CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have won five of their last six games, seven of nine, eight of 11 and 14 of 23 as they continue a seven-game trip tonight with the series opener at Detroit.
RHP Lucas Giolito, who has allowed two earned runs or less in four of his last fi ve starts, is scheduled to start for Chicago.
The White Sox opened the trip winning two of three at Cleveland, including a 6-0 victory in yesterday’s decisive game.
Following this four-game series at the Tigers, the White Sox will return to Guaranteed Rate Field for a six-game, seven-day homestand vs. the Angels (5/29-31) and Tigers (6/2-4).
The Sox are in fourth place in the AL Central, 3.5 games behind second-place Detroit and 5.5 behind first-place Minnesota.
The Sox went 6-3 on their last homestand from 5/12-21 vs. Houston (1-2), Cleveland (2-1) and Kansas City (3-0) and 3-4 on the last trip from 5/5-11 at Cincinnati (2-1) and the Royals (1-3).
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
Chicago is trying to move within eight games of the .500 mark and 5.0 games of first place in the division for the first time since 4/23 (7-15; -5.0 GB).
The White Sox are 14-9 over the last 23 games since 4/30 following a 7-21 start to the season … Sox pitchers own a MLB-best 2.18 ERA (28 ER/115.1 IP) in 13 games since 5/11.
Chicago starters own a 2.37 ERA (20 ER/76.0 IP), .193 (52- 269) average and 65 strikeouts in the last 13 games (10 QS).
White Sox relievers own a 0.91 ERA (3 ER/29.2 IP), .144 (14- 97) opp. average and .426 OPS in the last 10 games … nine of the games have been scoreless and three have been hitless.
The Sox are 7-1 and own a 59-20 edge in runs scored over the last eight games at Comerica Park.
Lucas Giolito owns a 2.66 ERA (15 ER/50.2 IP), 0.97 WHIP and 51 strikeouts (9.06 per 9.0 IP) over his last eight starts (six quality) … he has worked 6.0-plus IP in all eight outings.
Luis Robert Jr. has hit safely in 18 of 21 games in May, going 27-75 (.360) with seven doubles, eight home runs, 16 RBI, six walks, eight multi-hit eff orts and a 1.202 OPS.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
The White Sox opened up a one-run game with five runs in the fourth inning en route to a 6-0 win over Cleveland, clinching their third consecutive series victory.
Tim Anderson opened the scoring with a RBI single in the fourth … the Sox loaded the bases with no outs to open the fourth setting up sacrifice flies by Jake Burger and Seby Zavala and a two-run double by Romy Gonzalez.
Michael Kopech recorded his second consecutive scoreless start, allowing two hits with nine strikeouts in 7.0 scoreless IP.
Kopech, who extended his scoreless IP streak to 15.0, retired the first 12 batters faced before allowing a single to open the fifth.
Andrew Benintendi had his season-high, 10-game hitting streak snapped … Chicago was limited to four hits.
MAGIC MICHAEL
Michael Kopech is the first pitcher in franchise history to record consecutive appearances of 7.0-plus scoreless IP allowing two hits or less, one walk or less and striking out nine-plus.
The last MLB pitcher to record those numbers in back-to-back starts was Washington’s Max Scherzer on 6/14/15 at Milwaukee (one-hitter) and 6/20/15 vs. Pittsburgh (no-hitter).
Kopech is 2-0 with three hits allowed, one walk and 19 strikeouts in 15.0 scoreless IP over his last two starts.
THE TIMES ARE CHANGIN’
Chicago is 14-9 (.609) since 4/30, the best record among American League Central clubs and tied for sixth-best in the AL.
The White Sox have made up 3.5 games on first-place Minnesota in the AL Central standings since 4/30 (-9.0 GB).
The Sox 3.53 ERA since 4/30 is the fifth-best in the majors.
A breakdown of the White Sox first 51 games this season:
W-L AVG R R/G HR OBP SLG OPS ERA IP QS ER HR SO
14-9 .254 107 4.7 26 .309 .407 .717 3.53 206.1 13 81 27 197
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 2.37 ERA (20 ER/76.0 IP), .193 (52-269) opp. average and 65 strikeouts over the last 13 games since 5/11 … they rank first in WHIP (0.97) and opponents average and second in ERA in MLB during that span.
