MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
THE TWINS: After completing their 10-game homestand with a record of 6-4 (1-2 against the Nationals, 2-1 against the Yankees and 3-1 against the Royals), the Twins began their six-game road-trip with a loss to the White Sox in Chicago last night…tonight, they will continue the trip with the second of three games on the South Side…after tomorrow afternoon’s series finale at Guaranteed Rate Field, Minnesota will travel to Cleveland to play three against the Guardians over the weekend…the Twins have gone 10-6 at Target Field and 7-7 on the road.
A win tonight would give Rocco Baldelli 306 career managerial victories, which would place him in sole possession of fifth on the Twins all-time list (since 1961)…list lower right.
TWINS DROP OPENER IN EXTRAS: The Twins lost to the White Sox last night at Guaranteed Rate Field by a score of 3-2 in 10 innings, making them 2-2 in extras this season and 3-6 in one-run games…Joe Ryan was the starter but did not factor into the decision, pitching 6.0 shutout innings, with one hit allowed, two walks and seven strikeouts…Jorge López blew his second-consecutive save, allowing a two-run homer to Eloy Jiménez in the seventh inning…it marked López’s first earned runs allowed of the season and first home run since September 19, 2022 at Cleveland (Luke Maile)…Minnesota scored their two runs on a Trevor Larnach sacrifice fly and a Nick Gordon pinch hit solo home run (1)…the offense struck out 11 times and went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
TWINS CALL ON LOU: The Twins have placed right-handed pitcher Tyler Mahle on the 15-day Injured List with a right arm posterior impingement and flexor pronator strain (retroactive to April 30)…Mahle was removed from his start on April 27 vs. Kansas City with the injury, after completing 4.0 innings and allowing one run on two hits while striking out six batters in a 7-1 Twins win…to replace Mahle on the 26-man roster, the Twins have recalled right-handed pitcher Louie Varland from Triple-A St. Paul…this is Varland’s second stint with the Twins this
season, after being with the club from April 14-15 and starting on April 14 at New York-AL, an outing in which he yielded three runs on six hits (3 home runs), with one walk and eight strikeouts in a 6.0-inning no-decision…the 25-year-old has gone 2-0, 4.20 ERA (15.0 IP, 7
ER), with four walks and 25 strikeouts in three starts for the Saints this season.
ROCCO-FELLA RECORDS: Rocco Baldelli needs one win to pass Paul Molitor and move into sole possession of fifth on the Twins all-time managerial wins list…below are the Twins’ all-time managerial wins leaders (left) and Baldelli’s milestone victories (right):
TWINS MANAGERIAL WINS
BALDELLI’S MILESTONE WINS
Tom Kelly (1986-2001)………………………. 1140 1……………….. March 28, 2019 vs. Cleveland
Ron Gardenhire (2002-14)…………………. 1068 50………………. June 22, 2019 at Kansas City
Sam Mele (1961-67)…………………………… 522 100……..September 27, 2019 at Kansas City
Gene Mauch (1976-80)……………………….. 378 150…………………. May 15, 2021 vs. Oakland
Rocco Baldelli (2019-)……………………….. 305 200…… September 11, 2021 vs. Kansas City
Paul Molitor (2015-18)………………………… 305 250…………………June 25, 2022 vs. Colorado
Frank Quilici (1972-75)……………………….. 280 300…………….April 23, 2023 vs. Washington
LAND OF 10,000 RAKES: The Twins have homered in a season-long 14-straight games, since April 18…since that date, they have hit 23 home runs, tied with Boston and San Francisco for the second most in baseball, trailing Tampa Bay (25)…the current streak is the second longest of 2023, trailing the Rays’ stretch of 22 straight to begin the season (March 30-April 23)…the streak is tied for fifth longest in Twins/Senators franchise history (since 1901):
STREAK DATES HOME RUNS TEAM LEADER DURING STREAK
16……………………May 20 (2)-June 5, 2021…………………..27 ……………………………………………..Sanó – 5
16……………………September 1-17, 2017……………………..31 …………………………………………Escobar – 7
16……………………April 25-May 16, 2017 ……………………..26 ……………………………………………..Sanó – 6
16……………………April 28-May 15, 1979 ……………………..28 …………………………………………Smalley – 6
14……………………April 18, 2023-present…………………….23 ………………………………………….Buxton – 5
14……………………May 4-19, 2021……………………………….20 ……………………………………Kepler/Sanó – 4
14……………………June 1-16, 2019………………………………31 …………………………………………….. Cruz – 6
14……………………August 4-17, 1988…………………………..19 ……………………………….. Hrbek/Puckett – 4
14……………………April 18-May 3, 1986 ……………………….27 ………………………………………..Puckett – 10
NOTE: Twins have scored an AL-leading 49.3 percent of their runs via homers this season.
