IP) in eight starts since June 10 … made his fourth start of at least 6.0 innings, allowing one earned run or fewer this season … has zero walks in his last three starts (16.1 IP), tied for the longest streak of his career (also, July 29-Aug. 10, 2018) … has walked just one batter in his last five starts (29.1 IP), his fewest walks allowed in a five-game span in his career.
Date Opp. Result IP H R ER BB SO PC-S Left 7/19 WSH ND, 8-3 6.0 5 1 1 0 5 97-60 2-1
2023 Splits and Season Notes
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
Home 1-3 4.22 6 6 32.0 36 17 15 5 23
Road 2-1 2.53 5 5 32.0 22 13 9 5 19
AVG vs. LHB: .235 (32-for-136) / AVG vs. RHB: .239 (26-for-109)
Kyle will make his 12th start of the 2023 campaign, his sixth on the road … is 3-2 with a 3.14 ERA (17 ER/48.2 IP) in his last eight starts dating to June 10 … will make his 12th career start vs. the White Sox tonight, the second-most all-time by a Cubs starter in the Crosstown Classic (Carlos Zambrano, 13) … has held opponents to a .153 average (19-for-124) with 29 strikeouts against his changeup.
Started July 9 at New York (A.L.) and July 14 vs. Boston, becoming the first Cubs pitcher since Carlos Zambrano (July 8-13, 2007) to start back-to-back team
games.
Posted a 1.95 ERA (7 ER/32.1 IP) in five starts from June 10-July 4, allowing three runs or fewer in all five outings … his 1.95 ERA was the fourth-lowest in the majors during that span (min. 5 GS).
June 10 in San Francisco, carried a no-hit bid into the eighth … the 7.2 inning no-hit bid was the second-longest of his career (Sept. 12, 2016 at St. Louis, 8.0 IP).
Became the 12th pitcher in Cubs history to pitch for the Cubs in at least 10 season (last Kerry Wood).
Made his season debut May 25 vs. Mets (3 ER/4.1 IP), his first major league start since July 5, 2022.
Made five rehab starts with Triple-A Iowa, going 2-1 with a 5.75 ERA (13 ER/20.1 IP) … allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last three rehab starts, posting a 1.69 ERA (3 ER/16.0 IP) during those outings.
Began the season on the 15-day injured list, as he rehabbed from a capsular tear in his right shoulder that he suffered in July 2022.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost three straight games, five of the last six, 11 of 15 and 25 of 38 as they begin a six-game homestand tonight with the opener vs. the Chicago Cubs.
RHP Michael Kopech, who has allowed two earned runs or less in seven of his last 10 starts, is scheduled to start for the Sox.
The White Sox went 3-6 on their last trip from 7/14-23 at Atlanta, New York-NL and Minnesota … they were swept by the Twins last weekend, lost two of three to the Mets and took two of three from the MLB-best Braves to open the trip.
The White Sox are in fourth place in the American League Central, 12.5 games behind the division-leading Twins (54-48).
Following this two-game set vs. the Cubs, the White Sox will conclude the homestand with four games vs. Cleveland.
Chicago went 1-5 on their last homestand from 7/4-9 vs. Toronto (0-3) and St. Louis (1-2) prior to the All-Star break.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox are a season-high 12.5 games out of first place and 19 games under .500 for the first time since 9/25/19 (69-88).
The Sox are 8-2 and own a 64-43 edge in runs scored vs. the Cubs since the start of the 2021 season … they have not lost a series vs. the Cubs since 9/25-27/20 at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Michael Kopech owns a 3.06 ERA (17 ER/50.0 IP), .186 (33- 177) average and 61 strikeouts (10.98 per 9.0 IP) over his last 10 starts (allowed one earned run or less five times).
Eloy Jiménez is slashing .340/.426/.830 (16-47) with five doubles, six home runs, 15 RBI, seven walks and a 1.256 OPS in 13 career games vs. the Cubs.
Andrew Benintendi is hitting .333/.383/.436 (39-117) with nine doubles, a homer, 12 RBI, 10 walks, 16 runs and 12 multi-hit efforts in 28 games since moving to the leadoff spot on 6/17… he ranks fifth in the American League in average since 6/17.
Tim Anderson is 14-37 (.378) with two doubles, four RBI, three walks, a HBP and four runs scored in nine second-half games … he has raised his average from .223 to .241 since the break.
ROSTER MOVES
The White Sox today returned 3B Yoán Moncada from his injury rehabilitation assignment with Class AAA Charlotte and reinstated him from the 10-day injured list, optioned C Carlos Pérez to Charlotte and outrighted RHP Bryan Shaw to Charlotte.
Moncada, who appeared in eight rehab games with the Knights, has been on the IL since 6/14 with lower back inflammation.
SUNDAY’S RECAP
Ryan Jeff ers hit a game-ending, RBI single off Jesse Scholtens in the 12th inning to cap Minnesota’s 5-4, comeback win.
The White Sox led 3-0 entering the bottom of the ninth but Kendall Graveman surrendered three runs on three hits, including a game-tying single to Alex Kirilloff , to force extra innings.
The Sox and Twins exchanged single runs in the 10th … the White Sox stranded a runner and went hitless in the 11th and 12th to set up Jeffers heroics.
Lucas Giolito received a ND despite allowing just six hits with three walks and nine strikeouts in 5.0 scoreless IP.
Eloy Jiménez went 2-5 with a homer and RBI, Zach Remillard hit his fi rst career homer and Tim Anderson was 2-5 with a RBI … the Sox went 2-14 with RISP and struck out 13 times.
