CLEVELAND GUARDIANS NOTES:
No team release available,
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost six of the last seven games, eight of the last 10, 14 of 19 and 28 of 42 as they continue a six-game homestand tonight vs. the Cleveland Guardians.
RHP Mike Clevinger, who is making his first appearance since 6/14 at the Dodgers (4.2 IP), is scheduled to start for Chicago.
The White Sox have split the fi rst two games vs. Cleveland after losing both games to the Cubs to open the homestand.
The White Sox are in fourth place in the American League Central, 12.0 games behind the division-leading Twins (54-51).
Following this series vs. the Guardians and an off day Monday, the Sox will take a six-game trip to Texas and Cleveland (8/1-6).
Chicago went 3-6 on their last trip from 7/14-23 at Atlanta, New York-NL and Minnesota and 1-5 on their last homestand prior to the All-Star break from 7/4-9 vs. Toronto (0-3) and St. Louis (1-2).
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
Chicago is looking to win consecutive games for the first time since 7/15-16 at Atlanta (last time at home: 6/24-25 vs. Boston).
The White Sox have lost eight of the last 10 games at home … all 10 contests have been decided by four runs or less.
Mike Clevinger is 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA (8 ER/27.1 IP), .206 (21-102) opp. average and 20 strikeouts over his last five starts.
Jake Burger has homered in three straight games for the third time in 2023 … he is looking to match Luis Robert Jr.’s team-high streak of four straight games with a homer (5/12-16).
Andrew Benintendi is hitting .318/.377/.409 (42-132) with nine doubles, a homer, 12 RBI, 13 walks, 18 runs and 13 multi-hit efforts in 32 games since moving to the leadoff spot on 6/17.
Eloy Jiménez is 13-32 (.406) with three doubles, a homer, six RBI and five multi-hit eff orts during his eight-game hitting streak.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES
The White Sox today reinstated RHP Mike Clevinger from the 15-day injured list, and selected the contracts of RHPs Edgar Navarro and Bryan Shaw from Class AAA Charlotte … the Sox active roster increases to 26 and 40-man roster to 38.
Clevinger has been on the IL since 6/15 (right biceps inflammation) … Navarro has no MLB experience and will wear uniform No. 66 … Shaw was DFA on 7/22 and outrighted on 7/24.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
Three White Sox pitchers combined on a six-hitter, and Luis Robert Jr. and Jake Burger each homered in the 3-0 win.
The Sox recorded their fifth shutout of the season, and first since a 3-0 victory on 6/2 vs. Detroit.
Robert Jr. hit a solo home run in the first and Burger added a solo shot in the sixth … Oscar Colás capped Chicago’s scoring with a RBI single in the eighth.
Touki Toussaint earned his first win after allowing three hits with four strikeouts in 5.0 scoreless IP … Toussaint matched his longest career scoreless outing (third time).
Burger homered in his third consecutive game, and Robert Jr. snapped a seven-game homerless stretch.
LET’S MAKE A DEAL
A breakdown of the White Sox three trades this week:
Acquired RHPs Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure and OF Trayce Thompson from the Los Angeles Dodgers Dodgers in exchange for RHPs Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn;
Acquired C Korey Lee from the Houston Astros in exchange for RHP Kendall Graveman;
Acquired C Edgar Quero and LHP Ky Bush from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for RHPs Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López
BURGER BOMBS
Jake Burger’s 25 home runs are the most by a White Sox primary third baseman since Yoán Moncada’s 25 in 2019.
He is the only MLB player to homer in three consecutive games three diff erent times this season … the last Sox to accomplish the feat was Jermaine Dye in 2008 (5/6-8, 6/19-21 and 7/25-27).
Burger ranks among the MLB home leaders (minimum 150 plate appearances) in slugging percentage (2nd, .685), home runs (3rd, 17) and OPS (4th, 1.010).
DYNAMIC DUO
Luis Robert Jr. (4th, 29) and Jake Burger (T7th, 25) rank among the MLB leaders in home runs this season.
Robert Jr. and Burger are on pace to be become the 14th set of White Sox teammates to each hit 30-plus home runs (last, José Abreu and Eloy Jiménez in 2019) … the club record is four players with 30-plus home runs in 2006.
The Sox and Dodgers (Betts, Martinez and Muncy) are the only MLB teams with multiple players to hit 25-plus home runs in 2023.
WHITE SOX VS. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
The two clubs play seven times over 14 days from 7/27-8/6.
The White Sox are hitting .243/.297/.408 with 11 homers, own a 2.15 ERA (17 ER/71.0 IP) and a 32-19 edge in runs scored.
Chicago went 7-12 vs. Cleveland last season, including 3-6 at Guaranteed Rate Field and 4-6 at Progressive Field.
Chicago is 22-24 since the start of 2021, including 32 contests decided by three runs or less (14-18 record).
The Sox are 11-13 and have been outscored by a 110-106 margin at home since the start of the 2021 season … 17 of the 24 games have been decided by three runs or less.
