DETROIT TIGERS NOTES:
TIGERS DROP SATURDAY MATINEE IN EXTRAS: The Tigers fell to the White Sox, 2-1, in 10 innings on Saturday. Michael Lorenzen started for Detroit and threw 7.0 strong innings, allowing a run on two hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Jason Foley and Alex Lange each worked a scoreless inning in relief. Zach McKinstry went 1×4 with a run scored and a triple, while Jake Marisnick and Nick Maton each had one hit.
ROSTER MOVES: The Tigers have announced the following roster moves:
*Prior to yesterday’s game, placed RHP Alex Faedo on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to May 31, with right middle finger discomfort
*Recalled RHP Garrett Hill from Triple A Toledo
BE LIKE MIKE: Michael Lorenzen continued his impressive stretch of pitching yesterday, tossing 7.0 innings and giving up only one run on two hits with no walks and six strikeouts. It marked the first time in his career he has put up those numbers in a start. Lorenzen has allowed one runor-less in five of his last six starts, posting a 1.83 ERA (39.1IP/8ER), a 0.76 WHIP and 26 strikeouts.
EXTRA, EXTRA: The Tigers played their ninth extra-inning game of the season yesterday, falling to 6-3 in those contests. Detroit’s nine extra-inning games is tied with Seattle for the most in the Majors, while the Tigers 6-3 record in those game is the best among teams that have played at least five extra-inning games.
TIGERS AND WHITE SOX: The Tigers and White Sox conclude their second series of the season today. Detroit and Chicago (AL) have split their first six games this season. After today’s game, the two teams will not meet again until a three-game series from September 1-3 in Chicago.
AGAINST THE AL CENTRAL: The Tigers continue divisional play today against the White Sox. Detroit is 9-6 against American League Central teams so far this season. The Tigers have finished below .500 against AL Central foes in each of the last five 162-game seasons, including a 34-42 record last season.
ON THE ROAD: The Tigers are 0-2 on their current six-game road trip, which includes three games at Chicago (AL) (0-2) and three games at Philadelphia (June 5-7). Detroit is 12-17 on the road this season. As a team, the Tigers are hitting .220/.294/.338 away from Comerica Park, while the pitching staff has a 4.27 ERA (252.2IP/120ER).
ON DECK: The Tigers continue their road trip tomorrow as they open a three-game series against the Phillies. The two teams last played in 2019 with the Phillies winning three-of-four games. The Tigers have a 12-10 lead in the all-time series, including a 5-3 edge in Philadelphia.
TIGERS ON THE IL:
- RHP Beau Brieske (right upper arm discomfort, 60-day IL on March 30, retroactive to March 27)
- OF Kerry Carpenter (right shoulder sprain, 10-day IL on April 29, retroactive to April 28)
- RHP Alex Faedo (right middle finger discomfort, 15-day IL on June 3, retroactive to May 31)
- OF Riley Greene (left fibula stress reaction, 10-day IL on May 31)
- RHP Matt Manning (right foot fracture, 60-day IL on April 12)
- OF Austin Meadows (anxiety, 60-day IL on April 8, retroactive to April 7)
- RHP Casey Mize (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on February 17)
- RHP Freddy Pacheco (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on March 27)
- LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (left index finger pulley rupture, 15-day IL on May 30, retroactive to May 29)
- LHP Tarik Skubal (left elbow strain, 60-day IL on March 14)
- RHP Spencer Turnbull (neck discomfort, 15-day IL on May 12, retroactive to May 7)
- OF Matt Vierling (low back soreness, 10-day IL on May 30, retroactive to May 29)
- RHP Trey Wingenter (right biceps tendinitis, 60-day IL on April 22, retroactive to April 19)
TODAY’S TIGERS STARTING PITCHER – #48 Matthew Boyd • 3-4, 5.96 ERA (48.1IP/32ER)
- Boyd will make his 11th start of the season today in the series finale at Chicago (AL).
- Took the loss in his last start on Monday against the Rangers, allowing five runs on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts in 6.0 innings.
- Has made 17 starts in his career against the White Sox, posting a 4-9 record with a 5.31 ERA (84.2IP/50ER) and 92 strikeouts…in 11 career
starts at Guaranteed Rate Field, Boyd has a 1-8 record with a 6.43 ERA (49.0IP/35ER) and 62 strikeouts. - Missed most of the 2022 season while rehabbing from an injury, but returned in September to pitch in 10 games and help Seattle to the playoffs…went 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA (13.1IP/2ER) and 13 strikeouts in his 10 outings with the Mariners.
