CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost fi ve of their last seven games as they continue a six-game trip tonight in Pittsburgh.
RHP Mike Clevinger, who threw 5.0 scoreless IP in his White Sox debut on 4/2 at Houston, is scheduled to start … Clevinger has never faced the Pirates in his career.
Following this three-game series, the Sox conclude the trip with three contests at Minnesota (4/10-12) before returning home for six games vs. Baltimore (4/14-16) and Philadelphia (4/17-19).
The White Sox went 1-2 on their fi rst homestand vs. San Francisco (4/3-6) after opening the season by splitting four games at Houston from 3/30-4/2.
The White Sox play just three games vs. AL Central teams in April (4/10-12 at the Twins) … from 4/14-30, they play 16 straight games vs. AL/National League East clubs.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox are hitting .295/.346/.521 (56-190) through fi ve
road games this season … the Sox have recorded 10-plus hits
in all fi ve games.
White Sox pitchers own the highest ERA in baseball at 7.70 and have allowed 44 runs over the last four games … during that span, Sox starters own a 11.50 ERA (23 ER/18.0 IP) and the bullpen has posted a 10.59 (20 ER/17.0 IP) mark.
The Sox are 9-9 in stolen-base attempts this season.
Mike Clevinger became the third pitcher since 2000 to throw 5.0-plus scoreless IP in his White Sox debut (4/2 at Houston), most recently accomplished by Johnny Cueto on 5/16/22 at Kansas City (6.0) … Clevinger’s eight strikeouts were the most by pitcher in his Sox debut since Francisco Liriano on 7/31/12 at Minnesota (eight).
Yoán Moncada and Luis RoberT Jr. rank among the American League leaders in numerous categories (see boxes at right).
Andrew Vaughn has recorded a RBI in a career-best fi ve straight games, the longest streak by a Sox player since Moncada from 8/15-19/22 (also five).
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Bryan Reynolds hit a three-run triple off Jimmy Lambert to highlight a decisive five-run fifth inning, and Pittsburgh went on to defeat the White Sox, 13-9, in its home opener.
Lucas Giolito posted a ND, allowing seven runs on a career-high 12 hits over 4.0 IP … Jake Diekman suffered the loss, allowing four runs over 0.1 IP in the fifth inning after the Sox had tied the game at 7-7.
Luis Robert Jr. recorded his fourth career multi-homer game, hitting two-run shots off Rich Hill in the third and fifth innings, and finished with a career-high tying five RBI (second time).
Tim Anderson went 4-5 with two doubles, two stolen bases and four runs scored … Anderson matched his career high in hits (14th time) and runs scored (fourth time), and became the first Sox player since Seby Zavala on 7/31/21 vs. Cleveland to record four hits and four runs scored in one game.
Rookie Oscar Colás hit his first MLB home run in the ninth inning, a solo shot off Will Crowe … Jake Burger was 2-4 with a double, home run and two RBI.
Jesse Scholtens, whose contract was selected from Class AAA Charlotte prior to the game, allowed one run on three hits with four strikeouts over 3.0 IP in his MLB debut.
SOUTHSIDE HITMEN
The White Sox lead the American League in doubles (23) and rank among the leaders in average (2nd, .287), slugging percentage (3rd, .466) and OPS (3rd, .805) … the Sox have recorded a MLB-best 10-plus hits in seven of eight games.
A comparison of the White Sox offense after eight games in 2023 and 2022:
Year AVG AB R R/G H 2B HR SB OBP SLG OPS
2023 .287 296 41 5.1 85 23 10 9 .339 .466 .805
2022 .242 265 35 4.4 64 14 9 6 .279 .404 .682
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS
The White Sox are batting .275/.340/.446 vs. left-handed pitching since the start of the 2019 season … during that span, the Sox lead MLB in average and on-base percentage, rank second in OPS (.786) and fi fth in slugging.
