CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have won three of the last four games, five of seven, six of nine and 12 of 21 as they continue a seven-game trip tonight at Cleveland.
RHP Dylan Cease, who is on a three-game losing streak and is winless in his last seven starts overall, is scheduled to start.
The White Sox on Sunday completed a 6-3 homestand and three-game sweep of Kansas City with a 5-2 win ā¦ the Sox went 2-1 vs. Cleveland and 1-2 vs. Houston to open the homestand.
Following tomorrow’s series finale at Progressive Field, the Sox will conclude the trip with four games from 5/25-28 at Detroit.
Chicago is in fourth place in the American League Central but just 6.5 games behind first-place Minnesota.
The Sox went 3-4 on their last trip from 5/5-11 at Cincinnati (2-1) and Kansas City (1-3).
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox are 12-9 over their last 21 games since 4/30 following a 7-21 start to the season.
Chicago starters own a 2.57 ERA (18 ER/63.0 IP), .200 (45-225) opp. average and 53 strikeouts in the last 11 games (8 QS).
White Sox relievers own a 1.09 ERA (3 ER/24.2 IP), .125 (10-80) opp. average and .383 OPS in the last eight games ā¦ seven of the games have been scoreless and three have been hitless.
Dylan Cease is 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA (4 ER/24.0 IP), 19 strikeouts and one homer allowed in his last four starts vs. Cleveland.
Luis Robert Jr. has hit safely in 17 of 20 games in May, going 25-71 (.352) with seven doubles, eight home runs, 16 RBI, six walks, seven multi-hit eff orts and a 1.214 OPS.
Joe Kelly has retired 31 of the last 32 batters he has faced, including 16 by strikeout ā¦ he owns a 9.2 scoreless IP streak.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
Chicago was limited to just three hits in its 3-0 loss at Cleveland ā¦ it was shut out for the fourth time this season (all on the road).
Gabriel Arias scored on a Jesse Scholtens wild pitch in the second inning, and Mike Zunino extended Cleveland’s lead with a two-run home run off Gregory Santos in the seventh.
Jimmy Lambert started the game and worked 1.0 scoreless IP and was relieved by Scholtens who suff ered the loss despite allowing just one run on two hits over a career-high 5.0 IP.
Scholtens retired 11 of the fi nal 12 batters he faced.
Luis Robert Jr., Andrew Vaughn and Andrew Benintendi recorded the White Sox only hits ā¦ the Sox went 0-4 with RISP.
CEASE AND DESTROY
Dylan Cease has gone 12-9 with a 2.42 ERA (51 ER/190.0 IP), .194 opponents average and 213 strikeouts (10.09 per 9.0 IP) over his last 33 starts dating back to 5/29/22.
Since the start of the 2022 season, Cease has allowed one or zero earned runs 27 times, the most in MLB (Julio UrĆas is second with 24) ā¦ he set a MLB record with 14 straight starts allowing one earned run or less from 5/29-8/11/22 (0.66 ERA; 6 ER/82.0 IP)
THE TIMES ARE CHANGIN’
Chicago is 12-9 (.571) since 4/30, tied for the eighth-best winning pct. in the American League during that span ā¦ its 3.78 ERA since 4/30 is the sixth-best in the AL and eighth-best in MLB. ļ¬ļ During the 20-game stretch, the White Sox have won their first four series of the season, and recorded their first sweep (5/19-21 vs. Kansas City) and winning homestand (5/12-21).
A breakdown of the White Sox over their last 21 games compared to their 7-21 start to the season:
W-L AVG R R/G HR OBP SLG OPS ERA IP QS ER HR SO
12-9 .260 97 4.6 25 .316 .419 .735 3.78 188.1 11 79 26 180
7-21 .227 106 3.8 26 .288 .367 .655 5.88 243.1 8 159 44 272
ROTATION SENSATION
White Sox starters own a 2.57 ERA (18 ER/63.0 IP), .200 (45-225) opp. average and 53 strikeouts over the last 11 games since 5/11 ā¦ they rank third in ERA, opponents average and WHIP (1.02) in MLB during that span.
Starters have allowed three runs or less 10 times, two or less eight times and one or less five times.
A breakdown of the Sox rotation since 5/11:
W-L ERA WHIP QS IP H R ER HR BB SO SO/9.0 AVG OPS
5-3 2.57 1.02 8 63.0 45 20 18 5 19 53 7.6 .200 .585
POSTING PUNCHOUTS
Chicago starters rank second in MLB with 275 strikeouts this season, trailing Minnesota (304) ā¦ White Sox pitchers rank fourth in MLB with 474 strikeouts (the Twins lead with 474).
Sox relievers rank fifth in the AL with 177 strikeouts.
