CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost three straight games, nine of the last 11 games, 17 of 23 and 31 of 46 as they continue a six-game trip this afternoon with the series finale at Texas.
RHP Touki Toussaint, who has allowed two runs or less in three of his four starts with the White Sox, is scheduled to start.
The White Sox have lost the first two games at the Rangers.
The Sox are in fourth place in the American League Central, 12.0 games behind the division-leading Twins (55-54).
Following today’s game, the Sox will conclude the trip with three games at the Guardians … the White Sox will return home for a six-game trip vs. the Yankees (8/7-9) and Milwaukee (8/11-13).
Chicago went 2-4 on their last homestand from 7/25-30 vs. the Cubs and Cleveland and 3-6 on their last trip from 7/14-23 at Atlanta, New York-NL and Minnesota following the All-Star break.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox are a season-high 23 games under .500 … the last time they were 24 games under .500 was at the end of the 2018 season (62-100).
The Sox are facing Max Scherzer for the first time since 6/8/16.
Chicago is hitting .122/.160/.167 (11-90) with one double, one homer and one run scored over the last three games.
The Sox have lost seven of their last eight road games … six of the contests have been decided by four or less.
RHP Touki Toussaint owns a 3.34 ERA (12 ER/32.1 IP), .174 (19-109) opponents average, 1.14 WHIP and 27 strikeouts in eight appearances (four starts) with the White Sox.
Tim Anderson is hitting .324 (22-68) with two doubles, a homer, six RBI, five walks and eight multihit efforts in his last 17 games, raising his average from .223 to .243 during that span.
Eloy Jimenez has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games, going 15-42 (.357) with a homer, seven RBI and a .900 OPS.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVE
The Sox returned OF Trayce Thompson from his rehab assignment with Class AAA Charlotte and reinstated him from the 60-day injured list … he will wear uniform No. 43.
He was acquired with RHPs Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure from LAD in exchange for Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn on 7/28.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
Texas limited Chicago to four hits, including three singles, in its 11-1 win, clinching a series victory.
The Rangers scored twice in the first, five times in the second, and two runs in the fifth and sixth.
The White Sox were held scoreless on two hits over the first seven innings … Seby Zavala snapped the Sox 26-inning scoreless stretch with a solo homer in the eighth.
Dylan Cease suffered the loss after allowing seven runs on seven hits with three walks and one strikeout over 1.2 IP
Chicago walked one time and struck out 12 times.
LIAM HENDRIKS UPDATE
Sox closer Liam Hendriks underwent successful surgery yesterday to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow … recovery time is expected to take approximately 12-14 months.
Hendriks was placed on the 15-day injured list on 6/11 (retroactive to 6/10) with right elbow inflammation.
Hendriks began the season on the injured list to continue his treatment for stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
CLOSE CALLS
Sixty-nine of Chicago’s 109 games (63.3 percent) this season have been decided by three runs or less (28-41).
The White Sox are 15-19 in one-run games and 6-8 in two-run games in 2023 … 44 of the last 51 games since 6/2 at Detroit have been decided by four runs or less (17-27 record).
LET’S MAKE A DEAL
The White Sox traded seven players as part of six trades from 7/26-8/1 … a breakdown of the deals prior to the trade deadline: q 8/1: Acquired RHP Juan Carela from the New York Yankees in exchange for RHP Keynan Middleton;
8/1: Acquired RHP Luis Patiño from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations; optioned Patiño to Class AAA Charlotte;
8/1: Acquired LHP Jake Eder from the Miami Marlins in exchange for
INF Jake Burger;
7/28: Acquired RHPs Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure and OF Trayce Thompson from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for RHPs Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn;
7/28: Acquired C Korey Lee from the Houston Astros in exchange for RHP Kendall Graveman;
7/26: Acquired C Edgar Quero and LHP Ky Bush from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for RHPs Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López.
WHITE SOX VS. TEXAS RANGERS
Texas has won four of the five games this season, including two of three from 6/19-21 at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The White Sox are hitting .190/.237/.329 with six home runs, own a 6.28 ERA (30 ER/43.0 IP) and have been outscored, 30-13.
The Rangers went 4-3 against the Sox in 2022, winning two of three games in Chicago and splitting four at Globe Life Field, for their first season series victory since 2014.
The Sox are 4-8 vs. the Rangers since the start of the 2022 season, and 4-5 all-time at Globe Life Field (opened in 2020).
Prior to 2022, the Sox had won five straight season series and were 7-1-1 in the last nine season matchups.
