MILWAUKEE BREWERS NOTES:
BREWERS vs. WHITE SOX
SUMMARY: Are 181-208 all-time…..the teams last met from 7/23-7/25, 2021 with the Brewers taking 2 of 3 games in Milwaukee.
at MIL: Are 92-96 all-time, going 4-10 at American Family Field and 88-86 at County Stadium…..the team also went 6-3 as the Seattle Pilots at Sick’s Stadium in 1969.
at CHI: Are 83-109 all-time, going 21-36 at Guaranteed Rate Field and 62-73 at old Comiskey Park…..the Brewers swept 2 games in their last visit here from 8/5-8/6, 2020.
Today’s Transactions
OF Blake Perkins was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain, retroactive to August 10…..the team has recalled INF Abraham Toro from Triple-A Nashville.
NL Central Standings
Team Record
Milwaukee ……………………………….62-54
Chicago ……………………………59-56 (-2.5)
Cincinnati …………………………60-57 (-2.5)
Pittsburgh ……………………….52-63 (-9.5)
St. Louis ………………………….50-65 (-11.5)
Note: MIL owns tie-breaker over CIN
L, W, L, W, L, W, L, W, L, W
The Brewers have alternated losses and wins over their last 10 games….. the team is looking to win consecutive games tonight for the first time since July 19-20.
Burnes, Baby, Burnes!
Corbin Burnes is entering his start tonight leading the National League in opponent AVG (.191), WHIP (1.05) and H/9IP (6.20) while ranking second in quality starts (16).
The Freshmen
Wednesday marked the Brewers’ sixth walk-off victory of the season, five of which were decided by rookies.
Date/Opponent Result
4/5 vs. NYM………………..Mitchell HR (9)
5/13 vs. KC …………………..Wiemer SF (9)
6/6 vs. BAL …………. Wiemer single (10)
7/24 vs. CIN ………………Yelich single (9)
8/5 vs. PIT …………….Perkins single (10)
8/9 vs. COL ………….Monasterio E6 (10)
The Brice Is Right
Rookie Brice Turang is batting .381 (16-for-42) with 2 HR and 7 RBI in his last 14 games while he has produced a .469 OBP/.548 SLG/1.017 OPS.
Rebel Yeli
In his last 55 games, Christian Yelich has batted .329 (73-for-222) with 40 runs, 9 HR and 39 RBI while he has a .402 OBP/.550 SLG/.951 OPS.
Don’t Mess With Bill
William Contreras over his last 32 games is batting .333 (45-for-135) with 4 HR and 25 RBI…..Contreras has a .364 OBP/.526 SLG/.890 OPS during this stretch (since July 2) while ranking among the NL leaders in the following categories:
Category Rank
Doubles (14) ……………………………………2nd
Hits (45) …………………………………………..3rd
Extra-Base Hits (18) ………………………3rd
AVG (.333) ……………………………………….6th
Total Bases (71) …………………………… T6th
RBI (25) ………………………………………..T10th
Show Me the Monay!
Rookie Andruw Monasterio is batting .314 (33-for-105, 2hr, 9rbi) in his last 32 games…..Monasterio, who has homered in his last 2 games, has a
.385 OBP/.438 SLG/.823 OPS during this stretch.
TONIGHT’S GAME: Is game 1 of a 9-game, 10-day road trip to Chicago-AL (3g), Los Angeles-NL (3g) and Texas (3g)…..the Brewers are coming off a 4-3 homestand against Pittsburgh (2-2) and Colorado (2-1)…..following this trip, the team returns to American Family Field for 5 games in 6 days vs. Minnesota (2g) and San Diego (3g).
IN THE TRAINER’S ROOM: LHP Aaron Ashby (left labrum), OF Garrett Mitchell (left shoulder), OF Blake Perkins (left oblique), 1B Darin Ruf (right knee), RHP Julio Teheran (right hip), 1B Rowdy Tellez (right forearm/left ring finger), LHP Justin Wilson (left lat) and OF Jesse Winker (back) are on the injured list…..Ashby, Mitchell, Ruf and Wilson are on the 60-day IL.
