MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today open a 3-city, 9-game, 11-day road trip with the opener of a three-game set at the Chicago White Sox. Miami returns to action after an off-day yesterday that followed a nine-game homestand – tied for its longest ‘stand of the year (also Sept. 15-24), which saw the club drop 2 of 3 to San Diego and then sweep Oakland and Kansas City in back-to-back 3-game sets. Following this series, Miami heads to Seattle (June 12-14), and Washington (June 16-18).
FISH BYTES
- Miami is 14-15 on the road, winning 4 of 9 road series; swept the Angels in 3 games to conclude most recent road trip.
- The Marlins are 5-7 all-time at Guaranteed Rate Field, having last played here in 2019 when Miami took 2 of 3.
- In games following an off-day, Miami is 2-4 this season.
- Are 13-2 (.857) in Interleague play this year, the highest winning pct. among MLB teams in such games this year. The Marlins headed into 2023 with a 103-148 record in Interleague play dating back to 2010; marked the worst in MLB.
- The Marlins have won 11 of their last 13 games at loanDepot park; lead the NL with 21 home wins this season.
UP THE RANKS
At 35-28, Miami is tied for the second-best start to a season through the club’s first 63 games in club history. See chart to right for the top starts in Marlins history.
- Is their most games over .500 since July 31, 2016 (9 over).
- Miami currently has the 4th-best record in the NL, behind only ATL, ARI, and LAD.
- The club’s current six-game winning streak is tied with Tampa Bay for the longest active streak in MLB. The last time the Marlins won 7-or-more straight was last season (7 G; April 23-30).
WENDESDAY’S RECAP
Miami recorded its second consecutive three-game sweep, taking the finale against the Royals, 6-1, at loanDepot park. After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the 3rd, the Marlins erased the early deficit and took the lead with a three-run home run by RF Jesús Sanchez, who tied a career-high with 4 RBI in the game. DH Bryan De La Cruz drove in the other 2 runs for Miami, marking his third straight multi-RBI game. RHP Edward Cabrera, who exited early due to a blister, picked up his second straight win, allowing 1 run across 5.0 innings pitched, with 4 strikeouts.
SWEEPING SENSATION
The Marlins wrapped up their recent 9-game homestand by sweeping Oakland and Kansas City in consecutive 3-game sets, marking the first time they recorded back-to-back series sweeps at home since 2008, when they swept the Nationals (3 games) and Astros (3 games) from Sept. 12-18. The Marlins last swept consecutive series in 2019, when the Marlins took 3 vs. the Mets and 3 at Detroit.
DON’T COUNT THEM OUT
Miami has 18 comeback wins this season, including 3 in its last 4 games. The Marlins overcame 4-run deficits to win Sunday vs. Oakland (down 5-1, won 7-5) and Monday vs. Kansas City (down 4-0, won 9-6), marking the third time the club has come back by 4+ runs to win back-to-back games (2 games: 6/17/01 vs. TB & 6/18/01 vs. ATL, and 3 games: 8/9/99, 8/10/99, & 8/11/99 vs. SF).
LA REGADERA
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .403 AVG (87×216) and .452 OBP, and ranks 2nd with 87 hits. Also leads MLB with 27 2-hit games and is tied for 3rd with 8 games of 3+ hits. Has struck out just 11 times in 239 PA (.046 K/PA), the lowest mark in MLB among qualifiers.
- Arraez is 1 of 7 non-U.S.-born MLB players all-time to post a batting average of .400 or higher through 58 games (in which the player registered at least 1 AB) of a season, joining Larry Walker (.416, 1997), Andres Galarraga (.411, 1993), Tony Fernandez (.404, 1999), Rico Carty (.404, 1970), Roberto Alomar (.403, 1996), and Rod Carew (.402, 1983).
- His .403 AVG marks the highest through a player’s first 58 games in Marlins history. The second-highest mark was set by Luis Castillo (.359) in 2000.
