Thursday, March 28, 2024
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MLB Preview: Los Angeles Angels (28-26) at Chicago White Sox (22-23)

LOS ANGELES ANGELS NOTES:

MEMORIAL DAY: Today, MLB observes Memorial Day…A league-wide National Moment of Remembrance will take place at 3:00 p.m. local time at all games today… All on-field MLB personnel will wear the traditional Memorial red poppy on the left side of their jerseys with “Lest We Forget” language included.

LEADING OFF: Today, the Angels play the first of seven games on a road trip against the Chicago White Sox (May 29-31) and Houston Astros (June 1-4)…Halos went 5-4 on last homestand against the Minnesota Twins (2-1), Boston Red Sox (3-0) and Miami Marlins (0-3)…LAA was 3-4 on last road trip to Cleveland (1-2) and Baltimore (2-2).

WINS AND LOSSES: Halos have dropped three straight games after winning each of previous four (including three game sweep vs. Boston)…The current three game losing streak is tied for longest of the season (also, April 14-16).

SHUT OUT: Yesterday vs. Miami was the first time Halos were shut out since Aug. 21, 2022 at Detroit… The streak of 94 games without being shut out was the longest active streak in the Majors and finishes as the fourth-longest streak in Angels history.

“WHITE SOX, WHAT’S THAT?”: Today is the first of seven games this season between the Angels and White Sox…In addition to the current three game set in Chicago, the teams will meet again for four games at The Big A from June 26-29…Halos have won six consecutive season series vs. White Sox and 10 of last 11 season series overall…Since 2011, Angels are 51-27 (.654) vs. CWS.

HIGHEST CAREER OBP vs. WHITE SOX
(min. 200 PA)

  1. Babe Ruth – .471
  2. Mike Trout – .457
  3. Ted Williams – .449
  4. Lou Gehrig – .446
  5. Jimmie Foxx – .445

FRIENDLY CONFINES: Since 2018, Angels are 9-4 at Guaranteed Rate Field.

LEAGUE LEADER: Shohei Ohtani, leads the Majors in opponent batting average (.155), is second in strikeouts (90) and ranks fourth in WHIP (0.95).

PLAY FROM AHEAD: Halos have held leads in 43 of 54 games played this year.

JOYCE CALLED UP: Yesterday, the Angels selected the contract of RHP Ben Joyce (ranked by MLB Pipleline as Angels #9 prospect)…First appearance will mark MLB debut…The Angels third round selection last season becomes the second player from the 2022 Draft to reach the Majors, following teammate Zach Neto… He has appeared in 14 games this season for Double-A Rocket City and averaged 13.8 SO/9 (24 SO – 15.2 IP).

‘PEN PALS: The Angels bullpen is pitching to a 3.60 ERA (195 IP – 78 ER) this season, which is the ninth-best ERA in the Majors.

THE MICK: Mickey Moniak has hits in eight of his 10 starts for the Angels this season, including three leadoff homers and seven total extra-base hits…He’s one of three players in the Majors with three leadoff HR this year, along with Mookie Betts (LAD) and Christian Yelich (MIL)…On May 13 at Cleveland, became the first player in MLB history to make his season debut on his birthday and hit a leadoff home run.

BACHMAN IN THE SHOW: Sam Bachman made his MLB debut Friday night vs. Miami with 2.0 innings pitched in relief…The Angels first round pick (ninth overall) in the 2021 Draft, Bachman is currently rated by MLB Pipleline as the #4 prospect in the Halos system…He is the highest drafted player from the 2021 Draft to debut and the only pitcher from the first two rounds of that Draft to appear in the Majors.

SINGLE HANDED: Gio Urshela has hit 47 singles this year plus 10 extra-base hits (seven doubles, one triple & two home runs)…Urshela ranks second, behind Toronto’s Bo Bichette (55), for the American League lead in singles…Since May 5, Urshela has hits in 18 of 21 games with a PA and leads the Majors with a .378 (28/74) batting average in that span.

LEAD ASSISTANT: Hunter Renfroe is tied for second in the American League with five outfield assists this season…Since 2017, his 61 outfield assists lead the Majors (Starling Marte is second with 52 assists).

NET-OW: Zack Neto has been hit by nine pitches this season, which is tied for second-most in the Majors… Since 1901, Neto’s seven HBP through his first 15 career games are the most in MLB.

ESTÉVEZ ENDING: This season, Carlos Estévez is pitching to a 1.17 ERA (23 IP – 3 ER) and has converted all 12 of his save opportunities (the 12 saves are a new career high)…He is the first Angels pitcher to convert his first 12 save opportunities of a season since Ernesto Frieri in 2012 and is looking to become the first Halos closer to convert his first 13 save chances since Troy Percival had 16 straight successful save opportunities to begin the 2001 season.

