CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost four of their last five games, seven of nine and 10 of 14 as they continue a six-game trip today at Tampa Bay.
RHP Dylan Cease is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are in fourth place in the American League Central, but just 4.0 games behind division-leading Minnesota.
The Sox opened the trip last night with an 8-7 loss to the Rays on Brandon Lowe’s walkoff homer off Reynaldo López.
Following this three-game series, the White Sox conclude the trip with three in Toronto (4/24-26) before returning to Chicago for seven games vs. the Rays (4/27-30) and Minnesota (5/2-4).
The Sox went 2-4 on their last homestand vs. Baltimore (1-2) and Philadelphia (1-2) from 4/13-19 and 2-4 on their last trip to Pittsburgh (1-2) and Minnesota (1-2) from 4/7-12.
TODAY’S STORYLINES
Dylan Cease is 9-4 with a 1.94 ERA (19 ER/88.0 IP) and 109 strikeouts in 16 road starts since the start of the 2022 season.
The White Sox are a season-high six games under .500.
Chicago has led at some point in eight of its 13 losses.
The Sox bullpen has no walks and 18 strikeouts in 12.0 IP over the last three games (14 BB in 14.2 IP in the previous four).
The White Sox are 8-5 at Tropicana Field since 2018 … six of their eight wins have come by one run.
The White Sox are hitting .211/.274/.345 (77-365) with 38 runs scored (3.5 R/G) over the last 11 games.
Andrew Vaughn has reached base safely in 18 of his 19 games this season and has recorded a team-high nine games with a hit and RBI.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
Brandon Lowe hit a game-ending, two-run homer off Reynaldo López in the ninth inning to cap a three-run rally as Tampa Bay defeated the White Sox, 8-7.
The Sox overcame an early 4-0 deficit to take a 7-5 lead into the ninth, but López gave up a leadoff home run to Christian Bethancourt, followed by a single to Yandy Díaz, setting up Lowe’s walkoff heroics.
After Tampa Bay scored four runs off Michael Kopech (5 ER/5.0 IP), the White Sox scored three runs in the second and three more on six walks in the third … the six walks were the most for the Sox in one inning since 4/22/59 at Kansas City (10 in the seventh).
Jimmy Lambert, Kendall Graveman and Aaron Bummer each posted holds with 1.0 scoreless IP in relief before López suffered his second loss and blown save of the season.
Eloy Jiménez hit his fi rst homer of the season in the fourth with a solo shot off Cooper Criswell.
For just the second time in franchise history, the White Sox played a road game against a team with a record of 10-0 or better at home (STATS) … the fi rst such game was on 5/18/51 when the Sox recorded a 7-4 victory at New York-AL, which entered the game with a 10-0 record at Yankee Stadium.
The White Sox walked eight times and struck out 14 batters.
RAYS AND WHITE SOX TO HONOR WILLS
The Rays today will honor the life of long-time radio announcer Dave Wills, who passed away on 3/5/23 at the age of 58.
Wills, a Chicago native, served as the team’s radio play-by-play voice for 18 seasons from 2005-22 after working on the White Sox radio broadcast team for nearly a decade.
Rays players will also wear a specially designed memorial patch on batting helmets throughout the season … a scholarship also is being established in honor of Wills.
CEASE AND DESTROY
Dylan Cease, who fi nished second in the American League Cy Young Award voting last season, has gone 12-6 with a 1.58 ERA (28 ER/159.2 IP) and 185 strikeouts over his last 27 starts dating to 5/29/22.
During that stretch, Cease leads MLB in ERA and opponents average (.170).
Since the start of the 2022 season, Cease has allowed one or zero runs 26 times, the most in MLB … 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).
ON THE AIR
Today’s game at Tropicana Field will be nationally televised on FOX with Jason Benetti and Tom Verducci on the call.
Gordon Beckham is fi lling in for Steve Stone in the NBC Sports Chicago booth for this six-game trip to Tampa Bay and Toronto.
WHITE SOX VS. TAMPA BAY RAYS
The Rays lead the season series, 1-0.
The White Sox went 4-2 against Tampa Bay in 2022, winning two of three games in Chicago from 4/15-17 and two of three at Tropicana Field from 6/3-5.
The Sox batted .248/.293/.371 (50-202) with a 3.23 ERA (19 ER/53.0 IP) and were outscored by the Rays, 26-21 … all four White Sox victories came by one run.
Elvis Andrus is a career .307/.375/.444 (99-322) hitter in 87 games against Tampa Bay, and Andrew Vaughn owns a .340/.380/.447 (16-47) slash line in 12 career games.
FAMILIAR FACE
White Sox bench coach Charlie Montoyo spent 22 seasons (1997-2018) in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, including four on manager Kevin Cash’s staff as third-base coach (2015-17) and bench coach (2018).