- Arraez has recorded 151 multi-hit games in his career and 142 strikeouts in 447 career games since his debut in 2019. There have been only five players to debut since 1980 to strike out fewer than 150 times within their first 450 career games – see chart to right.
GETTING OFFENSIVE
The Marlins’ offense has posted an NL-best .299 AVG (175×585) since May 21 at SF. Their 175 hits also rank 1st among MLB teams and the club’s 95 runs rank 4th in MLB. In this same span, Miami also leads all MLB teams with 24 GIDP.
- Miami’s 7-8-9 hitters in the batting order have combined to hit .331 in the same span (since May 21), marking the best AVG among the bottom third of the order among all MLB teams. The second-best mark is owned by Toronto (.293).
- Overall, Miami ranks 3rd in the NL with 554 H, 4th with .261 AVG, and t-5th with 11 3B.
- The Marlins have scored 4+ runs in 6 consecutive games, the longest stretch this season. The last time Miami went 6-0 during a 6-game streak of 4+ runs was 2011 (6 G; July 6-14).
HE’S HERE AND HE’S PERFECT
RHP Eury Perez is the youngest pitcher in MLB to record 3 or more wins in his first 5 starts since Rick Wise from June 21 – Aug. 20, 1964 at 18 yrs and 342 days with Philadelphia. He became just the 11th pitcher in club history to accomplish the feat and first since Sixto Sanchez in 2020.
- Has held opponents to 3 earned runs or less and 4 hits or less in each of his first 5 career starts, the second-longest streak in Marlins history and behind only Jordan Yamamoto’s 6-game streak (June 12 – July 16, 2019). Matches the longest streak in MLB this year by Mariners’ rookie starter Bryce Miller, who did so in his first 5 career starts.
PLAY BALL!
The Miami Marlins, along with MLB and MiLB, are celebrating PLAY BALL Weekend from June 9-11, with events taking place all weekend encouraging young people to play ball and highlighting the Marlins youth baseball and softball programs.
- Friday, June 9: Marlins Takeover at Babcock Park, the programming headquarter of the Marlins Youth Academy, with Marlins NIKE RBI baseball and softball games beginning at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, June 10: PLAY BALL Weekend Beach Baseball at Sandy’s Beach – registration available at Marlins.com/PlayBallWeekend. The Marlins and City of Miami Beach are teaming up for a fun activation at the recently designated Sandy’s Beach (near Lummus Park). The event will feature a mini-HR Derby on a “Sandlot” Field along with several instructional skills stations
- Sunday, June 11: Pitch, Hit & Run Competition at Pembroke Shores Park -registration available at Marlins.com/PlayBallWeekend.
TODAY’S STARTER – #39 EURY PEREZ
Eury Rafael Perez will make his first career start against the Chicago White Sox tonight and his sixth start of the season.
- In his last outing on Saturday, June 3 vs. OAK, pitched his second consecutive scoreless start, tossing 5.0 innings and allowing 4 hits. Walked just 1 one batter and struck out 5.
- On June 3 vs. OAK, became just the 11th pitcher in Club history to record 3 or more wins in his first 5 starts (last, Sixto Sanchez – 2020.) and the youngest pitcher in MLB to do so since Rick Wise from June 21 – Aug. 20, 1964 at 18 yrs at 342 days with Philadelphia.
- Has held opponents to 3 earned runs or less and 4 hits or less in each of his first 5 career starts, the second-longest streak in Marlins history and behind only Jordan Yamamoto’s 6-game streak (June 12 – July 16, 2019).
- Earned his first MLB win on Thursday, May 18 vs. the Washington Nationals, becoming the youngest pitcher in Club history to earn a win (20 years, 33 days). Threw 5.0 innings, struck out 6, and allowed only 3 hits and 1 run.
- Made his Major League debut on Friday, May 12 vs. the Reds and became the youngest pitcher in Marlins history and youngest Dominican-born starting pitcher (20 yrs, 27 days). Pitched 4.2 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits with 7 strikeouts and 2 walks.