UNEARNED: Angels have allowed 31 unearned runs this season, which leads the Majors…Halos have committed 34 fielding errors this season, which is tied for third-most in the Majors.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER – RHP GRIFFIN CANNING
3-2, 4.95 ERA
Pitched 7.0 scoreless innings in last start on Tuesday vs. Red Sox

TODAY’S GAME: Making eighth start of the season and fourth on the road…Is in fourth Major League season with Angels.

  • HE’S BACK: Made season debut on April 12 vs. Washington; first Major league appearance July 2, 2021… Missed Angels first 11 games of the season on injured list with a left groin strain…Spent entire 2022 season and final two months of 2021 season on IL with a low back stress reaction.
  • OVER SEVEN HITS: Allowed career high nine hits in start on May 17 at Baltimore…Was first time allowing more than seven hits in his career…Streak of 46 straight starts with seven-or-fewer hits allowed was second-longest in Angels history (Rickey Clark had a 50 game streak between the 1967-1971 seasons).
  • CURRENT TRENDS: Has allowed three-or-fewer runs in five of seven starts this season, including each of last two appearances.
  • LAST TIME OUT: Earned the win in last start on Tuesday vs. Boston after tossing a season-high 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks with five strikeouts; matched longest scoreless appearance of career (also, 7.0 shutout frames on May 18, 2019 vs. KC).
  • STREAK SNAPPED: Had career-best streak of three consecutive winning decisions snapped on May 10 vs. Houston…The streak dated back to June 9, 2021 and included wins in consecutive starts this season on April 25 and May 4.
  • VS. CHICAGO (A.L.): Today is second career start vs. White Sox; is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA (7 IP – 1 ER) and eight strikeouts following only previous game on Aug. 18, 2019 at Angel Stadium (7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO).
  • AT GUARANTEED RATE FIELD: Today is first career appearance at Guaranteed Rate Field.
  • THAT’S RIGHT: Through seven starts this year, has held righties to a .222 average (14/63) compared with a .276 (14/63) opponent average against left-handers.
  • GETTING AHEAD: Recorded a first pitch strike on 66.2% (104/157) of his batter faced this season.
  • UNFAMILIAR FOES: In his career as a starter, has held opponents to a .207 average (77/372) in opposing batter’s first plate appearances of a game.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:

WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have won six of their last 10 games, eight of 13, nine of 15 and 15 of 27 as they begin a six-game, seven-day homestand tonight vs. the Los Angeles Angels.

Tonight’s game will air on both NBC Sports Chicago and FS1.

RHP Michael Kopech, who owns the longest active scoreless IP streak (15.0) in baseball, is scheduled to start tonight’s game.

The White Sox went 3-4 on their last trip, losing three of four at Detroit and winning two of three at Cleveland … they suffered a 6-5, 10-i
inning defeat in yesterday’s finale at Comerica Park.

Following this series vs. the Angels and an off day Thursday, Chicago will conclude the homestand this weekend vs. the Tigers.

Following next Monday’s off day, the White Sox will take a brief three-game trip from 6/6-8 at the Yankees.

The Sox are in fourth place in the AL Central, 5.0 games behind second-place Detroit and 6.0 behind first-place Minnesota.

The White Sox went 6-3 on their last homestand from 5/12-21 vs. Houston (1-2), Cleveland (2-1) and Kansas City (3-0).

TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox are 15-12 in the last 27 games since 4/30 following a 7-21 start … Sox pitchers own a 2.88 ERA (48 ER/150.0 IP) in 16 games since 5/11, the second-best mark in MLB.

Chicago is 6-2 and has outscored opponents by a 34-16 margin over the last eight games at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Chicago starters own a 2.96 ERA (31 ER/94.1 IP) and .204 average with 85 strikeouts in the last 17 games (11 quality starts).

The Sox are hitting .214/.258/315 with just five home runs and 45 runs scored (4.1 R/G) over the last 11 games … they have scored four runs or less six times and homered in five contests.

The White Sox are 4-7 vs. Los Angeles-AL since the start of 2021 despite owning a 46-45 edge in runs scored … the Sox have not won a series vs. the Angels since 9/25-28/17 (3-1).

Michael Kopech has allowed just three singles with 19 strikeouts and worked 15.0 scoreless IP over his last two starts.

ROSTER MOVES
The White Sox today returned RHP Liam Hendriks from his rehab assignment with Class AAA Charlotte and reinstated him from the 15-day injured list, and placed RHP Jimmy Lambert on the 15-day IL (retro to 5/28) with right ankle inflammation.

Hendriks began the 2023 season on the injured list to continue his treatment for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Eric Haase hit a game-ending sacrifice fly off Reynaldo López in the 10th inning to give Detroit a 6-5 win and series victory.