Tim Anderson owns a .354/.384/.565 (141-398) slash line vs. LHP since 2019, while Hanser Alberto is hitting .344/.363/.484 (170-494) … during that span, Anderson and Alberto rank 1-2 in MLB in average vs. LHP.
Luis Robert Jr. is a career .359/.409/.636 (70-195) hitter vs. lefties … Jake Burger owns a .638 slugging percentage vs. LHP.
WHITE SOX VS. PITTSBURGH PIRATES
The White Sox lead the all-time series, 23-19, including a 10- 12 record in Pittsburgh (8-9 at PNC Park).
The Sox have won six of the last eight games since 2020 following an eight-game losing streak from 6/15/15-5/16/18.
The White Sox won three of four games in 2021, splitting two games at PNC Park (6/22/-23) and sweeping a two-game series in Chicago (8/31-9/1)
Andrew Benintendi is a .375/.444/.667 (9-24) hitter with two home runs and 10 RBI in six career games against the Pirates.
INTERLEAGUE INSIGHT
The White Sox are 254-233 (.522) all-time in interleague play (123-121 on road), the seventh-best winning percentage in MLB.
The Sox are 1-3 this season after going 11-9 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2021 … they are 22-13 since 7/25/21.
The White Sox rank second all-time with 611 home runs, trailing only Toronto (647) and the Yankees (616).
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
The White Sox are 46-40 (.535) on the road since the start of the 2022 season, the fi fth-best winning percentage in the American League.
The Sox rank third in the AL during that span with a 3.61 ERA (298 ER/743.2 IP), trailing Houston (3.03) and Cleveland (3.59).
ELVIS BECOMES MR. 2,000
Elvis Andrus became the 290th player in MLB history to record 2,000 hits on Wednesday with a single off Logan Webb.
Andrus ranks fourth among active players with 2,002 hits, trailing only Miguel Cabrera (3,091), Joey Votto (2,093) and Nelson Cruz (2,019) … he has recorded 1,743 hits with Texas, 205 with Oakland and 54 with the White Sox.
CEASE AND DESTROY
Dylan Cease, who fi nished second in the American League Cy Young Award voting last season, has gone 11-6 with a 1.51 ERA (25 ER/148.2 IP) and 174 strikeouts over his last 25 starts dating to 5/29/22.
During that stretch, Cease leads MLB in ERA and opponents average (.167) … he has allowed one or no earned runs in 20 of the 25 starts.
AT THE HELM
Pedro Grifol was named the 42nd diff erent manager in White Sox history on 11/3/22, replacing Hall-of-Famer Tony La Russa … Grifol joins the Sox after a 10-year stint in Kansas City (2013-22), including the last three as the Royals bench coach.
Grifol earned his fi rst victory as Sox manager on Opening Day at Houston (3-2).
He is one of four current Latino managers in MLB, joining Boston’s Alex Cora, St. Louis’ Oliver Marmol and Washington’s Dave Martinez.
Grifol has 23 years of professional baseball experience as a bench coach, hitting coach, winter ball and minor league manager, director of player development and scout
WHITE SOX ROSTER BREAKDOWN
The White Sox 26-man roster includes 13 pitchers (two LHP), two catchers, seven infielders and four outfielders. INF Elvis Andrus (14.000 entering season) has the most service time, and SS Tim Anderson (2016-) is the longest tenured.
LHP Garrett Crochet (Tommy John recovery) and RHPs Matt Foster (right fl exor strain) and RHP Liam Hendriks (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma treatment) are on the 15-day injured list.
BEST ABILITY IS AVAILABILITY
RHP Lance Lynn (21 starts), All-Star SS Tim Anderson (79 games), 3B Yoán Moncada (104) and OFs Eloy Jiménez (84) and Luis Robert Jr. (98) all missed significant time in 2022.