- In his debut, recorded 7 strikeouts over 4.2 innings, the second-most for a pitcher in Club history in their debut with Anthony Desclafani (May 14, 2014 at LAD), Scott Olsen (June 25, 2005 at TB), and Dontrelle Willis (May 9, 2003 vs. COL). Falls one behind the club record of 8 set by Jose Fernandez on Apr. 7, 2013 vs. NYM and matched by Dillon Peters on Sept. 1, 2017 vs. PHI.
- Pre-2023 was ranked Miami’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 13 overall prospect according to MLBPipeline. Was also named the No. 3 RHP prospect.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have won five of their last six games and 21 of 36 as they open a brief three-game homestand tonight against the Miami Marlins.
RHP Dylan Cease is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are tied with Detroit for third place in the American League Central but just 3.5 games behind first-place Minnesota, the closest they have been to the division lead since 4/18 (also 3.5).
The Sox are coming off a 2-1 trip to New York-AL, recording a 3-2 victory on Tuesday before splitting a doubleheader last night … Wednesday night’s game was postponed due to hazardous air quality conditions in the New York area.
Following this series and a day off on Monday, the White Sox take a six-game trip to Los Angeles-NL (6/13-15) and Seattle (6/16-18).
The Sox went 4-2 on their last homestand vs. the Angels (1-2) and Detroit (3-0) from 5/29-6/4.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox are 21-15 (.583) since 4/30, the fifth-best record in the American League and best in the AL Central.
The Sox are 7-2 (.778) at home since 5/19 and 13-6 (.684) since 4/30, the fourth-best mark in the AL.
White Sox pitchers own a 2.17 ERA (13 ER/54.0 IP) with a .162 (31-191) during their 5-1 start to June.
Sox pitchers have recorded a 3.07 ERA (73 ER/213.2 IP) in 24 games since 5/13, the best mark in MLB (see box at right) … the bullpen owns a 2.29 ERA (21 ER/82.1 IP) during that span, while the starting rotation is at 3.57 (52 ER/131.0 IP).
Luis Robert is hitting .463/.522/.902 (19-41) with six doubles, four home runs, 15 RBI and 14 runs scored in 11 games vs. the National League this season.
DOUBLEHEADER RECAP
The White Sox split a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, rallying for a 6-5 win in the opener before losing the nightcap, 3-0.
Eloy Jiménez hit a game-winning, two-run homer off Michael King in the seventh inning of the opener … Jake Burger (tworun shot), Luis Robert Jr. (50th career) and Yoán Moncada also homered for the Sox.
Gregory Santos (second win), Joe Kelly (eight hold), Reynaldo López (seventh hold) and Kendall Graveman (sixth save) each threw 1.0 scoreless IP in relief of Lance Lynn (5 ER/5.0 IP) … Graveman made his 15th consecutive scoreless appearance and earned his sixth save in six chances.
The Sox were limited to two singles in the nightcap as their five-game winning streak came to an end … Mike Clevinger (3 ER/5.2 IP) suffered the loss.
SOX/MLB PLAY BALL WEEKEND
The White Sox are holding four free youth baseball clinics at Mt. Greenwood Fields today as part of MLB’s PLAY BALL initiative.
Coaches from the White Sox organization will instruct the athletes on throwing, hitting, fielding and baserunning.
All clinics have reached capacity, with more than 500 attendees taking home a free PLAY BALL plastic bat and ball set.
Fans may visit whitesox.com/playball to learn more.
MIND THE GAP
The White Sox are 21-15 (.583) since 4/30, the best record in the American League Central and fifth-best overall in the AL.
A breakdown of the Sox first 28 games and last 36:
W-L AVG R R/G HR OBP SLG OPS ERA IP QS ER HR SO
21-15 .245 165 4.6 41 .301 .401 .702 3.77 322.0 16 135 45 316
7-21 .227 106 3.8 26 .288 .367 .655 5.88 243.1 8 159 44 272
SEARCHING FOR HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
The White Sox have won seven of their last nine home games and are 13-6 since 4/30 following a 3-9 start to the season to improve to 16-15 overall.