STARTEING PITCHER – #47 TOUKI TOUSSAINT RHP
TOUSSAINT AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his sixth start (ninth appearance) of the season and fourth (sixth) on the road.
Owns a 1-2 record with a 3.34 ERA (12 ER/32.1 IP), .174 (19-109) opponents average, 18 walks and 27 strikeouts with the White Sox in 2023.
Has worked at least 5.0 IP in four of his last five appearances (three starts) … has struck out 15 during that span.
Is limiting right-handed hitters to a .163/.281/.204 (8-49) slash line with eight walks and 18 strikeouts this year.
Opponents are batting .129/.348/.129 (4-31) with RISP and .000/.400/.000 (0-12) with RISP/two-outs this year.
Was claimed off waivers by the White Sox on 6/20 after being designated for assignment by Cleveland on 6/17.
Made his major-league debut with Atlanta on 8/13/18 vs. Miami, allowing one run on two hits over 6.0 IP.
Was originally selected by Arizona in the first round (16th overall) of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft.
LAST START
Earned his first win with Chicago on 7/28 vs. Cleveland … spun 5.0 scoreless IP, allowing three hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
Marked his third career appearance throwing 5.0-plus scoreless IP (last on 8/30/22 vs. New York-AL with Los Angeles-AL).
Exited in the sixth inning with the White Sox leading, 1-0 … threw 83 pitches (52 strikes).
Owned a 63.2 first-strike percentage and 16.9 swinging-strike percentage (14 swing and misses) vs. 27 batters … threw 29 curveballs (76.5 mph avg; 78.3 mph max), 22 four-seam fastballs (94.1 avg; 95.5 max), 17 splitters (87.1 avg; 88.5 max) and 15 sinkers (93.1 avg; 94.7 max).
START YOUR ENGINES
Will be making his 29th career start and sixth this year (fifth with Chicago).
Has gone 6-10 with a 5.18 ERA (74 ER/128.2 IP), .229 (108-471) opponents average, 73 walks and 130 strikeouts in his 28 starts (five quality).
Is 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA (11 ER/18.1 IP) in his four starts this year.
START STRONG
Is holding batters to a .107/.242/.143 (3-28) slash line in his first IP this year.
First batters faced are hitting .182 (6-33) and is limiting opponents to a .193/.329/.348 (81-420) slash line the first time through the order lifetime.
Owns a 2.22 ERA (7 ER/28.1 IP) in the first inning, his lowest career ERA for any inning.
WALK IT OUT
Is averaging 5.75 walks per 9.0 IP (23 BB/36.0 IP), the fourth-highest among American League pitchers with at least 35.0 IP.
Has walked at least one batter in eight of his nine appearances this season.
DEBUT ON 35TH AND SHIELDS
Made his White Sox debut on 6/21 vs. Texas, spinning 4.0 hitless IP with two walks and four strikeouts in relief.
Became the second Sox pitcher in franchise history to throw 4.0-plus hitless IP in his White Sox debut, joining Wilson Álvarez who threw a no-hitter on 8/11/91
TELL ME MORE
Has limited right-handers to a career .215/.326/.341 (92-428) slash line while lefties have hit .239/.391/.435 (77-322) against him.
Was named Atlanta’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2018.
Spent time on the IL to start the 2021 season with a right shoulder strain before making his season debut on 7/20 … allowed two runs over 13.2 IP (1.32 ERA) in his first two starts of 2021.
Was designated for assignment by the Braves on 7/2/22 and traded to the Los Angeles Angles … signed as a free agent with the Guardians on 1/4/23.
VS. TEXAS RANGERS || A.L. WEST
Is scheduled to make his third career appearance (first start) against the Texas Rangers.
Is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA (2 ER/8.0 IP), .087 (2-23) opponent average, four walks and seven strikeouts lifetime.
Faced Texas in his White Sox debut on 6/21 at Guaranteed Rate Field, throwing 4.0 scoreless IP with two walks and four strikeouts in relief.
Is 1-1 with a 3.90 ERA (12 ER/27.2 IP), .157 (14-89) opponents average, 21 walks and 31 strikeouts lifetime against the American League West.
TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:
WINS AND LOSSES: Texas beat the White Sox last night, 11-1, and club has a 2-0 record to begin this 6-game homestand vs. CWS (2-0 + today) and MIA (3 G)…TEX has won
straight after a 3-G losing streak, and has still lost 5 of 8 and 7 of 11 since a season-high 6-G win streak (7/14-19) out of the break, club’s longest since going 6-0, 6/22-28/19…team is 10-7 (.588) to start the 2nd “half”, 4th-best in the A.L…TEX is 11-9 in last 20, 12-13 in last 25 G, and 13-15 in last 28 G… team is 22-26 (.458) beg. 6/7, a stretch which came after club reached season high point at 20-over on 6/6 (40-20)…team’s 48-35 (.578) record since 4/28 is still 2nd-best in A.L. and 5thbest in MLB over that span (ATL: .650, 52-28; LAD: .600, 48- 32; BAL: .590, 49-34; SF: .583, 49-35; TEX: .578, 48-35)… TEX is 52-40 in last 92 G and 57-42 last 99 G (beg. 4/9).
- At 62-46 (.574), TEX owns the 3rd-best record in the A.L. and 5th-best in MLB (ATL: .651, 69-37; BAL: .611, 66-42; TB: .595, 66-45; LAD: .575, 61-45)…62 wins rank T3rd in A.L. and T4th-most in MLB (69-ATL, 66-BAL/TB, 62-TEX/HOU).
- The 62-46 mark is the T3rd-best 108-G start to a season in Washington/Texas franchise history (see chart below).
WITH A WIN TODAY, Texas would:
- Win all games of a series for the 7th time in ’23.
- Win all games of a series for 3rd time in span of 4 home series (3-0 both 7/14-16 vs. CLE and 7/17-19 vs. TB).
- Match 3rd-best 109-G start in franchise history (see above).
- Match 2nd-best 57-G home start in club history (see below).
- Finish ’23 w/ a 5-1 (.833) record vs. CWS, most wins in a season since 2010 (5-4) and 2nd-best win pct. ever vs. Pale Hose (11-2, .846 in 1986).
STANDINGS: TEX owns a 0.5-game lead in A.L. West over 2nd-place HOU for the 3rd consecutive day, having lost 4.0 G on the lead from 7/20-30…marks smallest lead since being tied for division lead on 5/5, as club had a lead of 2.0+ G in the division for 63 consecutive days from 5/23-7/24… TEX was 4.5 GA on 7/18-19, which was largest advantage since 7/1 (5.0 GA)…season-best 6.5-G lead in West after win 6/23 at NYY, which was largest division lead since winning the West by 9.0 G in 2016…TEX has had sole possession of 1st place for 88 straight, 95 of 96, and 108 of the last 110 days beg. 4/14.
- TEX has been alone or tied atop the division for 124 of the season’s first 125 days (exception: 4/8).
SERIES STUFF: This week’s series win vs. CWS snaps span of 3 straight series losses, which matched longest drought in ’23 (0-3-0 to finish 1st ‘half’)…club is now 3-3-0 in series since break…club is now 3-6-0 in last 9 series and 3-7- 1 in last 11 series…TEX is 5-9-1 in last 15 series following a season-best 6-0-0 span from 5/19-6/7…is 20-13-2 overall in series this year, going 11-5-2 at home and 9-8-0 on the road…team is 16-10-2 in last 28 series and 19-11-2 in last 32.
AT HOME: TEX is 36-20 (.643) at home, 3rd-best home record in MLB: TB (.661, 37-19), ATL (.649, 37-20)…marks TEX’s best 56-G start at home since 2016 (36-20)…club has won 9 of last 11 G at home and owns a 14-7 mark in Arlington beg. 6/17…has won 17 of 29, 22 of 34, 26 of 41, and 31 of last 49 at GLF (beg. 4/11)…TEX owns a 122-126 all-time record at GLF (2020-23), 42-27 last 68 G beg. 9/11/22.
TO THE MAX: Max Scherzer is scheduled to make his Rangers debut in today’s series finale…the 3-time Cy Young Award winner (2013, 2016-17) and 8-time All-Star was acquired from the Mets in a Sunday trade and was added to Texas’ active roster (no. 31) on Tuesday…this will mark his 1st appearance for an American League club since 2014 (started for DET in ALDS G1 at BAL), his final campaign with the Tigers (2010-14)…this will also be his 1st career outing at Globe Life Field (regular or postseason), the 35th Major League venue at which he has appeared…has not pitched in Arlington since a start on 8/10/12 at TEX w/ DET (W, 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R-ER, 2 BB, 8 SO, 1 HR)…he made a pair of starts for the Tigers against the Rangers at GLPIA in the 2011 ALCS, including Texas’ pennant-clinching 15-5 win in Game 6 of that
series on 10/15/11 (L, 2.1 IP, 6 R-ER).
