CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost six straight games, eight of their last nine, 11 of 13 and 14 of 18 as they conclude a six-game trip this afternoon at Toronto.
RHP Michael Kopech is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are off to their worst 24-game start since 1986 (also 7-17).
The Sox are 0-5 on the trip, losing the first two games of this series by a 12-2 margin after being swept in a three-game series at Tampa Bay last weekend, including a pair of walkoff losses on Friday and Saturday.
Following today’s game, the White Sox return home 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
The White Sox are 10 games under .500 in April for the first time since 2018, are 0-7-1 in series and have not won back-to-back games in 2023.
For the second straight season, the Sox are attempting to avoid a three-game sweep in Toronto (5/21-6/2/22) and an 0-6 trip in the month of April (4/20-24/22 at Cleveland and Minnesota).
The White Sox are hitting .187/.250/.312 (92-491) with 44 runs scored (2.9 R/G) over the last 15 games.
The Sox bullpen owns a 2.59 ERA (7 ER/24.1 IP) with seven walks over the last seven games, compared to a 7.41 mark (48 ER/58.1 IP) with 41 walks in the first 17.
Andrew Benintendi has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games, going 15-47 (.319).
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
Danny Jansen went 3-4 with two home runs and four RBI, and the White Sox were limited to four hits as they lost their sixth straight game, 7-0, at Toronto.
Mike Clevinger suffered the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits over 5.0 IP … Tanner Banks threw the final 3.0 IP, giving up one run on three hits with no walks.
The Sox managed just four singles and one walk as they were shut out for the second time this season and first time at Rogers Centre since 5/25/15.
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS
The White Sox are batting .272/.338/.442 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 (.781) and sixth 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 .347/.399/.614 (70-202) hitter vs. lefties … Jake Burger owns a .612 slugging percentage vs. LHP.
NO RISP, NO REWARD
The White Sox rank fifth in the American League with a .273 (51-187) average with runners in scoring position … over the last six games, the Sox are hitting .176 (6-34) and have not collected more than three hits in any of the games.
Andrew Vaughn is batting .450/.542/.850 (9-20) with 15 RBI with RISP this season, and Andrew Benintendi is hitting .462/.563/.538 (6-13).
APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS?
The White Sox April schedule is the toughest in baseball, as their eight opponents have combined to record a .637 winning percentage entering tonight’s games (STATS).
Conversely, the Sox schedule in May is the second-easiest in baseball, as their scheduled opponents have combined for a .419 winning percentage entering today.
The White Sox have played the top three teams in the American League East in Tampa Bay (20-4), Baltimore (15-8) and Toronto (15-9), AL Central-leading Minnesota (14-10) and National League Central-leading Pittsburgh (16-8).
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) and Liam Hendriks (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma treatment) and 3B Yoán Moncada (lower back soreness) are on the injured list.
The White Sox projected lineup has played together just twice times this season (4/2-3).
WHITE SOX VS. TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Toronto leads the season series, 2-0.
The White Sox are batting .115/.206/.1321 (7-61) with a 6.75 ERA (12 ER/16.0 IP) and have been outscored, 12-2.
The Blue Jays won the 2022 season series, 4-2, sweeping a three-game set at Rogers Centre from 5/31-6/2 before losing two of three in Chicago from 6/20-22.
The Sox have been outscored, 33-13, during their current five-game losing streak at Rogers Centre.
FAMILIAR FACE
White Sox bench coach Charlie Montoyo spent three-plus seasons as Toronto’s manager from 2019-22, recording a 236- 236 record.
Montoyo guided the Blue Jays to an American League Wild Card Series berth in 2020 and to 91 victories in 2021 despite playing home games those two seasons in Dunedin, Fla., Buffalo, N.Y. and Toronto.
The White Sox opened the trip in Tampa Bay, where Montoyo spent 22 seasons (1997-2018) in the Rays organization, including four on manager Kevin Cash’s staff as third-base coach (2015-17) and bench coach (2018).
LOOKING FOR AN EDGE VS. THE EAST
The White Sox are 1-7 against American League East teams this season, including an 0-5 record on the road … they have been outscored, 48-27.
By comparison, the Sox combined to go 34-31 vs. the AL Eastern 2021-22.