BUX FRESH SOX: Byron Buxton is hitting .278 (68-for-245) with 20 doubles, one triple, 16 home runs, 39 RBI, 46 runs scored and an .888 OPS in 71 career games vs. the White Sox… below are his first 48 career games vs. the Sox (June 22, 2015-June 29, 2019), compared to his last 23 (June 30, 2019-present):
AVG R H 2B HR RBI BB K OBP SLG OPS
FIRST 48 .234 27 37 13 7 21 11 46 .291 .449 .740
LAST 23 .356 19 31 7 9 18 4 25 .387 .770 1.157
ALSO: Byron Buxton has 16 career home runs and 39 RBI against the Sox (his most against any opponent), including nine homers and 16 RBI in his last 16 games.
TWINS AND SOX: Twins and White Sox are playing the fifth of 13 meetings this season…Twins are 2-2 vs. the Sox this season, going 2-1 at Target Field from April 10-12, followed by a loss last night…since 2015, the Twins have gone 80-67 against the Sox, their most wins against any opponent in that span.
Since 2019, no opponent has homered in this ballpark more than the Twins, with 71 (next is Kansas City with 42).
Christian Vázquez is hitting .345 (38-for-110) with five doubles, one home run, 16 RBI, nine walks, a .395 on-base percentage and an .813 OPS in 35 career games vs. the Sox… Vázquez is hitting .400 (22-for-55) with a .959 OPS in 18 career games at Guaranteed Rate…in his last 12 games here, he has reached base 22 times in 39 plate appearances (.564 OBP)…two of his six four-hit games (career high) have come in this ballpark.
Jorge Polanco is hitting .318 (27-for-85) with three doubles, seven home runs, 20 RBI and a 1.016 OPS in his last 22 games on the South Side…Polo’s 14 career homers and 41 career RBI at Guaranteed Rate are his most in any opposing ballpark.
BUCK TRUCK HORN STARTING TO MAKE NOISE: Byron Buxton has hit safely in a season-long six-straight games and in 10 of his last 11, since April 19…in that span, he is hitting .302 (13-for-43) with five doubles, five home runs, 11 RBI, five walks, a .375 on-base percentage, a .767 slugging percentage and a 1.142 OPS.
STARTING PITCHER – LOUIE VARLAND #37
2023: 0-0, 4.50 ERA CAREER: 1-2, 3.94 ERA
Making his second start with the Twins this year and his seventh career start.
Facing Chicago-AL for the first time this season and the third time in his career…is 1-0, 1.80 ERA (10.0 IP, 2 ER) with two walks and eight strikeouts in two previous starts vs. the White Sox.
Currently ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the Twins organization, per MLB.com.
Selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 15th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Division II Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota.
LAST MLB OUTING: Recorded his first career quality start in his 2023 Twins debut, taking a no-decision in a 4-3 Twins victory against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, opposite Nestor Cortes…marked two career highs by pitching 6.0 innings and recording eight strikeouts…allowed three runs on six hits and walked one batter, with all three runs allowed via solo home runs…allowed back-to-back home runs for the first time in his career to infielder Anthony Volpe and outfielder Aaron Judge in the bottom of the first inning; Volpe’s homer was also the first leadoff home run Varland has allowed in his career…yielded another home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton…relieved by Emilio Pagán in the seventh inning as the bullpen combined to pitch 3.0 scoreless innings…Twins scored once in the seventh and twice in the eighth on a two-run double from shortstop Carlos Correa to record the come-from-behind victory.