Starters have allowed three runs or less 11 times, two or less nine times and one or less six times … the rotation since 5/11:
W-L ERA WHIP QS IP H R ER HR BB SO SO/9.0 AVG OPS
7-3 2.37 0.97 10 76.0 52 22 20 6 22 65 7.7 .193 .569
WHITE SOX VS. DETROIT TIGERS
The White Sox and Tigers play 13 times in 2023: six times at Guaranteed Rate Field and seven at Comerica Park.
he Sox and Tigers are separated by 3.0 games in the division.
The White Sox went 12-7 last season, going 5-5 at home and 7-2 on the road, and outscored the Tigers by a 100-59 margin.
Chicago is 45-21 since the start of the 2019 season and 33-15 since the start of the 2020 season vs. the Tigers … it has won 14 of the last 21 contests at Comerica Park, including seven of the last eight following last year’s Opening Day loss in Detroit.
COMFORTS OF COMERICA
The White Sox have won seven of the last eight games, 14 of 20 and 20 of 31 at Comerica Park … the Sox have outscored the Tigers by a 196-125 margin in the last 31 contests.
The Sox are hitting .304/.346/.476 with 10 homers and 59 runs scored (7.4 R/G) over the last eight games at Detroit … they have recorded 10-plus hits six times and scored 10-plus three times.
Chicago has not lost a series at Detroit since 9/20-21/21 (0-2).
CENTRAL DIVISION DYNAMICS
Chicago is 11-8 vs. the American League Central, including a 4-6 mark on the road … it currently is in a stretch of 13 straight games vs. the division (7-2 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 2.49 ERA (19 ER/68.2 IP) and .201 (50-249) opponents average with 63 strikeouts and just five home runs allowed over 22 games in May.
Sox relievers rank among the MLB May leaders in ERA (2nd), opp. average (2nd), opp. OPS (2nd, .598) and WHIP (2nd, 1.08).
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.
Joe Kelly has retired 34 of the last 36 batters he has faced, including 16 by strikeout … he owns a 10.2 scoreless IP streak.
REST WHEN YOU CAN
The Sox currently are in a stretch of 16 straight games without a day off and are 13-9 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 … the White Sox play six of seven series from 5/5-28 vs. teams below .500.
LONGBALL LOGISTICS
The White Sox (Jake Burger; Luis Robert Jr.) are one of eight teams with multiple players to hit 10-plus home runs this season, joining Atlanta (four), Tampa Bay (four), the Angels (three), the Dodgers (two), Minnesota, (two), Yankees (two) and Texas (two).
The White Sox have homered in 16 of its last 23 games since 4/30 (26 total homers), and hit 29 in its last 26 games since 4/27.
The Sox have recorded nine multi-homer eff orts and been held without a home run just eight times over the last 26 contests.
Chicago is 16-17 when homering, 7-7 when hitting multiple homers and 5-13 when going homerless this season.
LONGBALL LOGISTICS, PART II
Luis Robert Jr. (13) and Jake Burger (10) lead the White Sox in home runs this season.
Robert Jr. is tied for seventh in MLB with nine 400-plus foot homers in 2023 … Pete Alonso and Jorge Soler lead the majors with 12 … 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 … 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 ranks fourth in MLB with 10.40 at bats per home run this season (minimum 100 plate apps.) … 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 .360/.429/.773 (27-75) with seven doubles, eight homers (averaging 427 ft. and 108.6 mph EV), 16 RBI, 20 runs scored, six walks and a 1.202 OPS in May (21 G).
He ranks among AL May leaders in total bases (1st, 58), extra-base hits (1st, 15), home runs (T1st), runs scored (T1st), slugging percentage (2nd), OPS (2nd), average (5th), doubles (T6th), hits (T7th), on-base percentage (8th) and RBI (T11th).
The last White Sox to win American League Player of the Month honors was 1B José Abreu in August 2021 … Abreu also is the last Sox to hit 10-plus home runs in a month (11 in August 2020).
STARTER – #27 LUCAS GIOLITO RHP
GIOLITO AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 11th start of the season, sixth on the road and first vs. the Detroit Tigers.
Has gone 3-3 with a 2.66 ERA (15 ER/50.2 IP), .205 (38-185) opponents average and 51 strikeouts over his last eight starts … has tossed 6.0-plus IP in each of the eight starts and has allowed two runs or less in six.
Ranks among American League leaders since 4/12 in strikeouts (9th, 51), opponents average (9th, .205), ERA (9th, 2.66) and WHIP (11th, 0.97).
