CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have won three of their last five games as they open a seven-game trip tonight at Los Angeles-AL.
RHP Dylan Cease is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are in fourth place in the American League Central, 6.0 games off the pace set by division-leading Minnesota.
The Sox are coming off a 3-3 homestand vs. Texas (1-2) and Boston (2-1), which ended yesterday with a 4-1 victory over the Red Sox.
Following this four-game series, the White Sox conclude the trip this weekend with three in Oakland (6/30-7/1) before ending the first half with a six-game homestand vs. Toronto (7/4-6) and St. Louis (7/7-9).
The Sox went 2-4 on their last trip to Los Angeles-NL (1-2) and Seattle (1-2) from 6/13-18.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
Luis Robert Jr. is one of five players in White Sox history (eight times) to record 20-plus doubles and home runs before the break, joining Frank Thomas (1993-94, 2003), José Abreu (2014, ’19), Jermaine Dye (2008) and Magglio Ordóñez (2000).
Dylan Cease owns a 2.38 ERA (6 ER/22.2 IP) with 32 strikeouts over four starts in June and a 3.00 ERA (15 ER/45.0 IP) over his last eight starts (since 5/13).
The Sox lead MLB with a 3.25 ERA (126 ER/348.2 IP) in 39 games since 5/13 … the rotation ranks third in MLB during that span with a 3.41 ERA (79 ER/208.1 IP).
The White Sox rank fourth in MLB in June with a 3.14 ERA (66 ER/189.0 IP) but are 27th with a .212 (153-706) average and 28th with 3.33 runs per game (70 runs) … all 21 of their games in June have been decided by four runs or less.
Andrew Benintendi is hitting .429/.444/.571 (15-35) with five doubles over his last eight games as the leadoff hitter.
The Sox are 6-24 at Angel Stadium since 5/18/13.
ROSTER MOVES
Prior to tonight’s game, the White Sox recalled OF Adam Haseley from Class AAA Charlotte and optioned INF José Rodríguez to Class AA Birmingham.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Luis Robert Jr. went 3-4 with two home runs and three RBI, and Jesse Scholtens threw 4.0 scoreless IP in relief for his first MLB victory as the White Sox defeated Boston in the deciding game of the series, 4-1.
Robert Jr. hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Kutter Crawford in the fourth inning and added a solo shot off Crawford in the sixth for his fifth career multi-homer game and second of the season.
Opener Tanner Banks threw 2.2 IP, allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts … Scholtens followed Banks, giving up two hits with one walk and three strikeouts while throwing 15-15 first-pitch strikes.
Aaron Bummer retired all four batters faced with two strikeouts for his seventh hold, and Keynan Middleton pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save.
Andrew Benintendi went 2-4 with a double (his 20th), RBI and run scored … Yasmani Grandal left the game in the sixth with a jaw contusion.
The Sox recorded their 22nd comeback victory of the season.
WHITE SOX VS. LOS ANGELES ANGELS
The Angels lead the season series, 2-1.
The White Sox are hitting .304/.348/.549 (31-102) with a 7.00 ERA (21 ER/27.0 IP) and have been outscored, 21-16.
The Angels have won six straight season series and 10 of the last 11 since 2011, with the Sox only win coming in 2015 (4-3).
The White Sox have not won a series against the Angels since 9/25-28/17 (three of four) in Chicago and have not won a series at Angel Stadium since 5/9-11/11 (two of three).
Luis Robert Jr. is a .338/.356/.535 (24-71) with three home runs and eight RBI in 17 career games against the Angels.
HOW THE WEST WAS WON
The Sox are 6-10 vs. the American League West this season, including a 3-4 record on the road.
The Sox went 18-16 vs. the division last season and 16-17 in 2021 … they are 18-23 on the road vs. the AL West since 2021.
DYNAMIC DUO
Eloy Jiménez and Dylan Cease were acquired by the White Sox from the Cubs on 7/13/17 as part of a five-player deal.
Since making their debuts in 2019, Jiménez has homered in 16 of Cease’s starts (18 total HR) … the Sox are 13-3 in those games, including multi-homer efforts from Jiménez on 9/3/19 at Cleveland and 8/8/21 at the Cubs.
Jiménez hit a two-run homer on 6/20 vs. Texas, his third of the season in support of Cease and second start in a row.
GRAB SOME BENCH
The White Sox lead the major leagues with an average of 9.73 strikeouts per 9.0 IP (757 SO/700.1 IP) this season, which would be the second-highest total in franchise history behind the 2021 club (10.18).