WHITE SOX VS. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
The season series is even at 2-2 ā¦ there are four games remaining at Guaranteed Rate Field and fi ve at Progressive Field.
The White Sox are hitting .283/.317/.471 with six homers, own a 2.31 ERA (9 ER/25.0 IP) and a 16-11 edge in runs scored.
The Sox are 4-7 and have been outscored by a 42-31 margin in the last 11 games at Progressive Field since 4/20/22 ā¦ seven of the games have been decided by three runs or less.
Chicago is 19-23 since the start of 2021, including a 9-11 mark at Progressive Field (14 games decided by three runs or less).
CENTRAL DIVISION DYNAMICS
Chicago is 9-8 vs. the American League Central, including a 2-6 mark on the road ā¦ it currently is in a stretch of 13 straight games vs. the division (5-2 record).
Following this week’s trip, the Sox will play just three games vs. the AL Central (6/2-4 vs. Detroit) through the All-Star break.
The White Sox went 37-39 vs. the AL Central in 2022 (18-19 at home; 19-20 on the road) after going 69-47 from 2020-21.
PROVIDING RELIEF
The White Sox bullpen owns a 2.69 ERA (19 ER/63.2 IP) and .198 (46-232) opponents average with 58 strikeouts and just five home runs allowed over 20 games in May.
Sox relievers rank among the MLB May leaders in opp. average (2nd), WHIP (2nd), opp. OPS (2nd, .595) and ERA (3rd).
By comparison, relievers recorded a 6.68 ERA, .290 average, .885 OPS and a 1.76 WHIP in the fi rst 29 games from 3/30-4/30.
REST WHEN YOU CAN
The Sox currently are in a stretch of 16 straight games without a day off and are 11-9 during the current stretch of 29 games in 30 days from 5/2-31 (only off days in May are 5/1 and 5/15).
The 29-game stretch includes 15 games at home, 14 on the road and 20 vs. the American League Central ā¦ the White Sox play six of seven series from 5/5-28 vs. teams below .500.
LONGBALL LOGISTICS
The White Sox (Jake Burger and Luis Robert Jr.) are one of seven MLB teams with multiple players to hit 10-plus home runs this season, joining Atlanta (four), the Angels (three),Tampa Bay (three), the Dodgers (two), Yankees (two) and Texas (two).
The White Sox have homered in 15 of its last 21 games since 4/30 (25 total homers), and hit 28 in its last 24 games since 4/27.
The Sox have recorded nine multi-homer efforts and been held without a home run just seven times over the last 24 contests.
Chicago is 15-17 when homering, 7-7 when hitting multiple homers and 4-13 when going homerless this season.
LONGBALL LOGISTICS, PART II
Luis Robert Jr. (T2nd, 13) and Jake Burger (T14th, 10) rank among the American League home run leaders this season.
Robert Jr. is tied for fourth in MLB with nine 400-plus foot homers in 2023, trailing Pete Alonso (11), Ronald AcuƱa Jr. and Jorge Soler (10 each) ā¦ is averaging 407 ft. and 107.2 mph on his 12 homers, including max values of 430 ft. on 5/9 at K.C., and 113.6 mph on 5/14 vs. Houston.
Robert Jr. has recorded 400-plus foot distances on 34 of his 49 career home runs ā¦ he leads the Sox since the start of 2020 with homer averages of 411 feet and 107.6 mph exit velocity (min. 10 home runs).
Burger leads MLB with 9.60 at bats per home run this season (minimum 100 plate appearances) ā¦ he is averaging 405 feet on his 19 career home runs, and 13 have traveled an estimated 400-plus feet.
HOORAY FOR MAY
Luis Robert Jr. is hitting .352/.425/.789 (25-71) with seven doubles, eight homers (averaging 427 ft. and 108.6 mph EV), 16 RBI, 20 runs scored, six walks and a 1.214 OPS in May (20 G).
He ranks among AL May leaders in runs scored (1st), total bases (1st, 56), extra-base hits (1st, 15), home runs (T1st), slugging percentage (2nd), OPS (2nd), hits (T4th), doubles (T6th), RBI (T6th), average (7th) and on-base percentage (T8th).
The last White Sox to win American League Player of the Month honors was 1B JosĆ© Abreu in August 2021 ā¦ Abreu also is the last Sox to hit 10-plus home runs in a month (11 in August 2020).
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS
Chicago is hitting .359/.425/.543 in the last 14 games vs. LHP.
The White Sox are batting .273/.339/.442 vs. left-handed pitching since the start of the 2019 season ā¦ during that span, the Sox lead MLB in average, rank second in on-base percentage, fifth in OPS (.781) and sixth in slugging percentage.
Tim Anderson (.349) and Hanser Alberto (.345) rank 1-2 in MLB in average vs. left-handers since the start of 2019.