SENIOR CIRCUIT SURGE
Michael Kopech is 6-3 with a 2.82 ERA (19 ER/60.2 IP), .212 (47-222) opponents average and 58 strikeouts over 19 career appearances (10 starts) vs. the National League.
Kopech has allowed two runs or less in seven starts, one or less in six and zero runs four times … he has worked 6.2 scoreless IP with eight strikeouts in four career games vs. the Cubs.
CLOSE CALLS
Sixty-five of Chicago’s 101 games (64.4 pct.) this season have been decided by three runs or less (27-38).
The White Sox are 15-18 in one-run games and 5-8 in two-run games in 2023 … 39 of the last 43 games since 6/2 at Detroit have been decided by four runs or less (16-23 record).
The Sox 15 wins in one-run games are tied for fifth-most in the American League and 12th in MLB.
CROSSTOWN DIGITAL COLLECTIBLE
All fans at today’s game can redeem a free 2023 Wintrust Crosstown Series digital collectible from Candy Digital.
Fans looking to grow their digital baseball collection can watch for a dedicated Candy email tomorrow with details to claim their NFT … more information is available at candy.com/mlb.
WHITE SOX VS. CHICAGO CUBS
The White Sox and Cubs meet four times this season: 7/25-26 at Guaranteed Rate Field and 8/15-16 at Wrigley Field.
The Sox won three of four last season … their win on 5/29/22 at home clinched a victory in the annual Wintrust Crosstown Cup.
The White Sox are 8-2 since the start of 2021 … they have scored 64 runs and hit 19 homers during the 10-game span.
The Sox are 73-65 all-time vs. the Cubs, going 36-33 at Guaranteed Rate Field and 37-32 at Wrigley Field … the Sox own a 631-629 edge in runs scored in the all-time series.
INTERLEAGUE INSIGHT
Chicago is 11-16 vs. the National League this season (2-7 series mark), going 4-8 at Guaranteed Rate Field and 7-8 on the road … both series wins have come on the road (CIN and ATL).
The White Sox have lost nine of the last 15 and 13 of the last 22 interleague games … 13 of the last 15 games have been decided by four runs or less (fi ve of the last eight by one run).
Luis Robert Jr. is hitting .353/.391/.745 (36-102) with 10 home runs, 28 RBI and a 1.136 OPS in 26 games vs. the N.L.
STARTING PITCHER – #34 MICHAEL KOPECH RHP
KOPECH AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 19th start of the season, 10th at home and sixth during interleague play.
Owns a 3-4 record, 3.06 ERA (17 ER/50.0 IP), 1.24 WHIP, .186 (33-177) opponents average and 61 strikeouts in his last 10 starts, including two 10-strikeout performances during that span.
Has recorded 5.0-plus IP in 11 of his 18 starts this season and 6.0-plus IP six times, allowing just one run in five of those 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.
Is receiving 4.68 runs of support this season (42 RS/86.2 IP) … the Sox have scored six-plus runs in four of his starts and two runs or less in 13.
Has gone 11-18 with 3.83 ERA (102 ER/240.0 IP), .210 (183-872) opponents average and 245 strikeouts in 51 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 two seasons (2021-22).
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
Recorded the win on 7/20 at the Mets, snapping a seven-game winless streak … worked 5.2 IP, allowing one run on two hits with four walks and five strikeouts …
threw 89 pitches (49 strikes).
Surrendered a solo homer to Omar Narváez in the fifth after holding the Mets scoreless over the first four innings.
Departed the game in the sixth with two outs, a runner on first and the White Sox leading, 6-1.
Owned a 54.5 first-strike percentage and 6.7 swinging-strike percentage (seven swing and misses) vs. 22 batters … threw 60 four-seam fastballs (95.1 mph avg;
97.1 mph max), 21 sliders (85.9 avg; 88.2 max), eight changeups (89.9 mph avg; max 91.6).
DAMAGE CONTROL
Opponents are batting .188 (15-80) with RISP, .267 (12-45) with RISP/two outs and .250 (1-4) with the bases loaded against him this season.
His .188 opponents average with RISP is the sixth-lowest mark in the major leagues in 2023.
Has limited opponents to a.186 (40-215) average with RISP, .202 (23-114) with RISP/two outs and .250 (3-12) with the bases loaded in his career.
HEATER ON AND RELIABLE
His four-seam fastball has held the opposition to a .198 (86-434) batting average, the third-lowest in Major League Baseball since 2022 (min. 2,000 fastballs thrown) … opponents own a .209 (40-191) average on his fastball this season, second-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.
Owns a 29.1 swing-and-miss percentage with his four-seam fastball, the 12th-highest percentage in the majors this season among pitchers with at least 200 fastballs thrown … his 60 strikeouts via his four-seamer are the eighth-most in baseball in 2023.
GRAB SOME BENCH
Has recorded 102 strikeouts this season and is on pace to strike out a career-high 164 … needs four strikeouts to set a new career-high mark of 106 … struck out a
career-high 105 batters in 2022.
Would rank 10th in the American League in strikeouts per 9.0 IP (9.94) in 2023.
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. CHICAGO CUBS || INTERLEAGUE
Is scheduled to make his fifth career appearance (second start) vs. the Cubs and second (first) at Guaranteed Rate Field … has not allowed a run over 6.2 career IP.
Received a no decision in his only start against the Cubs on 5/3/22 at Wrigley Field, working 4.0 scoreless IP with four hits, two walks and five strikeouts.
Has gone 6-3 with a 2.82 ERA (19 ER/60.2 IP), .212 (47-222) opponents average and 58 strikeouts over 19 career interleague appearances (10 starts).