ANOTHER BIG WIN: Texas posted an 11-1 win last night… it was the Rangers’ MLB-best 8th win by 10+ R this season, 1st in nearly 2 months (last 6/3 vs. SEA)…most 10+ R wins in MLB in ’23: 8-TEX, 5-CHC/SF/TB, 4-PHI/PIT/SD…the 8 such wins rank 2nd in Washington/Texas history for a single season (10-1996) and match the most by any MLB club in a campaign since the start of 2020 (also 10 by HOU in 2021).
- The Rangers’ A.L.-best +157 run differential is 2nd-best in MLB (ATL is +159)…while the +157 figure is still shy of Texas’ season high (+166 on 7/19), the only other time in any season that club’s run differential has gotten this large was in Sept. 2011, when record of +178 was reached on last day of the year (9/28/11).
MORE OFFENSE: Last night marked the Rangers’ 22nd game with 10+ R and 53rd game with 10+ H, both the most in MLB this season…Texas leads MLB with 622 runs, 1025 hits, and a .273 batting average…the 22 games with 10+ runs rank 2nd in Rangers history (25 in 2008) with nearly 2 full months remaining in the campaign.
LIKE HE NEVER LEFT: Corey Seager returned from a right thumb sprain last night and went 2-for-4 with a HR, 3 RBI, and 2 R…Seager has slashed .352/.414/.640/1.054 in 67 games played this season…despite 2 IL stints, Seager ranks 6th in MLB in bWAR (4.8) and 11th in fWAR (3.9).
VS. CHICAGO-AL: The Rangers are 4-1 vs. Pale Hose in ’23, having secured a season series win for 2nd straight year after losing each of previous 5 chances…Rangers trail in the all-time series (259-282-3), but has gone 155-120 in Arlington…TEX has gone 16-5 vs. A.L. Central foes in 2023, winning 14 of its last 18 G against the division.
MIAMI NEXT: Texas went 2-1 vs. Marlins last year in Miami, all games that were rescheduled as a result of the season being pushed back…prior to last year, clubs had not met since 2017, which was the last Fish visit to Arlington (TEX lost 2 of 3, including last game by a 22-10 score…Marlins are one of 6 ML clubs that has yet to play at GLF: CHC, CIN, MIA, MIL, NYM, PIT.
SHORTS: Dane Dunning had a career-high 11 SO in last night’s win…Dunning over the last 2 starts against CWS, his former team: 2-0, 14.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R-ER, 2 BB, 17 SO…Josh Jung’s 21 HR are tied for most among all MLB rookies (also ARI’s Corbin Carroll and NYM’s Francisco Alvarez)…last night was Rangers’ 10th game with 7+ XBH, with 8 of those games coming in Arlington.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – #31 Max Scherzer, RHP (9-4, 4.01)
TODAY: The 3-time Cy Young Award winner (2013, 2016-17) and 8-time All-Star is scheduled to make his Rangers debut in this afternoon’s series finale vs. Chicago-AL…was acquired from the New York Mets, along with cash considerations, in exchange for INF/OF Luisangel Acuña on Sunday, and was added to Texas’ active roster on Tuesday…has gone 9-4 with a 4.01 ERA (48 ER/107.2 IP), 121 SO/30 BB, and a .240 opp. BA in 19 games/starts with the Mets this season, ranking among National League leaders in SO/9 (8th, 10.11), BR/9 (8th, 10.95), SO/BB ratio (9th, 4.03), WHIP (9th, 1.19), and wins (T9th)…will work today on extra 5 days’ rest, as he last pitched in New York-NL’s 5-1 victory on Fri. vs. WAS (see ‘Last Start’)…23 HR allowed this season are 2nd-most in N.L./T8th-most in MLB and the T4th-highest total of his 16-year MLB career (31-2016, 29-2011, 27- 2015)…turned 39 years old on 7/27, and at 39 years, 7 days old would be the eldest pitcher to start a game for the Rangers since Bartolo Colon on 9/5/18 vs. LAA (45 years, 104 days)…Scherzer is MLB’s active leader in career strikeouts (3,314), ranking 12th on the all-time list as one of only 19 pitchers to reach 3,000+ K’s in MLB history…he also ranks among active ML leaders in win percentage (2nd, .665), wins (3rd, 210), ERA (3rd, 3.15)…originally drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1st round (11th overall) of the 2006 MLB draft out of the University of Missouri…owns a 210-106 record and 3.15 ERA (975 ER/2789.2 IP) in 449 games/440 starts across 16 Major League seasons with Arizona (2008-09), Detroit (2010-14), Washington (2015-2021), Los Angeles-NL (2021), and New York-NL (2022-23)…the Mets went 12-7 in his 19 starts for the club in 2023.