Has tossed at least 5.0 innings in all six of his career starts and allowed three-or-fewer runs in five of those six starts.
WITH THE SAINTS: In his three starts with Triple-A Saint Paul this season, Varland is 2-0, 4.20 ERA (15.0 IP, 7 ER) with four walks and 25 strikeouts…in his last start on April 27, earned the win in a 5-1 Saints victory at Rochester…pitched 5.1 innings, allowed one run on four hits, walked one batter and fanned eight…his lone blemish came from an RBI single to infielder Darren Baker…relieved by Cole Sands in the sixth inning after walking infielder Travis Blankenhorn…leads the Saints in strikeouts and is tied for 14th in the International League.
AGAINST THE SOUTHSIDERS: Facing Chicago-AL for the third time in his career…last faced the White Sox in the final game of the 2022 season on October 5 at Guaranteed Rate Field…earned his first career victory after pitching 5.0 innings scoreless innings and allowing four hits with zero walks and five strikeouts…was the first scoreless outing of his career…received 10 runs of support, including a six-run first inning by the Twins…relieved by Cole Sands, who recorded his first career save to secure the Twins 10-1 victory.
Is 1-0, 1.80 ERA (10.0 IP, 2 ER) with two walks and eight strikeouts in his career against Chicago-AL…tied with Kevin Tapani for fourth-lowest ERA against the White Sox in his first two career games against Chicago-AL (min 10.0 IP).
BACK ON THE ROAD: Tonight is Varland’s fifth career start on the road and second this season…is 1-1, 3.80 ERA (21.1 IP, 9 ER) with four walks and 23 strikeouts in his four career starts on the road… in two career home starts, he is 0-1, 4.22 ERA (10.2 IP, 5 ER) with three walks and six strikeouts… his 3.52 road ERA last season ranked third among Twins rookie pitchers and sixth on the entire Twins pitching staff (min. 10.0 IP).
LEFTIES VS. RIGHTIES: Left-handed hitters batted .333 (3-for-9) with four strikeouts and righties hit .200 (3-for 15) with four strikeouts against Varland in his first start…allowed all three of his runs to right-handed hitters via solo home runs…historically, Varland has posted similar numbers against both left- and right-handed hitters but had a slight edge on lefties…last season, lefties posted a .262/.296/.405 slash line (11-for-42) with three doubles, one home run, two walks, nine strikeouts and a .700 OPS…righties slashed .263/.323/.491 (15-for-57) with an .814 OPS, two doubles, three home runs, four walks and 12 strikeouts.
PITCH BREAKDOWN: Varland used a four-pitch mix in his first MLB start of 2023 on April 14 vs. New York-AL, including a four-seam fastball, slider, cutter and changeup according to Baseball Savant… utilized his cutter the most after only throwing the pitch 18.5 percent of the time in five starts with Minnesota last year…below is a look at his repertoire:
PITCH (AVG. MPH) PCT. (# OF PITCHES, VS. RHB/LHB) RESULTS
Cutter (91.5) ……………………………..37.3% (31 pitches, 23/8)………………………… .125 (1-for-8), 3 K
4-Seam Fastball (96.2)………………28.9% (24 pitches, 14/10)………………. .500 (3-for-6), 2 HR, 2 K
Changeup (85.0)…………………………16.9% (14 pitches, 6/8)………………… .333 (2-for-6), 1 HR, 2 K
Slider (85.7)………………………………16.9% (14 pitches, 11/3)………………………… .000 (0-for-4), 1 K
Threw a 98.3 mph fastball to New York-AL outfielder Oswaldo Cabrera in the second inning of his last start on April 14, the fastest pitch of his MLB career.