The White Sox projected Opening Day lineup was together for just one game last season, a 3-2 loss on 8/4 at Texas
STARTER #52 MIKE CLEVINGER RHP
CLEVINGER AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his second start of the season, second on the road and first during interleague play. Agreed to terms with Chicago on a one-year, $12-million deal in December (includes a mutual option for 2024). Has appeared in just 32 games (31 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) with Padres from 2020-22.
LAST START
Earned his first win as a White Sox on 4/2 at Houston, tossing 5.0 scoreless IP with three hits allowed, three walks and eight strikeouts … is the second pitcher in club history to record at least eight strikeouts over 5.0-plus scoreless IP in his first career outing with the White Sox, joining Bob Weiland (9/30/1928 vs. Philadelphia Athletics, 9.0 IP/9 SO). Departed the game in the sixth with the Sox leading, 3-0 … threw 98 pitches (60 strikes) … the White Sox would go on to win, 6-3. Owned a 65.2 first-strike percentage and 11.2 swinging-strike percentage (13 swing and misses) vs. 23 batters … threw 58 four-seam fastballs (94.7 mph avg; 96.2 mph max), 33 sliders (80.5 avg; 82.4 max), two cutters (82.6 avg; 83.4 max), two changeups (87.1 avg; 88.7 max), two sinkers (92.7 avg; 96.3 max) and one curveball (78.1 max).
2022 SEASON RECAP
Went 7-7 with a 4.33 ERA (55 ER/114.1 IP), .233 (102-437) opponents average and 91 strikeouts over 23 appearances (22 starts) with San Diego. Was 3-3 with a 2.81 ERA (16 ER/51.1 IP) and 49 strikeouts in 10 games (nine starts) from 5/17-8/11. Began the season on the 15-day injured list with a sprained right knee suffered during spring training. Was placed on the 15-day injured list for the second time on 5/22 (retro to 5/21) with a right triceps strain …was reinstated on 6/5 and started that day at Milwaukee (ND, 1 ER/3.0 IP, 5 SO) before going on the COVID-19 related IL from 6/11-16. Earned his 50th career victory on 9/20 vs. St. Louis, allowing three hits over 5.2 scoreless IP.
JUST WIN BABY Dating back to 2022, Clevinger has gone 8-7 with his team going 16-8 in his 24 appearances (23 starts). Is averaging 5.51 runs of support during that span. In his last six outings the Padres and White Sox have gone a combined 5-1, winning four straight, when Clevinger takes the mound.
APRIL LOVE
Has gone 4-0 with a 1.66 ERA (9 ER/48.2 IP), .186 (32-172) opponents average and 42 strikeouts in eight career starts in the month of April … has surrendered one total home run in April, good for a 0.18 HR/9, the second best in baseball among active players (min. 45.0 IP). His 1.66 career ERA in April ranks second among active major-league pitchers (min. 45.0 IP).
COUNTRY ROADS
Is 3-4 with a 6.10 ERA (33 ER/48.2 IP) and .277 (54-195) opponents average over his last 10 road starts. Owns a 27-19, 3.81 ERA (138 ER/326.0 IP), .225 (269- 1,1198) opponents average and 333 strikeouts over 64 career appearances (58 starts) on the road.
START STRONG
Posted a 2.04 ERA (10 ER/44.0 IP) and .173 (27-156) opponents average across the first two innings in 2022, compared to a 5.76 ERA (45 ER/70.1 IP) and .267 (75- 281) mark from the third-seventh. Limited opponents to a .196 (37-189) average the first time through the lineup in 2022, compared to a .244 (43-176) mark the second time through the lineup and a .306 (22-72) average the third time through the order … did not allow a hit until the third inning in his last outing.