- Is in his second stint with the Tigers…was with the organization from 2015-21, appearing in 147 games, including 143 starts, and compiling a 37-60 record with a 4.87 ERA (777.2IP/421ER) and 752 strikeouts.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have won three of their last four games, 12 of 20 and 18 of 32 as they conclude a six-game, seven-day homestand this afternoon vs. Detroit.
RHP Michael Kopech, who has allowed two earned runs or less in four of his last six outings, is scheduled to start today’s game.
The White Sox are 3-2 on the homestand, winning the first two games vs. the Tigers after losing two of three to the Angels.
Following today’s series finale vs. the Tigers and tomorrow’s off day, the White Sox will take a brief three-game trip to Yankee Stadium from 6/6-8 before returning to Guaranteed Rate Field for a three-game series from 6/9-11 vs. Miami.
The White Sox are in fourth place in the AL Central, 3.0 games behind second-place Detroit and 6.5 behind first-place Minnesota.
The Sox went 3-4 on their last trip from 5/22-28 at Cleveland (2-1) and Detroit (1-3) and 6-3 on their last homestand from 5/12- 21 vs. Houston (1-2), the Guardians (2-1) and Kansas City (3-0).
TODAY’S STORYLINES
The White Sox are looking to record their second sweep of the season (fi rst from 5/19-21 vs. Kansas City) … are 18-14 in the last 31 games since 4/30 following a 7-21 start.
Chicago pitchers own a 3.21 ERA (70 ER/196.0 IP) in 22 games since 5/11, the third-best mark in MLB … starters own a 3.58 ERA (47 ER/118.0 IP) and .212 opponents average with 116 strikeouts over the last 22 games (11 quality starts).
The Sox are hitting .225/.273/.344 with just 10 homers and 66 runs scored (4.1 R/G) over the last 16 games.
The White Sox are 14-8 vs. Detroit at home since the start of 2021 … they have outscored the Tigers by a 92-64 margin.
Michael Kopech owns a 2.75 ERA (11 ER/36.0 IP), .148 (18- 122) opp. average, .578 OPS and 43 strikeouts (10.75 per 9.0 IP) over his last six starts … he has allowed two earned runs or less four times and two hits or less in four outings.
Tim Anderson is hitting .464/.483/.583 (39-84) with 10 doubles, nine RBI and a 1.066 OPS in his last 19 games vs. Detroit … he has hit safely in 18 contests and recorded 13 multi-hit efforts.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Yoán Moncada scored the game-ending run on a José Cisnero wild pitch with two outs in the bottom of the 10th as the White Sox clinched a series victory with a 2-1 win over the Tigers.
Moncada started the inning at second base and was bunted to third by Romy Gonzalez … Gavin Sheets walked and Jake Burger was HBP with two outs to set up the final play.
The Sox scored in the fourth on a Michael Lorenzen wild pitch and Detroit tied the game on Dylan Cease’s wild pitch in the sixth.
Dylan Cease allowed one run on two hits with six strikeouts in 5.1 IP … Cease and fi ve relievers combined on a six-hitter … Liam Hendriks worked a scoreless seventh with a strikeout.
This marked the first MLB game since at least 1920 where all runs scored (three-plus) via wild pitch or passed ball (Elias).
The Sox are the first team to score multiple runs via wild pitch and win since Pittsburgh on 8/17/12 vs. St. Louis (2-1 win).
MICHAEL’S MOTOWN MAGIC
Michael Kopech is 0-0 with a 1.96 ERA (4 ER/18.1 IP), .138 (8-58) opp. average, .515 OPS, 0.87 WHIP, 24 strikeouts and one homer allowed in his last four games (three starts) vs. Detroit.
He has allowed one run or less three times and two hits or less three times … Kopech struck out a career-high 11 on 8/12/22.
Kopech is 1-1 with a 3.90 ERA (12 ER/27.2 IP), 1.19 WHIP, .238 average and 34 strikeouts in six career appearances (five starts) vs. the Tigers … he has allowed two runs or less five times.
ROTATION SENSATION
White Sox starters own a 3.58 ERA (47 ER/118.0 IP), .212 opp. average and 116 strikeouts over the last 22 games since 5/11 … they rank first in MLB in opponents average, second in OPS (.674), sixth in WHIP (1.19) and seventh in ERA.