MINNESOTA MADE: Varland was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota and attended North St. Paul High School, where he was an All-Metro East Conference performer and letter-winner in three sports (baseball, wrestling and football)…continued his academic and athletic career at Division II Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where his 1.41 ERA as a sophomore in 2018 was second best in school history and fourth best in the nation by a DII pitcher…was selected by the Twins in the 15th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft.
With his MLB debut on September 7, 2022, became the eighth Minnesota-born player to make a start for the Twins…is one of 32 Minnesota natives to play for the Twins (1961-present).
Varland, Caleb Thielbar (Northfield, MN) and Matt Wallner (Forest Lake, MN) became the first three Minnesota-born Twins teammates since Joe Mauer (St. Paul, MN), Glen Perkins (St. Paul, MN) and Thielbar in 2015.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost 10 of their last 12 games, 15 of 19 and 18 of 24 as they continue a seven-game homestand tonight against Minnesota.
RHP Dylan Cease is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who have won back-to-back games for the fi rst time this season but are off to the fourth-worst 30-game start in franchise history.
The Sox are 2-3 on the homestand, posting a 3-2 victory in 10 innings last night after losing three of four games to Tampa Bay to open the homestand.
Following this three-game series, the White Sox take a seven-game trip to Cincinnati (5/5-7) and Kansas City (5/8-11).
The Sox went 0-6 on their last trip to Tampa Bay (0-3) and Toronto (0-3) from 4/21-26 and 2-4 on their last homestand vs. Baltimore (1-2) and Philadelphia (1-2) from 4/13-19.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox have recorded consecutive walk-off victories for the first time since 5/1-2/19 vs. Baltimore (Yonder Alonso single) and 5/2/19 vs. Boston (Nicky Delmonico home run).
With a victory tonight or tomorrow, the Sox will record their first series victory of the season.
White Sox starting pitchers have posted a 3.38 ERA (9 ER/24.0 IP) with 31 strikeouts over the last four games.
The White Sox are 18-9 at home vs. Minnesota since 2020.
Dylan Cease is 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA (1 ER/21.0 IP) over his last three starts against Minnesota, holding Twins batters to a .072 (5-69) average … Cease came within one out of throwing a no-hitter in his last home start of 2022 on 9/3 vs. the Twins.
Eloy Jiménez has hit safely in fi ve straight games (.400, 8-20) and has recorded a RBI and run scored in three straight.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
Andrew Benintendi hit a game-ending single off Caleb Thielbar with two outs in the 10th inning to give the White Sox a 3-2 victory over Minnesota.
The Sox were 0-5 with RISP prior to Benintendi’s game-ending hit, the third of his career and first since 8/5/18 at New York-AL. Michael Kopech posted a no decision despite allowing one run on one hit with fi ve walks and seven strikeouts over 6.0 IP … it marked the fi fth time in his career he has allowed one or no hits over 6.0-plus IP.
Gregory Santos (1.0 IP), Keynan Middleton (1.1) and Jimmy Lambert combed to retire all 10 batters faced, with Lambert holding Minnesota scoreless in the 10th to earn his second win.
Eloy Jiménez hit a two-run homer off Jorge López in the seventh to give the Sox a brief 2-1 lead … Alexander Colomé gave up a solo homer to Nick Gordon in his fi rst appearance with the Sox since Game 3 of the 2020 AL Wild Card Series at Oakland.
The Sox improved to 2-2 in extra innings and recorded their first win of the season when trailing after six innings.
CEASE AND DESTROY
Dylan Cease, who finished second in the American League Cy Young Award voting last season, has gone 12-7 with a 1.99 ERA (37 ER/167.2 IP) and 193 strikeouts over his last 29 starts dating to 5/29/22.
During that stretch, Cease ranks second in MLB in opponents average (.184) and third in ERA (1.99).