Opponents are hitting .218 (12-55) against him with RISP and .261 (6-23) with RISP/two outs in 2023.
Is 78 strikeouts away from becoming the 12th pitcher in White Sox history with 1,000 (67 strikeouts away from 1,000 in his career).
Finished sixth in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2019, seventh in 2020 and tied for 11th in 2021.
Threw the 19th no-hitter in White Sox history on 8/25/20 vs. Pittsburgh, walking one with 13 strikeouts.
Was a finalist for a Rawlings(R) Gold Glove and Comeback Player of the Year Awards and was a 2019 AL All-Star.
Won AL Pitcher of the Month honors in May 2019 and AL Player of Week for 8/24-30/20 and 5/27-6/2/19.
LAST START
Earned his third win of the season on 5/20 vs. Kansas City, allowing one run on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts over 6.0 IP … allowed a solo home run to Salvador Perez in the first inning … held the Royals scoreless from the second-sixth.
Departed the game in the seventh with the White Sox leading, 5-1… threw 89 pitches (57 strikes).
Owned a 65.2 first-strike percentage and 14.6 swinging-strike percentage (14 swing and misses) vs. 23 batters … threw 34 four-seam fastballs (93.2 mph avg; 94.9 mph max), 31 sliders (84.8 avg; 86.8 max) and 24 changeups (80.7 avg; 82.4 max).
ROAD WARRIOR LUCAS
Is 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA (16 ER/28.0 IP), .278 (32-115) opponents average and 30 strikeouts in five starts on the road this season, allowing three runs or more in three of the starts.
Has gone 25-10 with a 3.40 ERA (123 ER/325.1 IP), .231 (281-1,218) opponents average and 387 strikeouts in 56 road starts since 2019.
Ranks among American League road leaders since 2019 in wins (3rd), strikeouts (3rd), ERA (4th), starts (5th), and opponents average (7th).
POSTING PUNCHOUTS
Has recorded 14 career starts with 10-plus strikeouts, tied with teammate Dylan Cease for fourth-most in White Sox history … needs one double-digit strikeout game to tie Juan Pizarro for third place.
Recorded consecutive 10-plus strikeout games twice in his career from 8/20-25/20 (two) and 8/16-27/19 (three).
His last double-digit strikeout game came on 5/4/22 at the Cubs (10 SO).
THE QUALITY KID
Leads the White Sox and is tied for 10th in the American League with six quality starts this season.
Has tossed 77 quality starts in his career, fifth-most in the American League since 2017.
EFFICIENCY IS KEY
Is averaging 95.4 pitches per start, 16.0 pitches per inning and 3.88 pitches per batter faced this season … all three marks are the lowest by a Sox pitcher in 2023.
BITTEN BY THE LONG BALL
Has allowed 59 home runs since the start of the 2021 season, the 10th-most in baseball … is averaging 1.33 HR/9.0 IP during that span.
Has surrendered eight home runs over his 10 starts this season, allowing two on 4/7 at Pittsburgh and 4/23 at Tampa Bay and one on 5/4 vs. Minnesota, 5/9 at Kansas City, 5/14 vs. Houston and 5/20 vs. Kansas City … has allowed one three-run homer, one two-run and six solo.
VS. DETROIT TIGERS || A.L. CENTRAL
Is scheduled to make his 20th career start against the Tigers and eighth at Comerica Park.
Went 1-1 with a 4.13 ERA (13 ER/28.1 IP), .229 (24- 105) opponents average and 35 strikeouts in five starts vs. Detroit last season.
Has gone 0-1 with a 4.12 ERA (9 ER/19.2 IP), .263 (20-76) opponents average and 25 strikeouts over his last four starts at Comerica Park … last won in Detroit on 8/5/19 (3 ER/6.0 IP).
Is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA (5 ER/25.0 IP), .196 (18-92) opponents average and 27 strikeouts in four starts vs. the American League Central this season.
DETROIT TIGERS NOTES:
TIGERS EARN SERIES WIN OVER ROYALS: The Tigers defeated the Royals, 6-4, on Wednesday night, earning a series win. Zack Short came off the bench and broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run, pinch-hit homer. Riley Greene also had two hits, including a solo homer. Spencer Torkelson finished the game 2×5 with a double. Matthew Boyd started for Detroit, giving up a run on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Will Vest picked up the win, fanning two in 1.1 perfect innings of relief, while Alex Lange notched his ninth save, giving up a run in 1.0 inning.