Montoyo also managed 18 seasons in the Rays minor-league system from 1997-2014, including eight at Class AAA Durham (2007-14), compiling a 1,266-1,142 (.526) record.
He led Durham to seven International League South Division titles, six trips to the International League finals, two Governors’ Cup Championships (2009, ‘13) and the Triple-A title in 2009 … his No. 25 was retired by the Bulls on 5/26/16.
Montoyo managed Class AA Montgomery from 2004-06, winning the Southern League championship in his final season.
FROM THE TRAINING ROOM
INF Hanser Alberto (strained left quad), SS Tim Anderson (sprained left knee), LHP Garrett Crochet (Tommy John recovery), RHPs Matt Foster (Tommy John surgery), Liam Hendriks (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma treatment) and Joe Kelly (right groin strain) and 3B Yoán Moncada (lower back soreness) are on the injured list.
DYNAMIC DUO
Eloy Jiménez and Dylan Cease were acquired by the White Sox from the Cubs on 7/13/17 as part of a fi ve-player deal.
Since making their debuts in 2019, Jiménez has homered in 12 of Cease’s starts (14 total HR) … the Sox are 11-1 in those games, including multi-homer eff orts from Jiménez on 9/3/19 at Cleveland and 8/8/21 at the Cubs (STATS).
Jiménez homered in six of Cease’s starts in 2022 (all in the second half), including three in a row from 7/24-8/5.
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS
The White Sox are batting .273/.339/.443 vs. left-handed pitching since the start of the 2019 season … during that span, the Sox lead MLB in average, rank second in on-base percentage, third in OPS (.782) and fifth in slugging.
Tim Anderson owns a .353/.383/.564 (141-399) slash line vs. LHP since 2019, while Hanser Alberto is hitting .343/.362/.483 (170-495) … during that span, Anderson and Alberto rank 1-2 in MLB in average vs. LHP.
Luis Robert Jr. is a career .352/.405/.623 (70-199) hitter vs. lefties … Jake Burger owns a .641 slugging percentage vs. LHP.
STARTER – #84 DYLAN CEASE RHP
CEASE AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his fifth start of the season, third on the road and first vs. the Tampa Bay Rays.
Has allowed one run or less while tossing 5.0-plus IP in 23 starts since 2022 … the 23 starts are the most in baseball ahead of the Dodgers’ Julio Urías (22) and the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani (20).
Has tossed at least 5.0 IP while allowing just two earned runs or less in each of his four starts to begin the season … the last White Sox pitcher to accomplish this feat was Carlos Rodón when he did it in his first five starts of 2021.
Is approaching the following career milestones: six games/starts for 100 and two wins for 40.
According to STATS, he is the fastest White Sox pitcher to reach 600 career strikeouts (495.1 IP).
Ranks third in MLB since 2021 in SO/9.0 IP (11.66) and strikeouts (482) and sixth in opponents average (.202).
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
Received a no decision on 4/16 vs. Baltimore despite collecting his second quality start of the season … allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits with five walks and five strikeouts … reached the 500.0 career IP mark in the third inning … allowed a two-run triple to Cedric Mullins following a fielding error by Jake Burger in the previous at-bat in the fourth inning.
Departed the game in the seventh with the game tied, 4-4 … threw a career-high 113 pitches (70 strikes) … the White Sox would go on to lose, 8-4.
Owned a 66.7 first-strike percentage and 9.7 swinging-strike percentage (11 swing and misses) vs. 30 batters … threw 48 sliders (84.9 mph avg; 87.4 mph max), 47 four-seam fastballs (94.4 avg; 96.3 max), 15 knuckle curveballs (78.9 avg; 81.3 max) and three changeups (76.8 avg; 77.7 max).
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Is 8-3 with a 1.62 ERA (14 ER/77.2 IP) in his last 14 road starts, 11-4 with a 1.74 ERA (19 ER/98.1 IP) over his last 18 and 13-5 with a 2.14 ERA (30 ER/126.1 IP) in his last 23.
Ranks among MLB road leaders since 7/11/21 in ERA (3rd, 2.14), opponents average (4th, .192), wins (T4th, 13) and strikeouts (5th, 166).
LIGHTS OUT IN THE SUN
Is 10-4 with a 1.54 ERA (21 ER/122.1 IP), .179 (79-442) opponents average and 150 strikeouts (11.04 per 9.0 IP) over 21 day starts since the start of last season.
His 1.54 ERA in day games since 2022 is the seventh-lowest in baseball and second-lowest among pitchers with at least 10 starts during the day.
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. TAMPA BAY RAYS || A.L. EAST
Is scheduled to make his fourth career start against the Tampa Bay Rays and third at Tropicana Field.