The White Sox were retired in order in the top of the 10th, stranding Luis Robert Jr. … the Tigers tied the game in the ninth against Joe Kelly on Riley Greene’s one-out triple and Javier Baez’s RBI groundout to Tim Anderson.

The White Sox overcame a 4-1 deficit with four runs in the seventh on Eloy Jimenez’s two-RBI double, Robert Jr.’s RBI fi elders choice and Andrew Vaughn’s sacrifice fly.

Dylan Cease received a ND after allowing four runs on four hits and four walks with eight strikeouts in 4.0 IP … he surrendered a grand slam to Akil Baddoo in the third.

Kelly suffered his third blown save, and López fell to 0-4.

Romy Gonzalez hit his first homer of 2023, and Tim Anderson went 3-5 … the Sox went 2-11 with RISP and left eight on base.

SOX ARE MOVIN’ ON UP
Chicago is 15-12 (.556) since 4/30, the second-best record among American League Central clubs behind Detroit (15-10).

The White Sox have made up 3.0 games on first-place Minnesota in the AL Central standings since 4/30 (-9.0 GB).

The Sox 3.77 ERA since 4/30 is the seventh-best in MLB.

A breakdown of the White Sox first 55 games this season:
W-L AVG R R/G HR OBP SLG OPS ERA IP QS ER HR SO
15-12 .251 129 4.8 29 .304 .402 .706 3.77 241.1 14 101 31 228
7-21 .227 106 3.8 26 .288 .367 .655 5.88 243.1 8 159 44 272

WHITE SOX VS. LOS ANGELES ANGELS
The White Sox and Angels meet seven times this season: three times at Guaranteed Rate Field and four at Angel Stadium.

The Sox went 3-4 last season, including 2-2 at home and 1-2 on the road … they have not won a series vs. the Angels since 9/25-28/17 at Guaranteed Rate Field (3-1).

The White Sox are winless in the last six season series (2016- 19, ’21-22) and have not won a season matchup since 2015 (4-3).

Chicago is 3-6 in the last nine games and 7-18 in the last 25.

HOW THE WEST WAS WON
The White Sox are 3-4 vs. the American League West this season, splitting four games from 3/30-4/2 at Houston and losing two of three to the Astros from 5/12-14 at home.

The Sox went 18-16 vs. the division last season and 16-17 in 2021 … they are 19-14 at home vs. the AL West since 2021.

REST WHEN YOU CAN
This series vs. the Angels marks the end of a 16-game stretch without a day off … the White Sox are 14-12 during the current stretch of 29 games in 30 days from 5/2-31 (last off day was 5/15).

The 29-game stretch includes 15 games at home, 14 on the road and 20 vs. the American League Central … the White Sox played six of seven series from 5/5-28 vs. teams below .500.

ELVIS ON THE MEND
INF Elvis Andrus is 3-7 (.429) with a home run, RBI and walk in his fi rst two rehab games with Class AAA Charlotte … he has been on the 10-day IL since 5/13 with a strained left oblique.

ROTATION SENSATION
White Sox starters own a 2.96 ERA (31 ER/94.1 IP), .204 opponents average and 85 strikeouts over the last 17 games since 5/11 … they lead MLB in opp. average and OPS (.619), rank third in ERA and fourth in WHIP (1.16) during that span.

Starters have allowed three runs or less 13 times, two or less 10 times and one or less six times … the rotation since 5/11:
W-L ERA WHIP QS IP H R ER HR BB SO SO/9.0 AVG OPS
8-4 2.96 1.16 11 94.1 69 35 31 8 40 85 8.1 .204 .619

PROVIDING RELIEF
The White Sox bullpen owns a 2.96 ERA (28 ER/85.0 IP) and .203 (63-310) opponents average with 74 strikeouts and just seven home runs allowed over 26 games in May.

Sox relievers rank among the MLB May leaders in opp. average (T1st), opp. OPS (4th, .630), ERA (4th) and WHIP (5th, 1.16).

By comparison, relievers recorded a 6.68 ERA, .290 average,
.885 OPS and a 1.76 WHIP in the fi rst 29 games from 3/30-4/30.

POSTING PUNCHOUTS
White Sox pitchers rank fourth in the American League and fifth in MLB with 500 strikeouts this season.

Sox starters rank second in MLB with 307 strikeouts, 23 behind the Twins (330) … relievers rank 10th in the AL (193 SO).

SOUTHPAW SUCCESS
Chicago is hitting .306/.365/.483 in the last 19 games vs. LHP.

The White Sox are batting .273/.338/.442 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, fi fth in OPS (.780) and sixth in slugging percentage.

Tim Anderson (.351) and Hanser Alberto (.343) rank 1-2 in MLB in average vs. left-handers since the start of 2019.