FAMILIAR FACES
RHP Mike Clevinger is making his fourth career start vs. Cleveland (one with the White Sox and two with San Diego).
He went 42-22 with a 3.20 ERA (186 ER/523.1 IP) and 584 strikeouts 101 games (88 starts) with Cleveland from 2017-20.
Clevinger pitched in the postseason with the Guardians from 2016-18, and helped the club win the AL pennant in 2016.
CLEVELAND DOESN’T ROCK
White Sox starters owns a 2.09 ERA (22 ER/94.2 IP), .240 (86- 359) opp. average, four home runs allowed, a .635 OPS and 69 strikeouts over the last 16 games vs. Cleveland since 7/23/22.
Sox starters have allowed three earned runs or less in 15 games, two or less 12 times and one or less nine times.
The last time a Chicago starter allowed five-plus earned runs against the Guardians was 7/22/22 (Lucas Giolito; 6 ER/3.0 IP).
CENTRAL DIVISION DYNAMICS
The White Sox are playing an American League Central division opponent at home for the first time since 6/2-4 vs. Detroit.
Chicago is 16-15 vs. the AL Central, including an 11-3 mark at Guaranteed Rate Field … the White Sox have won seven of the last eight vs. the division with a 29-12 edge in runs scored.
Eloy Jimenez is 17-48 (.354) with three home runs, 11 RBI and a .987 OPS in 12 games vs. the Central this season
STARTING PITCHER – #52 MIKE CLEVINGER RHP
CLEVINGER AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 13th start of the season, sixth at home and first since 6/14.
Was reinstated from the 15-day injured list prior to tonight’s game … was placed on the IL on 6/16 (retroactive 6/15) with right bicep inflammation.
Has limited opponents to three runs or less in nine of his first 12 starts, including four scoreless efforts.
Has surrendered nine home runs across his last eight starts after allowing no home runs over his first three.
Was on the 15-day injured list from 5/21-6/2 with right wrist inflammation, missing two starts.
Agreed to terms with Chicago on a one-year, $12-million deal in December (includes a mutual option for 2024).
Has appeared in just 42 games (41 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
Did not factor in the decision on 6/14 at Los Angeles-NL after throwing 4.2 scoreless IP … allowed three hits with two walks, one hit batter and five strikeouts.
Exited the game in the fifth inning with right bicep inflammation with Chicago leading, 2-0 … the White Sox won, 8-4.
Owned a 80.0 first-strike percentage and 15.6 swinging-strike percentage (11 swing and misses) vs. 20 batters … threw 77 pitches (49 strikes) with the following pitch breakdown: 30 four-seam fastballs (94.8 mph avg; 96.2 mph max), 24 sliders (80.3 avg; 83.5 max), nine cutters (85.9 avg; 87.8 max), five changeups (86.5 avg; 89.5 max) and five sinkers (94.2 avg; 95.7 max).
TAKE ME HOME
Owns a 2.52 ERA (7 ER/25.0 IP) this year in five home starts (two quality) … his 2.52 ERA ranks seventh among starting pitchers at home (min. 25.0 IP).
Is 4-4 with a 2.67 ERA (21 ER/70.2 IP) and .210 (55- 262) opponents average over his last 12 home starts.
Owns a 26-12 record, 2.89 ERA (116 ER/360.2 IP), .221 (295-1335) opponents average and 394 strikeouts over 70 career appearances (62 starts) at home … is 3-2 with a 2.81 ERA (15 ER/48.0 IP) in nine career starts at Guaranteed Rate Field.
His 2.89 career ERA at home ranks 11th among active pitchers (min. 350.0 IP).
START STRONG
Is limiting opponents to a .176 (15-85) average across the first two innings this season, compared to a .280 (44-157) mark from the third-seventh inning.
Is holding opponents to a .167 (16-96) average with 26 strikeouts the first time through the lineup, compared to a .347 (33-95) the second time through.
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.
BEND DON’T BREAK
Is limiting opponents to a .200 (21-105) average with runners on base, .156 (10-64) average with RISP and .069 (2-29) average with RISP/two outs this season.
His opponents average with RISP/two outs is second-lowest in MLB (min. 30 PA), his opponents average with RISP is the seventh-lowest (min. 60 PA) and his opponents average with runners on is tied for the 10th-lowest (min. 100 PA).
VS. CLEVLEAND GUARDIANS || A.L. CENTRAL
Will make his fourth career start against the Cleveland Guardians and second at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Is 1-1 with a 3.78 ERA (7 ER/16.2 IP), .194 (12-62) opponent average, eight walks and 13 strikeouts lifetime.
Earned the win on 5/17 vs. Cleveland, allowing two runs on six hits with four walks, one hit batter and five strikeouts over 6.0 IP.
Pitched for Cleveland from 2016-20, going 42-22 with a 3.20 ERA (186 ER/523.1 IP), 584 strikeouts and to 204 walks.
Is 27-9 with a 2.35 ERA (84 ER/322.0 IP), 103 walks and 344 strikeouts in 59 career appearances (52 starts/34 quality) against the American League Central.