During the 19-game stretch, the Sox are hitting .268/.322/.421 (171-639) with a 3.07 ERA (60 ER/176.0 IP) … they have allowed three runs or less in 10 of their last 12 home games
The White Sox went 37-44 (.457) at home in 2022 after going 53-28 (.654) in 2021, the best record in the AL.
HOME BODY
Jake Burger is hitting .346/.395/.846 (27-78) with 11 home runs, 26 RBI and a 1.242 OPS over 26 games at home this season.
Burger is tied for the MLB in home runs at home and tied for fourth in RBI … among players with at least 85 plate appearances, he leads MLB in slugging percentage and OPS at home.
Burger has hit 19 of his 22 career home runs at home.
WHITE SOX VS. MIAMI MARLINS
The White Sox lead the all-time series, 10-8, including a 7-5 record at home … the Marlins won two of three games in the last meeting from 7/22-24/19.
Including manager Pedro Grifol, four members of the White Sox coaching staff are Cuban-Americans raised in Miami … other Miamians on staff are hitting coach José Castro, third base coach Eddie Rodríguez and field coordinator Mike Tosar.
Grifol, a catcher, and Tosar, a second baseman, were teammates at Christopher Columbus High School … Rodríguez, an infielder, played for Miami High School, and Castro, also an infielder, competed against him at Jackson High.
INTERLEAGUE INSIGHT
The White Sox are 258-237 (.521) all-time in interleague play (132-114 at home), the seventh-best winning percentage in MLB.
The Sox are 5-7 this season after going 11-9 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2021 … they are 26-19 since 7/25/21.
The White Sox are tied with Texas for third all-time with 619 home runs, trailing only Toronto (661) and the Yankees (633).
ROTATION SENSATION
White Sox starting pitchers own a 3.57 ERA (52 ER/131.0 IP) with a .216 (104-482) opponents average and 131 strikeouts in 24 games since 5/13 … they rank second in MLB in opponents average, fourth in WHIP (1.18) and OPS (.651) and fifth in ERA.
During that stretch, Sox starters have made six scoreless outings, have allowed one run twice and two runs six times … the rotation since 5/11:
W-L ERA WHIP QS IP H R ER HR BB SO SO/9.0 AVG OPS
10-6 3.57 1.18 12 131.0 104 56 52 18 50 131 9.0 .216 .685
BULLPEN RELIEF
The White Sox bullpen has posted a 2.29 ERA (21 ER/82.2 IP) with a .171 (49-287) opponents average and a 0.97 WHIP in 24 games since 5/13 … during that stretch, the pen leads MLB in opponents average, ranks second in WHIP and fourth in ERA.
The bullpen owns a 0.43 ERA (2 ER/41.2 IP) with a .124 (17- 137) opponents average in the last 14 victories (since 5/16) and a 0.59 mark (4 ER/61.0 IP) in the last 20 wins (since 5/2).
The White Sox bullpen since 5/13:
W-L ERA WHIP SV IP H R ER HR BB SO HR/9.0 AVG OPS
5-3 2.29 0.97 7 82.2 49 22 21 6 31 72 0.65 .171 .544
ANDREW, ANDREW … HE’S OUR MAN!
Andrew Vaughn is slashing .383/.456/.872 (18-47) with nine doubles, four homers and 34 RBI with RISP this season and .471/.609/1.000 (8-17) with RISP/two outs.
Vaughn ranks among the American League leaders with RISP in slugging percentage (4th), OPS (5th, 1.328) and RBI (T6th).
He ranks fourth in MLB with 13 go-ahead RBI and tied for sixth with seven game-winning RBI.
POSTING PUNCHOUTS
White Sox pitchers are tied for fifth in MLB with 588 strikeouts, including 29 games with 10 or more … Sox starters rank third in MLB with 360 strikeouts.
ALL-RIGHTY THEN
Tonight marks the 183rd consecutive game in which a RHP has started for the White Sox … per Elias, it is longest active streak in baseball, second-longest in Sox history (194 from 9/7/33-5/19/35) and longest in MLB since Cleveland (417) from 2017-21.