Luis Robert Jr. is 11-28 (.393) with three homers and seven RBI vs. LHP in 2023 and hitting .355/.417/.617/1.033 lifetime.
STARTER – #84 DYLAN CEASE RHP
CEASE AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 11th start of the season, fifth on the road and second vs. the Cleveland Guardians.
Has allowed one run or less while tossing 5.0-plus IP in 24 starts since 2022 ā¦ the 24 starts are the most in baseball ahead of the Dodgersā Julio UrĆas (23) and the Angelsā Shohei Ohtani (21).
Is 0-3 with a 6.19 ERA (25 ER/36.1 IP) and .297 (44-148) opponents average in his last seven starts, but owns a 2.19 ERA (3 ER/12.1 IP) over his last two.
The White Sox are 5-5 in his starts this season ā¦ has recorded four quality starts.
Needs two wins for 40 in his career.
According to STATS, he is the fastest White Sox pitcher to reach 600 career strikeouts (495.1 IP).
Ranks fifth in MLB since 2021 in SO/9.0 IP (11.41) and strikeouts (510), is tied for sixth in wins (29) and ranks 10th in opponents average (.211).
Established career bests last season in ERA (2.20), strikeouts (227), wins (14), IP (184.0), WHIP (1.11) and opponents average (.190).
Was the 2022 AL Cy Young Award runner up and has been named American League Pitcher of the month twice in his career (June and July 2022).
LAST START
Suffered third straight loss on 5/18 vs. Cleveland, allowing three runs on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts over a season-high tying 6.1 IP ā¦ held the Guardians scoreless over the first four innings ā¦ allowed a solo home run to Gabriel Arias in the fifth.
Departed the game in the seventh with the White Sox trailing, 2-1, one out and runners on first and third ā¦ threw 91 pitches (59 strikes) ā¦ the Sox would go on to lose, 3-1.
Owned a 64.0 first-strike percentage and 7.7 swinging-strike percentage (seven swing and misses) vs. 25 batters ā¦ threw 39 sliders (84.5 mph avg; 87.0 mph max), 37 four-seam fastballs (94.6 avg; 96.7 max), 12 knuckle curveballs (79.0 avg; 81.0 max) and three changeups (77.3 avg; 79.2 max).
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Is 8-4 with a 2.53 ERA (23 ER/81.2 IP) in his last 15 road starts, 11-5 with a 2.43 ERA (29 ER/107.1 IP) over his last 20 and 13-6 with a 2.66 ERA (40 ER/135.1 IP) in his last 25.
Ranks among MLB road leaders since 7/11/21 in ERA strikeouts (5th, 177), (6th, 2.66), wins (T6th, 13) and opponents average (13th, .207).
DĆJĆ VU
Will face Cleveland in back-to-back starts ā¦ marks the seventh time he has faced the same opponent in consecutive starts in the same season in his career and first since facing Tampa Bay on 4/22 and 4/27.
Is 4-2 with a 5.40 ERA (19 ER/31.2 IP) and 33 strikeouts in five starts when facing the same opponent for the second time.
UNDER PRESSURE
Opponents are hitting .244 (10-41) with RISP, .174 (4-23) with RISP/two outs and .143 (1-7) with the bases loaded this season.
Owns a career .211 (90-427) opponents average with RISP, the fifth-lowest mark in the majors since 2019.
THE 2023 OPENER
Was the 70th pitcher and 41st right-hander to start on Opening Day for the White Sox.
Became the first White Sox to start OD following a Top 2 Cy Young finish since Jack McDowell in 1994 ā¦ McDowell won the American League Cy Young in 1993.
Tied a franchise OD record with 10 strikeouts (also McDowell in 1991).
Joined Walter Johnson (1916), Mike Mussina (1998) and Jared Weaver (2012) as the only pitchers in MLB history to record 10-plus strikeouts and no walks on OD.
VS. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS || A.L. CENTRAL
Is scheduled to make his 11th career start against Cleveland and seventh at Progressive Field.
Has gone 3-2 with a 2.08 ERA (8 ER/34.2 IP), .248 (33-133) opponents average and 31 strikeouts over his last six starts against the Guardians ā¦ three of those starts were scoreless efforts.
Owns a 2-1 record, 2.20 ERA (4 ER/16.1 IP), .262 (17- 65) opponents average and 21 strikeouts in his last three starts at Progressive Field ā¦ tossed 5.2 scoreless IP in his last start in Cleveland on 7/12/22, earning the win.
Is 1-2 with a 6.33 ERA (15 ER/21.1 IP), .256 (22-86) opponents average in four starts vs. the American League Central this season, but has gone 8-5 with a 2.25 ERA (26 ER/104.0 IP), .211 (81-384) opponents average and 115 strikeouts over his last 18 starts vs. the division.
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS NOTES:
No release available.