Sox pitchers have struck out 10-plus batters in 40 of 79 games (50.6 percent), including 15 or more six times (0-6 record).
Lance Lynn (4th, career-high 10.90), Dylan Cease (5th, 10.55), Michael Kopech (7th, 10.32) and Lucas Giolito (11th, 9.65) all rank among the AL leaders.
ARMS RACE
White Sox pitchers own have recorded a 3.25 ERA (126 ER/348.2 IP) in 39 games since 5/13, the best mark in the major leagues … during that span, the Sox also lead MLB with a .210 opponents average and rank fourth with a 1.18 WHIP.
A breakdown of the Sox pitching through their first 40 games of the season and last 39:
Games W-L ERA QS IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG OPS WHIP
Last 39 21-18 3.25 17 348.2 271 140 126 40 140 372 .210 .652 1.18
First 40 13-27 5.66 12 351.2 366 241 221 65 167 385 .263 .817 1.52
ROTATION SENSATION
White Sox starting pitchers own a 3.41 ERA with a .225 opponents average in 39 games since 5/13 … during that span, they rank second in MLB in opponents average and third in ERA.
During that 39-game stretch, Sox starters have made eight scoreless outings, have allowed one earned run nine times and two earned runs eight times … the rotation since 5/13:
W-L ERA WHIP QS IP H R ER HR BB SO SO/9.0 AVG OPS
10-11 3.41 1.23 17 208.1 176 87 79 28 81 236 10.2 .225 .699
LONG BALL
The White Sox rank seventh in the American League this season with 91 home runs, including 21 over the last 11 games (18 solo), and are on pace to finish with 187.
By comparison, the Sox hit 62 homers over the first 79 games of 2022 and finished the season ranked 10th in the AL with 149.
Luis Robert Jr. (2nd, career-high 21) and Jake Burger (T5th, career-high 17) rank among the Top 5 in the AL this season.
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS
The White Sox are batting .271/.336/.440 vs. left-handed pitching since the start of the 2019 season … during that span, the Sox lead MLB in average, rank third in on-base percentage, fourth in OPS (.776) and seventh in slugging percentage.
Tim Anderson leads MLB with a .347 (152-438) average vs. left-handers since 2019.
RISING TO THE TOP
The White Sox are at the end of a stretch where they play seven consecutive series (22 games) from 6/6-29 against teams who are or above .500 (8-10 so far).
The stretch includes 13 games on the road against the Yankees 2-1), Dodgers (1-2), Seattle (1-2) and Angels (0-0) and nine at home vs. Miami (1-2), Texas (1-2) and Boston (2-1).
STARTING PITCHER – $84 DYLAN CEASE RHP
CEASE AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 17th start of the season, eighth on the road and first against the Los Angeles Angels.
Needs one win for 40 in his career.
Has allowed one run or less while tossing 5.0-plus IP in 26 starts since 2022 … the 26 starts are the most in baseball ahead of the Dodgers’ Julio Urías (23) and the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani (22).
Is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA (15 ER/45.0 IP) and .201 (33-164) opponents average in his last eight starts.
The White Sox are 9-7 in his starts this season … has recorded seven quality starts.
According to STATS, he is the fastest White Sox pitcher to reach 600 career strikeouts (495.1 IP).
Is tied for the MLB lead since 2021 in starts (80), ranks fourth in SO/9.0 IP (11.44), fifth in strikeouts (553) and 10th in opponents average (.210).
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
Received a no decision on 6/20 vs. Texas, allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and nine strikeouts over 6.0 IP … surrendered a solo home run to Adolis García in the fourth inning and an RBI double to Corey Seager in the fifth.
Departed the game in the seventh with the White Sox leading, 4-2 … threw 101 pitches (62 strikes) … Texas took a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the eighth … the Sox scored three times, including a game-winning, RBI single by Zach Remillard to lift Chicago over Texas, 7-6.
Owned a 60.0 first-strike percentage and 22.8 swinging-strike percentage (24 swing and misses) vs. 25 batters … threw 49 sliders (85.4 mph avg; 87.8 mph max), 38 four-seam fastballs (95.0 avg; 96.3 max), 13 knuckle curveballs (78.6 avg; 82.0 max) and one changeup (73.8 max).
JUNE HEAT
Has gone 6-3 with a 2.69 ERA (24 ER/80.1 IP), .215 (65-303) opponents average and 114 strikeouts over 15 career starts in June … his 2.69 ERA is the lowest monthly
mark in his career.