IN THE STANDINGS (134 days): The Brewers have spent the following number of days alone or tied at each position in the NL Central standings: FIRST: 81, SECOND: 51,
THIRD: 2, FOURTH: 0, FIFTH: 0…..the team is currently in first place, leading the Cubs and Reds by 2.5 games.
SERIES-LY SPEAKING: The Brewers are 19-16-2 in series play.
Game 1: 18-19, Game 2: 20-17, Game 3: 20-16, Game 4: 4-2
Sweep Wins (5): vs. NYM (3g, 4/3-4/5), at SEA (3g, 4/17-4/19), vs. KC (3g, 5/12-5/14), vs. PIT (3g, 6/16-6/18), at CIN (3g, 7/14-7/16) Sweep Losses (4): at COL (3g, 5/2-5/4), vs. OAK (3g, 6/9-6/11), at MIN (2g, 6/13-6/14), at ATL (3g, 7/28-7/30)
AT HOME: The Brewers are 33-27 at home, going 10-7-2 in series play…..the team went 46-35 at home last season, going 15-8-4 in series play.
ON THE ROAD: The Brewers are 29-27 on the road, going 9-9-0 in series play…..the team went 40-41 on the road last season, going 9-12-5 in series play
LET’S GO TO THE VIDEO TAPE: The Brewers have made 27 replay challenges this season, going 11-16…..their last challenge (lost) came on 8/6 vs. Pittsburgh as an out call at third base (William Contreras) stood.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: #39 – RHP CORBIN BURNES (23gs, 9-6, 3.42)
BURNES AT A GLANCE: Corbin Burnes, 28, will be making his 24th start of the season…..Burnes last started last Saturday vs. Pittsburgh and received no decision in the Brewers’ 3-2, 10-inning win (6ip, 2h, 2r, 2er, 4bb, 5k, 107 pitches)…..the team is 13-10 in his starts…..he has 16 quality starts and seven in a row…..opponents are batting .191 (96-for-503, 15hr)…..he is 4-1 with a 2.00 ERA in his last 7 starts (45ip, 10er)…..he was named NL Pitcher of the Month for July (6gs, 4-1, 1.85era)…..Burnes was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of St. Mary’s (CA) College…..he is under club control through 2024.
TRIFECTA!: Burnes is the fifth player in franchise history to make three straight All-Star Games, joining Ryan Braun (5), Josh Hader (4), Dan Plesac (3) and Don Money (3).
CY BURNES: Burnes won the 2021 National League Cy Young Award after going 11-5 with a Major League-best 2.43 ERA in 28 starts…..he became the third pitcher in franchise history to win a Cy Young Award, joining Rollie Fingers (1981) and Pete Vuckovich (1982)…..he became the first pitcher in franchise history to lead his league in ERA.
CAREER: Is 44-25 with a 3.26 ERA in 158 games/97 starts (655ip, 237er)…..is in his sixth Major League season, all with the Brewers (2018-23)…..is 36-22 with a 3.05 ERA as a starter (573ip, 194er) and 8-3 with a 4.72 ERA in relief (82ip, 43er)…..Burnes is a three-time All-Star (2021-23) and was a 2021 All-MLB First Team selection.
CAREER AT AMERICAN FAMILY FIELD: Is 21-15 with a 3.55 ERA in 77 games/50 starts (337ip, 133er)…..is 4-3 with a 3.92 ERA in 11 starts this season (64.1ip, 28er).
CAREER ON THE ROAD: Is 23-10 with a 2.94 ERA in 81 games/47 starts (318ip, 104er)…..is 5-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 12 starts this season (75ip, 25er).