Since the start of the 2022 season, Cease has allowed one or zero runs 26 times, the most in MLB (Julio Urías is second with 24) … he set a MLB record with 14 straight starts allowing one earned run or less from 5/29-8/11/22 (0.66 ERA; 6 ER/82.0 IP).
NEAR NO˨NO
A look back at Dylan Cease’s attempt at throwing the 21st no-hitter in White Sox history on 9/3/22 vs. Minnesota.
Second pitcher in White Sox history to lose a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth, joining Ken Brett on 5/26/76 vs. California (Elias/STATS) … Brett lost his no-hit bid on Jerry Remy’s infield single and went on to lose the game, 1-0, in 10 innings (he threw 9.1 IP).
First Sox pitcher to record a complete-game one-hitter while losing his no-hit bid in the ninth since Dennis Lamp on 8/25/1981 at Milwaukee.
First MLB pitcher since Pete Alexander in 1915 to record four games in a season with 6.0-plus shutout IP and no more than one hit allowed.
WHITE SOX VS. MINNESOTA TWINS
The season series is tied at 2-2 … all four games have decided by two runs or less, including two in extra innings.
The White Sox are hitting .173/.236/.301 (23-133) with a 2.25 ERA (9 ER/36.0 IP) and have been outscored, 12-11.
The Sox are 29-23 vs. Minnesota since the start of the 2020 season (18-9 at home) after going 20-37 from 2017-19.
LOOKING TO REGAIN CENTRAL COMMAND
The White Sox are 108-88 (.551) vs. the American League Central since 2020, including a 2-2 mark this season.
The Sox play 32 games in 33 days from 5/2-6/4, with the lone off day coming on 5/15 … 23 of the 32 games during that stretch are against American League Central teams.
The White Sox posted a losing record (37-39) against the division last season after combining to go 69-47 in 2020-21.
SEARCHING FOR HOME˨FIELD ADVANTAGE
The White Sox are 5-9 (.357) 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 14 home games this season, the White Sox have been outscored, 103-64, and outhomered, 32-13.
Gavin Sheets (23 of 28) and Burger (14 of 16) have combined to hit 37 of their 44 career home runs at Guaranteed Rate Field.
AS TA GOES, SO GO THE WHITE SOX
Since the start of the 2020 season, the White Sox are 151- 112 (.574) when SS Tim Anderson is in the starting lineup and 67-84 (.444) when he is not.
During that span, the Sox are 124-73 when Anderson records a hit, 72-32 when he records a multi-hit eff ort, 94-46 when he score a run and 27-3 when he homers.
The White Sox went 3-15 while Anderson was on the 10-day injured list from 4/11-5/1 with a sprained left knee.
Anderson needs three homers to become the fourth player in White Sox history to record 100 HR/100 SB, joining Minnie Miñoso, Alexei Ramírez and Ray Durham.
DYNAMIC DUO
Eloy Jiménez and Dylan Cease were acquired by the White Sox from the Cubs on 7/13/17 as part of a five-player deal.
Since making their debuts in 2019, Jiménez has homered in 13 of Cease’s 96 starts (15 total HR) … the Sox are 11-2 in those games, including multi-homer eff orts from Jiménez on 9/3/19 at Cleveland and 8/8/21 at the Cubs (STATS).
Jiménez has homered in one of Cease’s six starts this season, compared to six times in 32 starts in 2022 (all in the second half).
CROCHET ON ASSIGNMENT
LHP Garrett Crochet, who underwent Tommy John surgery on 4/5/22, has made two appearances at Class AA Birmingham since beginning his rehab assignment on 4/30 … Crochet, the No. 11 overall pick in the 2020 draft, had never pitched in a MiLB game prior to his assignment.
A BREAK IN THE CLOUDS?
The White Sox went 8-21 in March/April while playing the most difficult schedule in MLB, as their opponents combined to record a .632 winning percentage (STATS).
The Sox played 13 games vs. American League East teams, including seven vs. Tampa Bay and three each vs. Baltimore and Toronto, three vs. AL Central-leading Minnesota, four vs. defending World Champion Houston, three vs. NL Central-leading Pittsburgh and three vs. defending NL champion Philadelphia.