AS TA GOES, SO GO THE WHITE SOX
The White Sox have gone 2-11 since All-Star SS Tim Anderson was placed on the 10-day injured list on 4/11 with a sprained left knee suffered on 4/10 at Minnesota.
Since the start of the 2020 season, the Sox are 150-112 (.573) when Anderson is in the starting lineup and 66-80 (.452) when he is not.
During that span, the Sox are 124-73 when Anderson records a hit, 72-32 when he records a multi-hit effort, 27-9 when he registers a three-hit game, 94-46 when he scored a run and 27-3 when he hits a home run.
STARTER – #34 MICHAEL KOPECH RHP
KOPECH AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his fifth start of the season, third on the road and first vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.
Will face an American League East team for third straight time this year … is 0-0 with a 7.20 ERA (8 ER/10.0 IP) with 13 strikeouts in his previous two starts.
Has gone 7-12 with 3.96 ERA (74 ER/168.1 IP), .216 (134-619) opponents average and 166 strikeouts in 37 career starts … is 3-3 with 3.90 ERA (24 ER/55.1 IP), .225 (47-209) opponents average and 80 strikeouts in 40 career relief appearances.
Has recorded 100-plus strikeouts in each of his last two seasons (2021-22).
Spent his first full season in the major leagues in 2021, pitching out of the bullpen (40 games) while making four starts … opted out of the 2020 season for personal reasons … missed the entire 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery (performed on 9/18/18).
Was acquired by the White Sox from Boston with OF Luis Basabe, RHP Víctor Díaz and INF Yoán Moncada in exchange for LHP Chris Sale on 12/6/16.
LAST START
Received a no decision on 4/21 vs. Tampa Bay, allowing five runs on six hits over 5.0 IP … walked four and recorded a season-high nine strikeouts … threw 104 pitches (60 strikes).
Surrendered four runs in the first inning with a two-run double to Josh Lowe and a two-run home run to Harold Ramírez … allowed another run in the fourth off a Yandy Díaz RBI single.
Departed the game in the sixth with the Sox leading 7-5 … Chicago would go on to lose after a walkoff, two-run home run off the bat of Brandon Lowe in the ninth.
Owned a 52.0 first-strike percentage and 13.5 swinging-strike percentage (16 swing and misses) vs. 25 batters … threw 72 four-seam fastballs (96.9 mph avg; 99.9 mph max), 25 sliders (86.0 avg; 88.2 max), three curveballs (80.6 avg; 81.2) and one changeup (86.2 avg).
CHANCES ARE SLIM
Has limited the opposition to a .200 (31-155) average with RISP and .198 (16-81) mark with RISP/two outs in his career.
Opponents batted .149 (10-67) with RISP and .125 (5-40) with RISP/two outs against him in 2022.
HEATER ON AND RELIABLE
His four-seam fastball held the opposition to a .189 (64- 243) batting average, the sixth-lowest in Major League Baseball in 2022 among all pitchers with at least 250 batters faced … opponents own a .238 (10-42) average on his fastball this season.
Had the highest four-seam fastball usage (61.6%) last season among MLB starting pitchers (min. 2,000 pitches) … this season his fastball usage is 57.6%.
LIFE ON THE ROAD
Is winless his last five road starts, going 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA (15 ER/18.0 IP) and .239 (17-71) opponents average.
Has gone 4-5 with a 3.96 ERA (32 ER/72.2 IP), 75 strikeouts and a .234 (64-274) opponents average over 17 career road starts … has allowed one run or less in 10 of his 17 starts and no runs in five.
VS. TORONTO BLUE JAYS || A.L. EAST
Is scheduled to make his second career start (fourth appearance) against Toronto … has gone 0-1 with a 20.77 ERA (10 ER/4.1 IP).
Lost his only start on 6/1/22 at Rogers Centre, allowing five runs on six hits with six strikeouts in 3.0 IP.
Has gone 1-3 with a 4.19 ERA (20 ER/43.0 IP), .173 (26-150) opponents average and 38 strikeouts over nine career starts against the American League East.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays took the middle match of this three-game series vs. the White Sox by a score of 7-0 last night…Marked their 2nd shutout of the season (also: 3-0 on April 5 at KC). Toronto has now won three straight games, five of its last seven, and 14 of its last 20 contests…Is now 6-2-0 in series play (3-0-0 at home)…Can complete its 1st sweep of the season with a win today.