CAREER vs. WHITE SOX: Is 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA in 2 games/1 start (9.2ip, 3er)…..both appearances came at American Family Field…..he pitched out of the bullpen on 8/3/20 (3.2ip, 3h, 2r, 2er, 2bb, 5k, 1hr) and earned a 6-1 win in a start on 7/24/21 (6ip, 4h, 1r, 1er, 2bb, 6k)
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have won four of their last five games following a 2-11 stretch as they continue a six-game, seven-day homestand tonight with the series opener vs. Milwaukee.
RHP Michael Kopech, who ranks eighth in the American League with a .221 opponents average (min. 100.0 IP), is scheduled to start for the White Sox.
The Sox opened the homestand by winning two of three games vs. the Yankees, including a 9-2 victory in Wednesday’s finale.
Following this three-game series, the White Sox play five road games in six days at the Cubs (8/15-16) and Colorado (8/18-20).
The Sox went 2-4 on their last trip to Texas (0-3) and Cleveland (2-1) from 8/1-6 and 2-4 on their last homestand vs. the Cubs (0-2) and Cleveland (2-2) from 7/25-30.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
White Sox legend Freddy García will throw out a ceremonial first pitch … García threw a complete-game six-hitter in an 8-2 victory in Game 4 of the 2005 ALCS at Los Angeles, and 7.0 scoreless IP with four hits allowed in a 1-0 victory in Game 4 of the World Series at Houston as the Sox completed a four-game sweep to end an 88-year championship drought.
The Sox have allowed 17 runs during their current 4-1 stretch.
The White Sox are 17-8 against Milwaukee since 2000.
Tonight is “Elvis Night”, and Elvis Andrus is hitting .435/.435/.783 (10-23) with five doubles, one home run, eight RBI, five runs scored and two stolen bases in his last six games, including back-to-back multihit eff orts on 8/5-6 at Cleveland.
Rookie Oscar Colás owns a fi ve-game hitting streak, going 6-19 (.316) with two home runs, three RBI and six runs scored.
THURSDAY’S TRANSACTIONS
The White Sox yesterday claimed RHP Deivi (“DAY-vee”) García off waivers from the Yankees and optioned him to Class AAA Charlotte … to make room for García on the 40-man roster, the Sox transferred RHP Liam Hendriks to the 60-day injured list.
WEDNESDAY’S RECAP
The White Sox defeated the Yankees, 9-2, in the series rubber game, recording their largest home margin of victory this season.
Rookie Oscar Colás hit a two-run home run off Luis Severino in the second inning, Yoán Moncada hit a pair of doubles, and Elvis Andrus was 2-4 with a three-run double in the eighth.
Mike Clevinger earned his fi fth win, allowing just one run on three hits with six strikeouts over 6.0 IP … Clevinger improved to 3-2 with a 2.49 ERA (12 ER/43.1 IP) over his last eight starts.
Aaron Bummer posted his eighth hold, working out of an inherited, bases-loaded jam in the seventh by striking out Oswaldo Cabrera and inducing Kyle Higashioka to ground into a double play to preserve a 5-2 lead.
Rookie Gregory Santos threw 2.0 scoreless IP for his third save of the season.
Luis Robert Jr. left the game in the fourth with sprained right
pinky fi nger (x-rays negative; day-to-day).
WHITE SOX VS. MILWAUKEE BREWERS
The White Sox and Brewers are meeting during the regular season for just the seventh time since 2002.
Milwaukee won two of three games at American Family Field in the last meeting from 7/23-25/21 … the Brewers swept a two-game series in the last matchup at Guaranteed Rate Field from 8/5-6/20.
The teams met every season from 1970-97 when Milwaukee played in the American League.
INTERLEAGUE INSIGHT
The White Sox are 264-248 (.516) all-time in interleague play (134-120 at home), the eighth-best record in MLB.
The Sox are 11-18 this season after going 11-9 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2021.
The White Sox rank third all-time with 637 home runs, trailing only Toronto (672) and the Yankees (643).