Starters have allowed three runs or less 16 times, two or less 12 times and one or less eight times … the rotation since 5/11:
W-L ERA WHIP QS IP H R ER HR BB SO SO/9.0 AVG OPS
9-6 3.58 1.19 11 118.0 91 51 47 15 50 116 8.8 .212 .674
MIND THE GAP
Chicago is 16-13 (.563) since 4/30, the best record among American League Central clubs and tied for sixth-best in the AL.
The Sox 3.86 ERA since 4/30 is the sixth-best in the AL.
A breakdown of the White Sox first 60 games this season:
W-L AVG R R/G HR OBP SLG OPS ERA IP QS ER HR SO
18-14 .250 150 4.7 34 .304 .403 .707 3.86 287.0 14 123 40 283
7-21 .227 106 3.8 26 .288 .367 .655 5.88 243.1 8 159 44 272
WHITE SOX VS. DETROIT TIGERS
The clubs have split the first six games this season… following today’s game, the White Sox and Tigers do not play again until 9/1-3 in Chicago and 9/8-10 in Detroit.
The White Sox are hitting .211/.260/.314 with three home runs, own a 3.52 ERA (21 ER/53.2 IP) with one quality start and have outscored the Tigers by a 27-24 margin this season.
The White Sox went 12-7 last season (5-5 at home and 7-2 on the road) and outscored the Tigers by a 100-59 margin.
Chicago is 48-24 since the start of the 2019 season and 36-18 since the start of the 2020 season vs. the Tigers.
CENTRAL DIVISION DYNAMICS
Chicago is 14-11 vs. the American League Central, including a 9-2 mark at home … the White Sox have won seven of the last eight home games and won all four series in Chicago.
Following this series vs. Detroit, the Sox will not play an AL Central club until after the All-Star break (7/21-23 at Minnesota).
The White Sox went 37-39 in 2022 and 69-47 from 2020-21.
TIM THE TIGER TAMER
Tim Anderson is a career .352/.389/.517 (147-418) hitter with 29 doubles, 12 homers, 49 RBI and a .906 OPS lifetime vs. Detroit (101 G) … he owns 42 multi-hit and 16 three-plus hit games.
His .352 average leads active players vs. the Tigers, and is tied for fourth all-time (min. 400 PAs) behind “Shoeless” Joe Jackson (.383), Wade Boggs (.356) and George Sisler (.354).
RISING TO THE TOP
Following today’s game, the Sox will play seven consecutive series (22 games) from 6/6-29 vs. teams at or above .500.
The stretch of games includes 13 on the road at the Yankees, Dodgers, Seattle and the Angels and nine vs. Miami, Texas and Boston at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Chicago this season is 11-21 vs. teams with a record at or above .500 at the time of the game.
HOME BODY
Jake Burger is hitting .351/.395/.838 (26-74) with 10 home runs, 22 RBI and a 1.233 OPS over 25 games at home this season.
He ranks among the MLB home leaders in home runs (T1st), RBI (T7th), total bases (T9th, 62) and extra-base hits (T11th, 15).
Burger has hit 13 of his 20 career home runs, and 30 of his 42 extra-base hits, Guaranteed Rate Field.
ANDREW, ANDREW … HE’S OUR MAN!
Andrew Vaughn is slashing .383/.446/.872(18-47) with nine doubles, four homers and 34 RBI with RISP and .471/.591/1.000 (8-17) with a homer and 12 RBI with RISP/two outs in 2023.
Vaughn ranks among MLB RISP leaders in slugging pct. (2nd), OPS (5th, 1.319), RBI (T5th), and average (11th).
Vaughn is tied for second in MLB with seven GW RBI, trailing Aaron Judge (nine), and tied for third with 13 go-ahead RBI.
POSTING PUNCHOUTS
Sox pitchers rank third in MLB with 555 strikeouts, trailing Minnesota (569) and Houston (567) … Chicago starters rank second in MLB with 336 strikeouts, 16 behind the Twins (354).
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS
Chicago is hitting .318/.373/.521 in the last 22 games vs. LHP.
The White Sox are batting .273/.339/.444 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 and OPS (.783) and fifth in slugging percentage.
Tim Anderson (.350) leads the major leagues in average vs. left-handers since the start of 2019.
SEARCHING FOR HOME˨FIELD ADVANTAGE
The White Sox are 15-15 (.500) at home this season after going 37-44 (.457) in 2022 … by comparison, the Sox were 53- 28 (.654) at home in 2021, the best record in the AL.
Through 30 home games this season, the White Sox have been outscored, 157-129, and outhomered, 49-31.