By comparison, per STATS the Sox schedule entering May rated as the third-easiest in MLB based on their .424 opponents winning percentage (see boxes at right) … 20 of their 30 games in May are vs. the AL Central.
STARTER – $84 DYLAN CEASE RHP
CEASE AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his seventh start of the season, fourth at home and second vs. the Minnesota Twins.
Has allowed one run or less while tossing 5.0-plus IP in 23 starts since 2022 … the 23 starts are tied for the most in baseball with the Dodgers’ Julio Urías (22) and ahead of the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani and Rangers’ Martin Pérez (20).
Is 0-1 with a 7.07 ERA (11 ER/14.0 IP) and .339 (21-62) opponents average in his last three starts.
The White Sox are 3-3 in his starts this season … has recorded two quality starts.
Has recorded 4.0 IP or less in each of his last two starts … marks the first time in his career he has tossed 4.0 IP or less in consecutive starts.
Is approaching the following career milestones: four games/starts for 100 and two wins for 40.
According to STATS, he is the fastest White Sox pitcher to reach 600 career strikeouts (495.1 IP).
Ranks second in MLB since 2021 in SO/9.0 IP (11.61), third in strikeouts (490) and ninth in opp. average (.208).
Established career bests last season in ERA (2.20), strikeouts (227), wins (14), IP (184.0), WHIP (1.11) and opponents average (.190).
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
Suffered his first loss of the season on 4/27 vs. Tampa Bay, allowing a season-high seven runs (six earned) on a season-high nine hits with two walk and three strikeouts over 4.0 IP … surrendered three runs in the second inning, one in the third and three in the fifth … allowed seven-plus runs for the fifth time in his career (last on 5/24/22 vs. Boston, also seven).
Departed the game in the fifth with the White Sox trailing, 6-2 … threw 99 pitches (60 strikes).
Owned a 68.2 first-strike percentage and 11.1 swinging-strike percentage (11 swing and misses) vs. 22 batters … threw 41 sliders (85.3 mph avg; 87.3 mph max), 30 four-seam fastballs (95.0 avg; 96.4 max), 22 knuckle curveballs (80.0 avg; 82.3 max) and six changeups (80.0 avg; 81.7 max).
35TH AND SHIELDS
Is 5-4 with a 1.96 ERA (21 ER/96.2 IP), .190 (66-347) opponents average and 107 strikeouts in his last 16 starts at home dating back to 5/29/22 … his 1.96 ERA is the lowest by a White Sox pitcher over a 16-start span in Guaranteed Rate Field history.
Owns a 15-8 record, 2.94 ERA (76 ER/232.1 IP), .201 (169-840) opponents average and 286 strikeouts in 42 starts (21 quality) at Guaranteed Rate Field since 2020.
Ranks among American League home leaders since 2020 in strikeouts (2nd), ERA (3rd), opponents average (4th) and wins (T7th).
UNDER PRESSURE
Is limiting opponents to a .207 (6-29) average with RISP, .125 (2-16) mark with RISP/two outs and .167 (1-6) average with the bases loaded this season.
Owns a career .207 (86-415) opponents average with RISP, the third-lowest mark in the majors since 2019.
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. MINNESOTA TWINS || A.L. CENTRAL
Is scheduled to make his 11th career start against the Twins, eighth at Guaranteed Rate Field and second in 2023.
Has allowed three runs or less in seven of his 10 career starts against Minnesota.
Is 3-1 with a 1.38 ERA (4 ER/26.0 IP) and .132 (12-91) opponents average over his last four starts …
Threw a complete-game, one-hitter with seven strikeouts on 9/3/22 at Guaranteed Rate Field, no-hitting the Twins before Luis Arráez singled with two outs in the ninth inning.
Is 22-11 with a 3.05 ERA (81 ER/239.1 IP), .229 (206-901) and 271 strikeouts in 44 career starts vs. the American League Central.