VS. PITTSBURGH PIRATES || INTERLEAGUE
Will make his first career start against the Pirates. Is 3-8 with a 4.70 ERA (44 ER/84.1 IP) across 16 career interleague starts … has gone 1-4 with 4.32 ERA (20 R/41.2 IP) over his last eight. Owns a 10-8 career record and 4.35 ERA (65 ER/134.1 IP) in 27 games (26 starts) against the National League.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES NOTES:
THE PIRATES:…Have won four straight games since dropping each of the last two contests of their season-opening series against the Reds at Great American Ball Park…Opened their 137th season as a member of the National League with a 5-4 win against the Reds. GOING THE EXTRA MILE: Bryan Reynolds has recorded an extra base hit in five straight games, which is the longest by any player in MLB so far this season… Reynolds fell a double shy of hitting for the cycle yesterday while playing in the 500th game of his big league career…Reynolds is one of just four Pirates in the modern era (since 1901) to record eight extra base hits within the team’s first seven games along with Barry Bonds (eight in 1988), Tony Peña (eight in 1982) and Charlie Grimm (eight in 1921).
FOUR YOUR INFORMATION: The Pirates bring a four-game winning streak into today…The Pirates won a season-high four games on two occasions last year, doing so from July 9-12 and again from September 12-14…A win tonight would give Pittsburgh its first five-game winning straight since April 14-20, 2019.
SAVING THE DAY: Three different Pirates (David Bednar, Duane Underwood Jr. and Wil Crowe) have combined to record five saves in the team’s first seven games…Prior to this year, the last time three different Pirates recorded a save within the team’s first seven games of a season came in 1993 (Stan Belinda – three, John Candelaria – one and Paul Wagner – one)…Special thanks to the Elias Sports Bureau.
A FAN-TASTIC DAY: Yesterday’s attendance of 39,167 was the largest crowd to see a Pirates game in Pittsburgh since April 3, 2016, when a total of 39,500 fans attended the Home Opener against the Cardinals…The 19 hits were a modern era record (since 1901) for a Pirates Home Opener while the 13 runs score were the second-most ever in a Pirates Home Opener (the Bucs scored 14 runs in both 1953 and 1976).
LEADING THE WAY: Bryan Reynolds enters today with a Major-League leading five home runs and 13 RBI…According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is the first Pirate to enter a day leading the Majors in homers and RBI since Reggie Sanders on April 4, 2003…Reynolds’ five home runs in the team’s first seven games of the season matches Willie Stargell in 1971 for the most in club history.
LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN: Andrew McCutchen singled in each of his first two at-bats on Friday in his first game back at PNC Park as a Pirate since September 27, 2017…McCutchen is the all-time leader in home runs, hits, runs, RBI, doubles and games played at PNC Park.
EXTRA EXTRA: The Pirates banged out eight extra base hits on Friday, which were the most since recording nine on August 22, 2020, against the Brewers…Pittsburgh’s 25 extra base hits are tied for the fifth-most in the National League (tied for ninth in all of MLB) coming into today.
ABOUT TODAY’S STARTER: Vince Velasquez will make his second start as a member of the Pirates tonight…Velasquez spent the 2022 campaign with the White Sox, where he posted the best walk rate (2.99 percent) of his career while splitting time between the starting rotation and bullpen.
GO JOE: Connor Joe had a career-high tying four hits (also June 16, 2022) in Friday’s game, which included three doubles (the first player in MLB this year to record three two-baggers in a game)…Joe is now 7-for-12 in his first three starts as a member of the Pirates.
AGAINST THE JUNIOR CIRCUIT: The Pirates are 4-0 in a stretch that has the team playing nine straight games against American League opponents..It’s the most consecutive wins in interleague play for the Bucs since also recording a pair of four-game winning streaks in 2019…Pittsburgh’s last winning streak of more than four consecutive streaks against the AL came in 2018 (eight games).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – 27 – RHP VINCE VELASQUEZ
VINCE VELASQUEZ: The 30-year-old righthander is making his second start of the season tonight…Lost his Pirates debut (4.2ip/3er) on 4/2 at Cincinnati.
vs. CHICAGO (AL): 0-0 in one career start…Will be facing his former team for just the second time…His only other outing came on 6/10/15 as a member of the Astros, where he tossed 5.0 scoreless innings in a no-decision.