Jake Burger (10), Luis Robert Jr. (seven) and Andrew Vaughn (five) have combined to hit 22 of the Sox 31 home runs.
STARTER – #34 MICHAEL KOPECH RHP
KOPECH AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 12th start of the season, seventh at home and first against the Detroit Tigers.
Owns a 2-1 record, 1.86 ERA (4 ER/19.1 IP), 0.57 WHIP, 1.23 (8-65) opp. average and 29 strikeouts in his last three starts, including two 10-strikeout performances.
Has recorded 5.0-plus IP in eight of his 11 starts this season and 6.0-plus IP five times, allowing just one run in four of those outings.
Went 3-2 with a 2.75 ERA (11 ER/36.0 IP), 43 strikeouts and .148 (18-122) opponents average in six starts in May, compared to 0-3 with a 7.01 ERA (20 ER/25.2 IP), 1.71 WHIP and .280 (28-100) opponents average in five starts in April.
Is limiting left-handed hitters to a .180 (18-100) batting average this season, the third-best among American League right-handed starters with at least 10 starts.
Has received zero runs of support in four of his 11 starts this season and three or more just twice.
Has gone 10-15 with 3.83 ERA (89 ER/209.1 IP), .208 (158-760) opponents average and 213 strikeouts in 44 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 VÃctor DÃaz and INF Yoán Moncada in exchange for LHP Chris Sale on 12/6/16.
LAST START
Suffered the loss on 5/29 vs. the Los Angeles Angels, allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts over 4.1 IP … threw 102 pitches (61 strikes).
Surrendered a three-run homer to Brandon Drury and a solo home run to Matt Thaiss in back-to-back at bats in the first inning.
Departed the game in the fifth with the White Sox trailing, 4-2 … allowed just three of the last 14 batters faced to reach base … Andrew Vaughn, Romy Gonzalez and Eloy Jiménez hit solo home runs for Chicago … Sox lost, 6-4.
Owned a 39.1 first-strike percentage and 16.7 swinging-strike percentage (17 swing and misses) vs. 23 batters … threw 62 four-seam fastballs (95.3 mph avg; 96.8 mph max), 27 sliders (86.1 avg; 88.7 max) and 13 changeups (88.7 mph avg; 91.1 max).
AN OUTING TO REMEMBER
On 5/19 against Kansas City, Kopech became the third pitcher in franchise history to work 8.0-plus IP and allow one or zero hits with 10-plus strikeouts and zero walks (Baseball Reference/Stathead).
The other two Sox to accomplish the feat are Floyd Bannister (9/13/87 at Seattle) and Gary Peters (7/15/63
vs. Baltimore).
The last MLB pitcher to record those numbers in a start was Toronto’s Alek Manoah on 9/13/21 vs. Tampa Bay.
DAMAGE CONTROL AT RISK
Has limited the opposition to a career .200 (35-175) average with RISP and .211 (20-95) mark with RISP/two outs.
Opponents are batting a career-high .239 (11-46) with RISP and .345 (10-29) with RISP/two outs against him this season … in 2022, opponents hit .149 (10-67) with RISP and .125 (5-40) with RISP/two outs.
HEATER ON AND RELIABLE
His four-seam fastball has held the opposition to a .202 (74-367) batting average, the fourth-lowest in Major League Baseball among starting pitchers since 2022 (min. 1,500 fastballs thrown) … opponents own a .226 (28-124) average on his fastball this season, the sixth-lowest in MLB (min. 500 fastballs thrown).
Has the highest four-seam fastball usage (63.5%) among MLB starting pitchers this season (min. 500 fastballs thrown) … led MLB starters with at least 2,000 pitches thrown in four-seam fastball usage (61.6%) last season.
Owns a 30.6 swing-and-miss percentage with his four-seam fastball, the sixth-highest percentage in the majors this season.
His 40 strikeouts via the four-seamer are the ninth-most in baseball this year.
VS. DETROIT TIGERS || A.L. CENTRAL
Is scheduled to make his sixth career start (seventh appearance) vs. the Tigers and first this season.
Has gone 1-1 with a 4.01 ERA (11 ER/24.2 IP) and .242 (22-91) opponents average as a starter vs. the Tigers.
Went winless with a 1.76 ERA (3 ER/15.1 IP), .125 (6-28) opponents average, 0.91 WHIP and 18 strikeouts in three start last year.
Is 4-3 with a 3.02 ERA (29 ER/86.1 IP), .193 (59-305) opponents average and 94 strikeouts over 18 career starts against the American League Central.