GREENE MACHINE: Riley Greene had a pair of extra-base hits last night, going 2×4 with a double and a solo homer, his fifth of the season. Dating back to April 26, Greene has hit safely in 20 of his last 24 games, slashing .354/.415/.521 with seven doubles, three homers and 11 RBI. In that span, he leads the American League and ranks third in the Majors in batting average, while he ranks fourth in the AL and ninth in the big leagues in on-base percentage.
SHORT GOES LONG: Zack Short came off the bench last night and made an immediate impact, hitting a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the sixth inning to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead. It marked the first pinch-hit homer of his career and was the third by a Tiger this season, joining Zach McKinstry on April 19 vs. Cleveland and Tyler Nevin on April 29 vs. Baltimore (Game 2). With three RBI last night, Short equaled his career high (also, July 5, 2021 at Texas) and recorded his sixth career multi-RBI performance.
TIGERS AND MEIJER ANNOUNCE EXPANDED PARTNERSHIP, INCLUDING BECOMING CLUB’S FIRST JERSEY PATCH PARTNER: The Tigers today announced that Landmark-level sponsor Meijer will serve as the club’s first Jersey Patch Partner. As part of a multi-year extended partnership, the Michigan-based retailer will have its brand marks featured on the sleeves of Detroit’s home and away jerseys, beginning with tonight’s game against the White Sox. As part of the new “Striking Out Hunger” initiative, Meijer and the Tigers will contribute $100 every time a Tigers pitcher strikes out an opposing batter to the Meijer Simply Give hunger relief program. Simply Give has helped feed families across the Midwest by helping local food pantries keep their shelves stocked since November, 2008.
TIGERS AND WHITE SOX: The Tigers and White Sox begin their 13-game season series tonight. Detroit went 7-12 against Chicago (AL) last season, including a 2-7 record at Comerica Park. The White Sox have won the season series over the Tigers in each of the last four seasons.
AGAINST THE AL CENTRAL: The Tigers continue divisional play tonight against the White Sox. Detroit is 6-3 against American League Central teams so far this season, going 4-2 vs. Cleveland and 2-1 vs. Kansas City. The Tigers have finished below .500 against AL Central foes in each of the last five 162-game seasons, including a 34-42 record last season.
AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers tonight begin a seven-game homestand, which includes four games vs. Chicago (AL) (May 25-28) and three games vs. Texas (May 29-31). Detroit is 10-10 at Comerica Park this season. As a team, the Tigers are hitting .235/.301/.364, while the pitching staff has posted a 4.35 ERA (184.0IP/89ER).
TIGERS ON THE IL:
- RHP Beau Brieske (right upper arm discomfort, 60-day IL on March 30, retroactive to March 27)
- OF Kerry Carpenter (right shoulder sprain, 10-day IL on April 29, retroactive to April 28)
- RHP Matt Manning (right foot fracture, 60-day IL on April 12)
- 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 Tarik Skubal (left elbow strain, 60-day IL on March 14)
- RHP Spencer Turnbull (neck discomfort, 15-day IL on May 12, retroactive to May 7)
- RHP Trey Wingenter (right biceps tendinitis, 15-day IL on April 22, retroactive to April 19)
TONIGHT’S TIGERS STARTING PITCHER – #49 Alex Faedo • 0-2, 4.60 ERA (15.2IP/8ER)
- Faedo will make his fourth start of the season for the Tigers tonight in the series opener vs. Chicago (AL)
- Suffered the loss in his last start on Saturday at Washington, allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts in 5.0 innings.
- Has made one start in his career against the White Sox, taking the loss on June 15, 2022 after allowing seven runs on nine hits with a walk and five strikeouts in 3.0 innings…in seven career starts at Comerica Park, Faedo has a 0-4 record with a 5.61 ERA (33.2IP/21ER) and 30 strikeouts.
- Has made five starts with Triple A Toledo this season, posting a 0-1 record with a 2.50 ERA (18.0IP/5ER) and 19 strikeouts.
- Began his big league career by throwing at least 5.0 innings and allowing no more than two runs in each of his first seven starts…according to the Elias Sports Bureau, joined Jered Weaver in 2006 and Boo Ferriss in 1945 as the only pitchers to accomplish that…was the first Tigers pitcher to ever do so in more than four straight games to start his career.