Dallas Keuchel (5/26/22 vs. Boston) was the last left-hander to start a game for the Sox … by comparison, from the beginning of the 2007 season until Keuchel’s start on 5/26/22, 1,021 of the White Sox 2,372 games (43.0 percent) were started by lefties
STARTER – #84 DYLAN CEASE RHP
CEASE AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 14th start of the season, eighth at home and second during interleague play.
Needs one win for 40 in his career.
Has allowed one run or less while tossing 5.0-plus IP in 25 starts since 2022 … the 25 starts are the most in baseball ahead of the Dodgers’ Julio Urías (23) and the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani and Rangers’ Martín Pérez (21).
Is 1-1 with a 3.25 ERA (10 ER/27.2 IP) and .200 (20-100) opponents average in his last five starts.
The White Sox are 7-6 in his starts this season … has recorded five quality starts.
According to STATS, he is the fastest White Sox pitcher to reach 600 career strikeouts (495.1 IP).
Ranks fifth in MLB since 2021 in strikeouts (521) and SO/9.0 IP (11.37), is tied for fifth in wins (30) and ranks 11th in opponents average (.212).
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 6/3 vs. Detroit, allowing one run on two hits with three walks and six strikeouts over 5.1 IP … held the Tigers scoreless over the first five innings … allowing a ledoff of triple to Zach McKinstry in the sixth … McKinstry would score on a wild pitch.
Departed the game in the sixth with the game tied, 1-1, and one out … threw 99 pitches (62 strikes) … the White Sox would go on to beat the Tigers, 2-1, on a run-scoring wild pitch in the 10th inning … marked the first MLB game since at least 1920 where all runs scored (three-plus) via wild pitch or passed ball (Elias).
Owned a 75.0 first-strike percentage and 23.2 swinging-strike percentage (23 swing and misses) vs. 20 batters … threw 41 sliders (86.7 mph avg; 89.4 mph max), 36 four-seam fastballs (95.6 avg; 97.3 max), 14 knuckle curveballs (80.1 avg; 81.4 max) and eight changeups (75.9 avg; 78.1 max).
35TH AND SHIELDS
Is 5-5 with a 2.19 ERA (29 ER/119.1 IP), .192 (82-428) opponents average and 127 strikeouts in his last 20 starts at home dating back to 5/29/22 … his 2.19 ERA is the seventh-lowest by a White Sox pitcher over a 20-start span in Guaranteed Rate Field history.
Owns a 15-9 record, 2.96 ERA (84 ER/255.0 IP), .201 (185-921) opponents average and 306 strikeouts in 46 starts (23 quality) at Guaranteed Rate Field since 2020.
Ranks among American League home leaders since 2020 in strikeouts (2nd), opponents average (4th), ERA (5th) and wins (T10th).
UNDER PRESSURE
Opponents are hitting .236 (13-55) with RISP, .200 (6-30) with RISP/two outs and .222 (2-9) with the bases loaded this season.
Owns a career .211 (93-441) opponents average with RISP, the fifth-lowest mark in the majors since 2019.
OVER WORKED
Has thrown 1,268 pitches in 13 starts this season, the seventh-most in the majors … his 97.5 pitches per game are the ninth-most in baseball.
Is averaging 18.6 pitches per IP and 4.21 pitches per batter faced, the second and fourth highest marks in MLB respectively.
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. MIAMI MARLINS || INTERLEAGUE
Is scheduled to make his first career appearance against the Miami Marlins.
Earned the win in his only interleague start this season on 4/5 vs. San Francisco (1 ER/5.0 IP).
Has gone 6-7 with a 3.27 ERA (32 ER/88.0 IP), .199 (64-321) opponents average and 108 strikeouts in 16 career interleague starts (five quality).
Owns a 2-4 record, 3.04 ERA (16 ER/47.1 IP), .193 (33-171) opponents average and 59 strikeouts in eight career starts against the National League at home.