Went 1-0 with a 0.87 ERA (1 ER/10.1 IP), .121 (4-33) opponents average, nine walks and 13 strikeouts in two starts against the Rays in 2022.
Received a no decision in his last start on 6/4/2 at Tampa Bay, allowing two unearned runs over 4.2 IP.
Is 1-2 with a 5.00 ERA (20 ER/36.0 IP), .216 (29-134) opponents average and 53 strikeouts over his last seven starts against the American League East.
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
DON’T COUNT US OUT — Trailing 7-5 entering the ninth inning, C Christian Bethancourt (2-for-4, HR, RBI, R) led off the frame with a solo homer, bringing the Rays within one run…1B Yandy Díaz (2-for-5, RBI) followed the Bethancourt homer with a single, setting the table for 2B Brandon Lowe’s (1-for-4, HR, 2RBI, BB, 2R) walk-off two-run homer.
For Lowe, it marked his first career-walk off homer and his second career walkoff plate appearance (also: sac-fly on 9/6/20 vs. MIA)…Lowe has homered in six of his last 13 games, batting .325 (13-for-40) with one double, 6 HR, 15 RBI and an .800 slugging percentage in that span.
The victory marked Tampa Bay’s first walk-off win since 8/24/22 vs. Los Angeles-AL (David Peralta, fielder’s choice), and its first walk-off homer since 6/7/22 vs. St. Louis (Taylor Walls off Drew VerHagen)…Tampa Bay improved to 2-3 when trailing entering the ninth inning — the 2022 Rays went 3-62 in those situations.
CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP — Tampa Bay has hit a major league-best 45 home runs, second most through a team’s first 20 games of a season in MLB history (since 1901) behind the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals (47HR).
Tampa Bay has homered in each of its first 20 games, tied for longest streak to open a season in MLB history (since 1901) with the 2019 Seattle Mariners…the 20- game run marks a franchise record for the longest single-season home run streak, surpassing an 18-game run from 8/19-9/8, 2017.
The current MLB record for homers through 21 games is 50 HR, held by the 2000 Cardinals, followed by the 2003 New York Yankees (43HR) and 2019 Seattle Mariners (42HR).
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS — Tampa Bay has won 11 straight home games to open the season, the longest streak in the majors since the 2009 Los Angeles Dodgers won their first 13 home games.…the Rays join the 2009 Dodgers as one of five teams since 1901 to win at least their first 11 home games along with the 2003 Kansas City Royals (11G), 1911 Detroit Tigers (12G) and 1907 New York Giants (15G).
With a win this afternoon, Tampa Bay would tie its longest home win streak in franchise history, matching a 12-game run from 4/22-5/13, 2008.
Since the beginning of the 2017 season, the Rays are 275-170 (.618) in home games, the fourth-best home winning percentage in the majors, trailing only Los Angeles-NL (303-145, .676), New York-AL (294-156, .653) and Houston (286-160, .641).
GOOSE EGGS — The Rays have recorded a major league-leading six shutout wins this season, ahead of Chicago-NL and Milwaukee with four apiece…Tampa Bay is one of seven teams since 1901 to have at least six shutouts in its first 20 games and the first since the 1981 Texas Ranges (6 shutouts)…with a shutout today, Tampa Bay would join the 1945 Detroit Tigers as the only teams since 1901 to record seven shutouts in their first 21 games.
THE LOWE DOWN — Josh Lowe has hit safely in six straight games, batting .409 (9-for22) with three doubles, 2 HR, 9 RBI and three steals during the run…he has reached base safely in his last nine games dating back to 4/9, the third-longest on-base streak of his career (12G: 7/5-22, 2022 and 11G: 7/24/22-4/4/23).
He ranks among AL batters in extra-base hits (T4th, 11), doubles (T5th, 7), slugging percentage (7th, .745) and OPS (8th, 1.163).
Lowe’s seven multi-hit games are tied with Yandy Díaz and Harold Ramírez for the team lead while his seven doubles are second on the club behind Wander Franco (8).
DAY IN, DAY OUT — The Rays lead MLB in runs scored (141) while allowing the fewest runs (57)…Tampa Bay’s +84 run differential is the best mark through the first 20 games of a season in MLB history (since 1901).
Since 1901, the current run differential record through 21 games is +91, done by the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates, followed by the 2003 New York Yankees (+86).
Tampa Bay’s 141 runs scored are its most through 20 games in club history, ahead of the 2010 Rays (121R)…the Rays are one of 16 teams since 1901 to score 141+ runs through their first 20 games, and the first since the 2003 New York Yankees (142R).
ON THE MOUND — Tampa Bay’s 2.80 ERA is the best mark in the majors ahead of Milwaukee (3.07)…this includes the best starter ERA (2.55) and fourth-best bullpen ERA (3.09)…Rays pitchers rank among MLB leaders in opponents’ OPS (1st, .572), opponents’ average (1st, .199), HR/9.0IP (1st, 0.46), fewest pitches per IP (2nd, 15.6), WHIP (2nd, 1.10) and lowest average exit velocity (3rd, 87.6 mph).