LAST START: Made his 19th start of the season and final appearance with New York-NL on on Fri. vs. WAS (W, 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R-ER, 2 BB, 7 SO, 1 HR, 103 pitches/69 strikes), guiding the Mets to a 5-1 victory at Citi Field…was scoreless thru 6.0 frames before surrendering solo HR to Luis García in the 7th…improved to 3-0, 2.18 ERA (10 ER/41.1 IP) over 7 G/GS in Queens this season…marked his 5th ultra-quality start (7.0+ IP, 2-or-fewer ER) of the campaign, T8th-most in MLB, and the 283rd quality start (6.0 IP, 3-or-fewer ER) of his career, a total ranking 53rd all-time just behind Luis Tiant (52nd, 284) and Curt Schilling (51st, 288).
MR. “3,000”: Scherzer is MLB’s active career leader in strikeouts (3,314), ranking 12th on the all-time strikeouts list as one of only 19 players to reach 3,000+
career K’s in MLB history…he would be the 5th-ever member of the esteemed “3,000 Strikeout Club” to appear for Texas, joining Nolan Ryan (1989-93), Bert Blyleven (1976-77), Gaylord Perry (1975-77, 1980), and Fergie Jenkins (1974- 75, 1978-81)…he has recorded 9 seasons of 200+ strikeouts, which ranks 5th all-time behind Nolan Ryan (15), Randy Johnson (13), Roger Clemens (12), and Tom Seaver (10)…recorded his 111th career double-digit strikeout game on 6/7/23 at ATL, moving ahead of Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez for 3rd place alltime (215-Ryan, 212-Johnson, 111-Scherzer).
VS. CHICAGO-AL: Is 13-6, 2.43 ERA (44 ER/163.0 IP) in 24 career games/ starts vs. Chicago-AL, his most commonly-faced A.L. opponent…has not pitched against the White Sox since a start on 6/8/16 at CWS w/ WAS (W, 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 SO), which remains his only meeting with the Pale Hose since the start of 2015…he still ranks among active MLB pitchers in wins (T2nd), innings (5th), strikeouts (5th), and starts (T6th) vs. CWS…Scherzer in his last 13 G/GS against the White Sox (beg. 9/1/12): 10-2, 2.06 ERA (20 ER/87.1 IP), 90 SO/19 BB.
AT HOME / IN ARLINGTON: Performed far better in 7 home starts at Citi Field (3-0, 2.18 ERA) than in his 12 starts on the road (6-4, 5.16 ERA) this season… has gone 99-49, 3.09 ERA (470 ER/1367.2 IP) in 218 games/214 starts in his career at home, and today will be seeking to become just the 5th active MLB pitcher to record 100+ career home wins (129-Zack Greinke, 128-Justin Verlander, 109-Clayton Kershaw, 107-Adam Wainwright).
- Today’s start will be his 1st career outing at Globe Life Field (regular or postseason), which will be the 35th Major League venue at which he has appeared… owned a lifetime 2-0 record and 5.00 ERA (10 ER/18.0 IP) in 3 regular season starts at the former Globe Life Park, but has not pitched in Arlington since a start on 8/10/12 at TEX w/ DET (W, 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R-ER, 2 BB, 8 SO, 1 HR)…he made a pair of starts for Detroit against the Rangers at GLPIA in the 2011 ALCS, including Texas’ pennant-clinching 15-5 win in Game 6 on 10/15/11 (L, 2.1 IP, 6 R-ER).
2023: Opponents have batted .240/.295/.445/.740 (98-409) against Scherzer this season, including opp. BA’s of .236 (49-208) vs. RHB and .244 (49-201) vs. LHB…has allowed at least one HR in 13 of 19 GS and 2+ HR in 6 GS, as career-high 1.92 HR/9 figure is 4th-highest among MLB qualifiers…opp. BA by time thru the order: 1st (.213, 33-155), 2nd (.217, 33-152), 3rd (.313, 31-99), and 4th+ (1-3)…his 69.6% 1st-pitch strike pct. is 2nd-highest among MLB qualifiers to only MIN’s Pablo Lopez (71.3%), and would be his highest mark since 2019 (70.4%)… start on 7/16 vs. LAD (W, 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R) was 7th career outing with 7.0+ IP and one-or-zero hits allowed…logged season-high 8.0 IP on 6/19 at HOU (W, 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R-ER)…recorded his 111th career double-digit strikeout game on 6/7 at ATL, moving ahead of Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez for 3rd place all-time.