Went 2-1 with a 0.33 ERA (1 ER/27.1 IP), .192 (19-99) opp. average and 45 strikeouts in five June starts in 2022 … was named American League Pitcher of the Month.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Is 9-4 with a 2.88 ERA (31 ER/97.0 IP) in his last 18 road starts, 12-5 with a 2.71 ERA (37 ER/122.2 IP) over his last 23 and 14-6 with a 2.87 ERA (48 ER/150.2 IP) in his last 28.
Ranks among MLB road leaders since 7/11/21 in strikeouts (6th, 198), wins (10th, 14), ERA (12th, 2.87) and opponents average (19th, .209).
UNDER PRESSURE
Opponents are hitting .222 (14-63) with RISP, .171 (6-35) with RISP/two outs and .222 (2-9) with the bases loaded this season.
Owns a career .209 (94-449) opponents average with RISP, the fourth-lowest mark in the majors since 2019.
OVER WORKED
Has thrown 1,566 pitches in 16 starts this season, the sixth-most in the majors … his 97.9 pitches per game are the eighth-most in baseball.
Is averaging 18.4 pitches per IP and 4.21 pitches per batter faced, the highest and fourth-highest marks in MLB respectively.
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 … 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. LOS ANGELES ANGELS || A.L. WEST
Is scheduled to make his fifth career start vs. the Angels and third at Angel Stadium.
Earned the win in his last start on 5/2/22 in Chicago, allowing just one hit with no walks and 11 strikeouts over 7.0 scoreless IP.
Last pitched at Angel Stadium on 4/4/21, allowing three runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts over 4.2 IP … received a no decision in the start.
Is 5-0 with a 1.67 ERA (11 ER/59.1 IP), .167 (35-210) opponents average and 75 strikeouts over his last 10 starts vs. the American League West
LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:
LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the first of seven games on a homestand against the Chicago White Sox (June 26-29) and Arizona Diamondbacks (June 30 – July 2)…Halos went 1-2 on last road trip at Colorado…LAA was 0-2 on last homestand against the Dodgers.
TODAY’S TRANSACTIONS: Today the Angels recalled OF Jo Adell from Triple-A Salt Lake and placed INF Eduardo Escobar on the restricted list…Additionally, C Chris Okey cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGHS: Saturday night at Colorado, the Angels set franchise records with 25 runs scored and 28 hits…Halos previously had 24 runs and 26 hits on Aug. 25, 1979 at Toronto and had 26 hits on June 20, 1980 at Boston…The 24 run margin of victory also set a Club record (previously was 22 in the 24-2 win vs. TOR on 8/25/79).
THE BIG INNING: In the 3rd inning of Saturday night’s game, the Angels tied a franchise scoring record for an inning after plating 13 runs…Marked the third instance in Club history; also scored 13 runs in an inning on May 12, 1997 vs. White Sox (7th inn.) & Sept. 14, 1978 at Texas (9th inn.)…Halos also matched a Club record with four HR in an inning (also, 5th inn. on May 28, 2000 at Kansas City), including back-to-back-to-back HR by Mike Trout, Brandon Drury and Matt Thaiss on three straight pitches.
MORE ON THE SCORE: Saturday night, the Angels became the first team in the modern era to score 20+ runs in a two-inning span (credit: OptaSTATS)…Also became third team in A.L./N.L. history with 23+ runs through the first four innings of a game, joining the 1922 Cubs and 1894 Pirates.
INDIVIDUAL HIGHS: Four Angels recorded 4+ RBI in Saturday’s game for the first time in franchise history… David Fletcher matched his career highs with four hits and five RBI in his return to the Halos lineup…Mickey Moniak tied an Angels record with four XBH and was a triple shy of the cycle…Moniak and Hunter Renfroe became the third duo in Angels history to each record 5+ hits in a game (first five hit games of career for both players)…Eduardo Escobar set a new career high with four runs scored and tied an A.L. record for runs in a team debut.
WELCOME MOOSE: Following Saturday’s game, the Angels acquired INF Mike Moustakas from Colorado in exchange for minor league RHP Connor Van Scoyoc.
SEATTLE STARTING SHO: Shohei Ohtani has been selected to the 2023 American League All-Star team as the starting designated hitter after leading the league with 2,646,307 votes during Phase 1 of fan voting to automatically receive the starting spot at DH and bypass the second phase of voting…It’s his third consecutive All-Star start at DH and he joins Hall of Famer David Ortiz (2011-13) as the only players to receive three straight fan elections at the position.
CATCHING ON: This season, Angels catchers rank tied for third in the Majors with 13 home runs and are fourth with a .774 OPS.