DANNY DINGERS: Danny Jansen opened last night’s scoring with a three-run homer in the 2nd inning…Was his 2nd longball of the campaign and the 50th of his career…Later led off the 6th with another homer to left…Marked the 5th multi-HR game of his career and was the 1st multihomer effort by a Blue Jay this season. The catcher also singled to finish 3-for-4 with three runs scored…Was his 1st three-hit game of the year… Now has seven career games with 4+ RBI, 3rd most all-time by a Toronto catcher (Ernie Whitt – 13, Darrin Fletcher – 10)…Has gone 8-for-19 (.421) with a double, three homers, nine RBI, and three walks in his last seven games (1-for-25 in first eight games).
3-FOR-4 FOR #4: George Springer recorded a trio of singles and drove in a run to finish 3-for-4 with a stolen base last night… Marked his 2nd game with at least three hits this season, having gone 5-for-6 on Opening Day in St. Louis.
ANOTHER BERRÍ GOOD OUTING: José Berríos worked 7.0 shutout frames last night, scattering four singles and a walk with a season-high nine strikeouts…Has completed 7.0 innings in consecutive starts for the 13th time in his career (last: 3G from June 4-15, 2022)…Has allowed a total of three runs over his last three starts, posting a 1.42 ERA (3 ER/19.0 IP) with two walks and 18 punchouts for a .167 AVG and a 0.68 WHIP.
FINDING HIS CHAPPY PLACE: Matt Chapman went 1-for-3 on a single and a walk last night…Is now batting .360 (31-for-86) with 11 doubles, five homers, 11 walks, and 18 RBI…Ranks 1st in the AL in batting average and OBP (.433) while sitting 2nd in doubles, 2nd in total bases (57), 2nd in SLG (.663), 2nd in OPS (1.096), tied for 2nd in hits, and tied for 9th in RBI. The third baseman continues to lead all MLB hitters in barrel rate (20.6%) and hard-hit (95+ MPH) percentage (62.9), and is 5th in average exit velocity (95.6 MPH)…His 16 extra-base hits are tied with Rafael Devers and Wander Franco for the most in the Majors.
BO KNOWS KNOCKS: Bo Bichette picked up a single in a 1-for-4 evening… Has gone 33-for-102 (.327) with five doubles, four homers, and 12 RBI while playing in all 24 games this season…The 33 hits are the most in the AL (4th in MLB)…Among AL batters, currently ranks 7th in AVG and 7th in total bases (50).
BOTTOM’S UP: Kevin Kiermaier drove in two runs on a triple last night… Is now batting .299 (20-for-67) with three doubles, two triples, a home run, and eight RBI (.786 OPS)…His 20 hits while batting 9th are the most in the Majors (2nd: Michael A. Taylor – 18).
PEARSON PITCHES: Nate Pearson threw a scoreless 8th inning as he made his season debut last night (K, HB)…Was his first MLB action since Oct. 3, 2021 vs. BAL.
HOME WORK: The Blue Jays are playing their 2nd homestand of the season…Have gone 6-2 so far at Rogers Centre…The eight home dates are tied with Detroit for the fewest in the AL…Will follow up this three-game series with a day off tomorrow and then three meetings with the Mariners (11-12) over the weekend. Toronto batters have hit .264 at home (4th in the AL) while ranking 3rd in home OBP (.349), 5th in home SLG (.419), and 5th in home OPS (.768)…The pitching staff posted a 2.96 ERA during home contests (2nd in the AL) with a .195 opponents’ AVG (2nd) and a 1.08 WHIP (4th).
VLAD TO BE HERE: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 1-for-4 on a double last night…Is now 31-for-94 with three doubles, five homers, 13 RBI, and a 10BB/12K ratio for a .330 AVG (4th in the AL), a .407 OBP (6th), and a .929 OPS (8th)…His 31 hits are tied for 2nd most in the AL while his 49 total bases rank T-8th…Has recorded 48 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this year, the most in the Majors (2nd: Randy Arozarena – 42). The 24-year-old made his Major League debut on this day four years ago vs. OAK (1-for-4, 2B)…Since then, ranks 5th in all of baseball in games played (528), 6th in hits (578), 10th in RBI (323), and T-11th in home runs (109).