SEARCHING FOR HOME˨FIELD ADVANTAGE
The White Sox are 12-13 (.480) at home this season after going 37-44 (.457) in 2022, the 12th-best winning percentage in the American League … by comparison, the Sox were 53-28 (.654) at home in 2021, the best record in the AL.

Through 25 home games this season, the White Sox have been outscored, 135-108, and outhomered, 40-26.

Jake Burger (nine homers) and Luis Robert Jr. (seven) have combined to hit 16 of the Sox 26 home runs in Chicago.

AS TA GOES, SO GO THE WHITE SOX
Since the start of the 2020, the Sox are 162-123 when Tim Anderson is in the starting lineup (69-85 when he doesn’t start).

During that span, the Sox are 132-80 when Anderson records a hit, 76-33 when he records a multi-hit eff ort, 97-48 when he scores a run and 27-3 when he homers.

Anderson ranks second in MLB since the start of 2019 with 55 three-hit games (Sox are 38-17), trailing Freddie Freeman (61).

Anderson needs three homers to become the fourth player in White Sox history to record 100 homers and 100 stolen bases

STARTER – #34 MICHAEL KOPECH RHP
KOPECH AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 11th start of the season, sixth at home and first against the Los Angeles Angels.

Owns a career-high 15.0 scoreless IP with three hits allowed, 19 strikeouts and one walk in his last two starts.

Has recorded 5.0-plus IP in eight of his 10 starts this season and 6.0-plus IP five times, allowing just one run in four of those outings.

Went 0-3 with a 7.01 ERA (20 ER/25.2 IP), 1.71 WHIP and .280 (28-100) opponents average in five April starts … the 7.01 ERA is his highest monthly ERA in his career.

Is limiting left-handed hitters to a .174 (16-92) batting average this season, the third-best among American League right-handed starters with at least seven starts.

Has received zero runs of support in four of his 10 starts this season and three or more just twice … his four outings with zero runs of support are tied for second-most in the majors behind Ryan Yarbrough (5).

Has gone 10-14 with 3.73 ERA (85 ER/205.0 IP), .206 (153-741) opponents average and 203 strikeouts in 43 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
Earned the win on 5/24 at Cleveland, working 7.0 scoreless IP, allowing two hits while striking out nine batters and issuing one walk … recorded 7.0-plus scoreless IP in back-to-back starts for the first time in his career … threw 92 pitches (62 strikes).

Retired the first 12 batters he faced, striking out eight, until Josh Naylor recorded a single in the sixth inning.

Departed the game in the eighth with the Sox leading, 6-0 (final score) … relievers Reynaldo López and Jimmy Lambert combined to pitch the last two innings to complete the shutout.

Owned a 75.0 first-strike percentage and 17.3 swinging-strike percentage (20 swing and misses) vs. 24 batters … threw 69 four-seam fastballs (96.9 mph avg; 99.4 mph max), 15 sliders (86.5 avg; 89.2 max), seven changeups (89.5 mph avg; 90.9 max) and seven curveballs (81.9 avg;
82.9 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.

WELCOME MAY
Has gone 4-2 with a 1.69 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, .118 (23- 195) opponents average, .438 opponents OPS and 59 strikeouts over 10 career starts in May … his 1.69 ERA and .118 opponents average are career monthly bests.

Ranks first in opponents average and OPS and second in ERA and WHIP among MLB pitchers with at least nine starts in the month of May since 2021.

Has allowed 11 runs as a starter in May, the least amount allowed in a single month for his career.

Went 1-1 with a 1.17 ERA (3 ER/23.0 IP), 0.78 WHIP, .103 (8-78) opponents average and 21 strikeouts over four May starts last season.

HEATER ON AND RELIABLE
His four-seam fastball has held the opposition to a .198 (69-346) batting average, the fifth-lowest in Major League Baseball among starting pitchers since 2022 … opponents own a .217 (25-115) average on his fastball this season, the fifth-lowest in MLB.

Has the highest four-seam fastball usage (63.7%) among MLB starting pitchers this season … led MLB starters with at least 2,000 pitches thrown in four-seam fastball usage (61.6%) last season.

Owns a 30.2 swing-and-miss percentage with his four-seam fastball, the eight-highest percentage in the
majors this season.

His 38 strikeouts via the four-seamer are the ninth-most in baseball this year.

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 .250 (10-40) with RISP and .346 (9-26) 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.

VS. LOS ANGELES ANGELS || A.L. WEST
Is scheduled to make his second career start (fourth appearance) vs. the Angels and first (second) at home.

Suffered the loss in his only career start against the Angels on 6/29/22 at Angel Stadium, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts over 5.1 IP.

Has gone 1-5 with a 4.81 ERA (18 ER/33.2 IP), .236 (30-127) opponents average and 35 strikeouts over eight career starts against the American League West … is 0-5 with a 5.46 ERA (17 ER/28.0 IP) over his last six starts

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