VS. WHITE SOX: Angels lead the 2023 season series 2-1 after the first meetings between the clubs from May 29-31 in Chicago…Halos have won six consecutive season series vs. White Sox and 10 of last 11 season series overall…Since 2011, Angels are 53-28 (.654) vs. CWS.
HIGHEST CAREER OBP vs. WHITE SOX
(min. 200 PA)
- Babe Ruth – .471
- Mike Trout – .453
- Ted Williams – .449
- Lou Gehrig – .446
- Jimmie Foxx – .445
LEAGUE LEADER: As a hitter, Shohei Ohtani leads the Majors in RBI (61), total bases (187), XBH (44), slugging percentage (.623) and OPS (1.000) and is tied for first in home runs (25)….On the mound, he also leads the Majors in opponent batting average (.179), ranks fourth in strikeouts (117) and is eighth in WHIP (1.04).
A BIG WIN ON SATURDAY: The Angels 25-1 victory in Colorado snapped a 10 game Saturday losing streak (first Saturday victory since April 8 vs. Toronto)…It was the second-longest Saturday losing streak in franchise history (had an 11 game Saturday losing streak from Aug. 10, 1996 – April 26, 1997).
PLAY FROM AHEAD: Halos have held leads in 62 of 79 games played this year (78%).
ESTÉVEZ ENDING: This season, Carlos Estévez is pitching to a 1.74 ERA (31 IP – 6 ER) and has converted all 19 of his save opportunities (the 19 saves are a new career high)…He has tied Lee Smith’s Club record from 1995 with 19 consecutive successful save chances to start a season.
STARTING STRONG: Angels starting pitchers have allowed three-or-fewer runs in 11 straight starts…Over that span (since June 13), the rotation ranks second in the Majors with a combined 2.34 ERA (65.1 IP – 17 ER). DIAMONDBACKS ON DECK: Following the current series against the White Sox, the Angels will finish off the homestand with three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks (June 30 – July 2)…Will mark the first meetings between the clubs since 2021 (Angels swept three game series at Chase Field) and the D-backs first visit to Angel Stadium since 2020…Halos lead the all-time series 19-16 and have won each of last four contests against Arizona.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – LHP REID DETMERS
1-5, 4.02 ERA
In last three starts, is 1-0 with a 0.96 ERA (18.2 IP – 2 ER) and 24 strikeouts
- TODAY’S GAME: Making 14th start of the season today and eighth at home…Made Opening Day roster for second consecutive season…Is in third Major League season with Angels.
- SUPPORT ME: Averaging 3.25 runs of support per nine innings this season, which is eighth fewest in Majors (min. 60 IP).
- LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor in decision in last start on Tuesday vs. Dodgers after pitching 7.0 scoreless innings and allowing two hits and one walk with eight strikeouts…Marked first scoreless outing of season.
- IN THE WIN COLUMN: Earned first win of the year on June 14 vs. Cubs, after tossing 5.2 innings and allowing one earned run on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.
- 12K: Matched career high with 12 strikeouts on May 19 vs. Minnesota and carried a no-hitter through 5.2 innings…Previously tallied 12 strikeouts on July 31, 2022 vs. Texas.
- STREAKS SNAPPED: Victory on June 14 ended a career-high streak of five consecutive losing decisions…Also ended streak of 10 straight winless starts to begin a season, which finished tied for third-longest in Angels history (Rickey Clark – 12 starts in 1968 and Hector Santiago – 11 starts in 2014).
- STAY UNFAMILIAR: This season, opponents are batting .202 (43/213) the first two times through the order, but are batting .453 (24/53) the third time through the batting order.
- EARLY SUCCESS: Has a 2.54 ERA (39 IP – 11 ER) in the first three innings of games, compared with an 5.93 ERA (30.1 IP – 20 ER) from the fourth inning on…20 of 36 runs allowed this year (56%) have come in 5th and 6th inning.
- GOING OFFSPEED: In 2023, is holding opponents to a .246 (43/175) average against off-speed pitches, including a .184 (7/38) clip on curveballs.
- VS. CHICAGO (A.L.): Tonight marks first career start vs. White Sox…Chicago is only A.L. team (excluding Angels) that he has yet to face in career.
- AT ANGEL STADIUM: In 22 career games at Angel Stadium, is 6-6 with a 3.64 ERA (121 IP – 49 ER) and 127 strikeouts…This year, is 1-2 with a 3.79 ERA (38 IP – 16 ER) in seven home starts…Last season, was 4-3 with a 3.22 ERA (72.2 IP – 26 ER) in 13 home starts, including no-hitter on May 10 vs. Rays (seventh individual no-hitter in Angel Stadium history).