HITTING IT: The Blue Jays have notched 212 hits so far this season, 3rd most in the AL…Are also 3rd in the AL in team batting average (.258), 4th in OBP (.333), 5th in SLG (.412), and 5th in OPS (.745).
STARTING SOMETHING: Blue Jays starters during the last seven games have allowed five runs over 46.2 innings for a 0.96 ERA… Have given up 22 hits and nine walks while fanning 40 hitters for a .138 opponents’ average and a 0.66 WHIP…Have now recorded an AL-high 14 quality starts this season, tied with Pittsburgh for the most in the Majors.
NO IN BETWEEN: Toronto pitchers have now either allowed four-or-fewer runs or eight-or-more runs in all 24 games this season…According to Stats Perform, this is now the 2nd-longest such streak in the Wild Card era (since 1995), trailing only Cleveland in 2019 (39G).
VS. THE WHITE SOX: All-Time: 219-202-1
2023: 2-0 Home: 120-94
Home: 2-0 Rogers Stadium: 80-61
The Blue Jays went 4-2 vs. the White Sox last season while sweeping the three-game series here at Rogers Centre from May 31-June 2…Have now outscored them, 55-33, in the eight games since the start of 2022. Alejandro Kirk connected for four home runs in five games vs. the White Sox in 2022, going 8-for22 (.364) with a double and a total of eight RBI… Has gone 12-for-34 (.353) with two doubles, those four homers, nine RBI, and five walks in 10 career meetings (.450 OBP, 1.215 OPS). Vladimir Guerrero Jr. recorded three extra-base hits and three RBI with five walks during the six games vs. CWS last year…Is now a career 21-for-82 (.256) with four doubles, three homers, nine RBI, and 13 walks over 22 contests (.773 OPS). Whit Merrifield leads all current Blue Jays with 109 career games played against the White Sox…Has hit .280 (120-for-429) with 23 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, and 67 RBI for a .763 OPS.
STARTING PITCHER – Yusei Kikuchi, LHP #16
TODAY’S GAME:
Making his 5th start of the season and his 2nd at Rogers Centre…Earned his 3rd win of the year his last time out on 4/21 at NYY, tossing 6.0 frames of one-run ball with 4 hits, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts…Has back-to-back starts of 6.0+ innings and 0-or-1 runs allowed for the first time since 6/18- 25 of his 2021 All-Star campaign. Over 7 Grapefruit League appearances this year (6 starts), went 2-1 with a 0.87 ERA (2 ER/20.2 IP), 10 walks, and 31 strikeouts…Led all qualified hurlers in Spring Training ERA and punchouts, while ranking 2nd in OPP AVG (.130) and 4th in WHIP (0.92).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Improved to 2-0 on 4/15 vs. TB, throwing 6.0 innings of one-run ball with 4 hits, a walk, and a season-high 9 strikeouts…Marked his most punchouts in a single game as a Blue Jay…Completed 6.0 frames for the 1st time since 6/30/22 vs. TB. Took a no-decision on 4/9 at LAA, giving up 6 runs on 9 hits and a walk over 4.1 innings with 6 strikeouts…Threw 99 pitches (59 strikes) on the day, his most pitches in a single outing since 7/28/21 vs. HOU (101). Picked up the win in his season debut on 4/4 at KC, tossing 5.0 innings of one-run ball with 3 hits, a walk, and 2 strikeouts…Was his 1st start since 8/15/22 vs. BAL, and his 1st win as a starter since 7/28/22 vs. DET.
VS. THE WHITE SOX:
Facing the White Sox for the 4th time in his career and the 1st time as a Blue Jay…Last met the ChiSox on 6/25/21 as a member of the Mariners, tossing 5.2 frames of one-run ball with 2 hits, 4 walks, and 6 strikeouts…His only home meeting with the Southsiders came on 9/13/19 in Seattle, giving up 5 runs on a career-high-tying 10 hits over 2.1 innings (1BB, 1K).