Eloy Jiménez is a .284/.337/.516 (71-250) hitter with 15 home runs and 44 RBI in 68 career interleague games … Luis Robert Jr. owns a .298/.351/.579 (72-242) slash line with 17 homers and 45 RBI in 64 career interleague games.
STARTING PITCHER – #34 MICHAEL KOPECH RHP
KOPECH AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 22nd start of the season, 12th at home and first against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Owns a 2-5 record, 4.30 ERA (22 ER/46.0 IP), 1.67 WHIP, .240 (41-171) opponents average and 42 strikeouts in his last 10 starts … has given up 36 walks in that span.
Is the only White Sox starter this season to carry a hitless game to the sixth inning in three different outings.
Has recorded 5.0-plus IP in 14 of his 21 starts this season and 6.0-plus IP six times, allowing just one run or less in seven outings.
Went 3-7 with a 4.08 ERA (39 ER/86.0 IP), .217 (68-313) opponents average and 97 strikeouts over 16 starts in the first half of the season … his 86.0 IP and 97 strikeouts were the highest first-half totals in his career.
Is receiving 4.51 runs of support this season (54 RS/102.1 IP) … the Sox have scored six-plus runs in four of his starts and two runs or less in 16.
Has gone 12-20 with 3.91 ERA (111 ER/255.1 IP), .214 (199-931) opponents average and 255 strikeouts in 54 career starts and 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 three seasons (2021-23).
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).
LAST START
Earned the win on 8/5 at Cleveland, allowing two runs on three hits with four walks and three strikeouts over 5.1 IP … threw 97 pitches (60 strikes).
Tossed 5.0-hitless IP, retiring 13 of the first 17 batters faced before Andrés Giménez double to right field in the sixth inning.
Departed the game in the sixth with the White Sox leading, 5-1 … the Sox won, 7-4 … Aaron Bummer closed the game tossing 2.0 IP … Luis Robert, Elvis Andrus, Andrew Vaughn and Oscar Colás each homered.
Owned a 54.5 first-strike percentage and 9.3 swinging-strike percentage (nine swing and misses) vs. 22 batters … threw 58 four-seam fastballs (95.1 mph avg; 98.5 mph max), 23 sliders (84.0 mph avg; 86.9 max) and 16 changeups (88.3 mph avg; max 92.3).
DAMAGE CONTROL
Opponents are batting .185 (17-92) with RISP, .231 (12-52) with RISP/two outs and .200 (1-5) with the bases loaded against him this season.
His .185 opponents average with RISP is the fourth-lowest mark in the major leagues in 2023.
Has limited opponents to a.185 (42-227) average with RISP, .190 (23-121) with RISP/two outs and .231 (3-13) with the bases loaded in his career.
HEATER ON AND RELIABLE
His four-seam fastball has held the opposition to a .203 (96-472) batting average, the third-lowest in Major League Baseball since 2022 (min. 2,000 fastballs thrown) … opponents own a .218 (50-229) average on his fastball this season, third-lowest in MLB (min. 1,000 fastballs thrown).
Owns the second-highest four-seam fastball usage (62.7%) among pitchers this season (min. 1,500 pitches thrown) … led MLB starters with at least 2,000 pitches thrown in four-seam fastball usage (61.6%) last season.
His 66 strikeouts via his four-seamer are the 12thmost in baseball in 2023.
VS. MILWAUKEE BREWERS || INTERLEAGUE
Is scheduled to make his first career start (second appearance) against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Worked 1.0 scoreless IP at Milwaukee on 7/25/21 as a reliever in his only career appearance vs. the Brewers.
Has gone 2-4 with a 5.73 ERA (21 ER/33.0 IP), 1.58 WHIP, 28 strikeouts and a .269 (35-130) opponents average against the National League this year and 1-2 with 4.76 (9 ER/17.0 IP) with a .279 (19-68) opponents average against the National League Central.