The Rays’ 57 runs allowed are second-fewest through 20 games in club history, behind the 2019 team (55R)…the club record for fewest runs allowed through the first 21 games is held by the 2019 Rays (61R).
Rays pitchers have allowed a league-low nine homers ahead of both Atlanta and Seattle (13HR)
IN THE BOX — Rays hitters lead MLB in runs scored (141), OPS (.905), slugging percentage (.544), extra-base hits (85) and total bases (374).
Since 1901, Tampa Bay is one of four teams to score 7+ runs in 13 of its first 20 games to start the season, joining the 1928 New York Yankees, 1929 New York Yankees and 1930 New York Giants…the only club to score 7+ runs in 14 of its first 21 games is the 1930 New York Giants.
RAYS AND SOX — The Rays and White Sox meet this afternoon for the second of seven matchups this season, all of which take place over a 10-day stretch from 4/21-30…Tampa Bay went 2-4 vs. Chicago-AL last season, including 1-2 at home.
TODAY’S STARTER: LHP SHANE McCLANAHAN (4-0, 1.57)
SUGAR SHANE — The left-hander toes the rubber this afternoon for his fifth start of the season, including his third at Tropicana Field…is searching for his fifth victory in as many starts, which would mark his most consecutive wins since 5/17-6/9, 2022 (5G)…was originally selected by the Rays in the first round (31st overall) of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft.
KEPT THE BALL ROLLING — McClanahan held the Blue Jays to a lone run over 6.0 frames as the Rays claimed an 8-1 win in the series finale in Toronto on 4/16 (6.0IP, 4H, ER, 2BB, 6SO)…allowed each of the first three batters he faced to reach base safely, including an RBI-single off the bat of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but settled in to retire 11 straight batters and 18 of the final 21 he faced.
Has yielded two or fewer ER in 11 of his 12 road starts since the start of 2022, pitching to a 2.11 ERA (72.2IP, 17ER) in those games.
SIZING UP THE SOX — Over two career starts opposite Chicago-AL, Shane is 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA (11.0IP, 4ER), fanning 12 while walking one…his 2.00 SO/BB ratio against the White Sox is his highest against any opponent in his career…the White Sox’ current 26-man roster is a combined 3-for-24 (.125) lifetime against McClanahan.
His only previous home start against the White Sox came on 6/3/22 — McClanahan earned the win after permitting a pair of runs on six hits with eight strikeouts and zero walks.
Shane has pitched to a 5-5 mark with a 3.19 ERA (62.0IP, 22ER) in 11 career starts against AL Central clubs.
ALL I DO IS WIN — McClanahan has won each of his first four starts this season, becoming the third pitcher in Rays history to accomplish the feat, joining Matt Moore (5GS, 4/5-27/13) and Tyler Glasnow (4GS, 3/30-4/16, 2019)…joins MIN Joe Ryan and NYY Gerrit Cole (4GS each) as the only pitchers to turn the trick this season…the last major league pitcher to win each of his first five starts in a season was CWS Carlos Rodón in 2021 (5GS).
The streak marks McClanahan’s most consecutive starts with a win at any point in a season since a career-high-tying five-start run from 5/17-6/9, 2022.
AMONG THE BEST — This season, McClanahan ranks among AL leaders (min. 20.0IP) in wins (T1st, 4), whiff rate (3rd, 34.8%), ERA (5th, 1.57), opp.
slugging (6th, .247), opp. OPS (8th, .530), opp. average (9th, .195), hits/9.0 IP (9th, 5.87) and strikeout rate (10th, 29.3%).
WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK — McClanahan’s 8.61 run support average ranks fifth in the AL, trailing MIN Joe Ryan (11.52), BOS Tanner Houck (11.14), TB Drew Rasmussen (9.27) and BAL Kyle Gibson (8.75)…has received five-or-more runs of support in each of his last three starts, his longest such streak since 8/7-27, 2021 (4GS).
In his career, the Rays are 26-3 when providing him with three-or-more runs of support, compared to 8-20 with two-or-fewer runs of support.
FULL SPEED AHEAD — McClanahan’s four-seam fastball has clocked in at an average velocity of 97.2 mph this season, second-fastest among AL starting pitchers’ fastballs behind TEX Jacob deGrom (98.8 mph) and fifth-fastest among MLB starters (min. 150 FB thrown)…since breaking into the majors in 2021, his 96.6 mph average velocity on his fastball is eighth-fastest in MLB, including third among southpaws (min. 1,500 FB thrown) behind only José Alvarado (97.8 mph) and Gregory Soto (98.2 mph).
