PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
GAME #16 RECAP: With nine runs in the 1st inning, the Phillies rolled to a 14-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds at GABP … Starter Aaron Nola (W, 1-2) went 6.0 innings and allowed 3 runs (2 ER) on 5 hits with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts … The Phillies had 23 hits on the day (7 XBH) with 5 walks and 4 strikeouts … They tagged Reds starter Luis Cessa for 11 runs and 14 hits.
THUMBS UP: Philadelphia’s nine runs in the 1st inning Sunday were their most in any single inning since exactly four years ago to the date when they scored 10 runs in the 1st inning against the Mets on April 16, 2019, at Citizens Bank Park … Philadelphia’s 23 hits in Sunday’s game are tied for the third-most by a Phillies club this century (also: 7/13/2007 vs STL), trailing only a 26-hit game on July 17, 2007 at LAD and a 24-hit game on August 31, 2022 vs ARI … The Phillies scored 14 runs in the game, yet left 15 on base, which marked only the fourth time since LOB data was first tracked in 1974 that a Phils club did so (last: 5/19/90 at LAD, 15 R/16 LOB) … The last ML club before the Phillies on Sunday to score 14+ runs yet leave 15 or more on base were the Washington Nationals on May 14, 2021 at ARI (17 R, 15 LOB) – of note, Trea Turner, Josh Harrison and Kyle Schwarber were all in the starting lineup for the Nats that day.
SNOW DAY: Due to high winds and cold temperatures in the Chicago area, last night’s game against the White Sox was postponed and will be made up as part of a straight doubleheader starting today at 3:10pm CT … The second game of today’s doubleheader will begin approximately 30-45 minutes following the conclusion of Game 1, but not before 6:10pm CT … Both games of today’s doubleheader will be broadcast on NBC Sports Philadelphia and 94 WIP … Temperatures last night in the Chicago area at 6:10pm CT were 38 degrees with sustained winds of 22 MPH and a 27-degree wind chill … Over the last 30 years, the only Phillies regular season game with a temperature below 38 at first pitch was on April 8, 2003, against Atlanta at Veterans Stadium (37* at first pitch).
FEELING SLG-ISH: The Phils enter play today with 62 extra-base hits (41 2B, 6 3B, 15 HR) which ranks T-2nd in MLB (with LAD), trailing only the Rays (71 XBH) … Philadelphia’s .464 SLG ranks 2nd in MLB behind only the Rays (.529) … The Phillies have 41 doubles this season which leads MLB and is the most by a Phillies club through 16 games in the modern era (since 1900) … Philadelphia’s 62 extra-base hits are the second most ever by a Phillies club through the first 16 games of a season in the modern era (since 1900), short of only the 2019 club who had 63 extra-base hits through 16 games … Philadelphia’s .464 team SLG ranks 2nd through 16 games for a Phillies club in the modern era, behind only the 1976 club who put up a .477 SLG … The Phillies have hit at least one double in each of their first 16 games which is the second-longest streak to open a season for a Phils club in the modern era, behind only a 22-game double streak to open the 2002 season.
GREAT STOTT!: INF Bryson Stott has hit safely in all 16 games this year and he has tied the Phillies modern day franchise record for consecutive games with a hit to begin a season – Puddin’ Head Jones also hit safely in 16 straight games to begin the 1950 season … The last ML player to hit safely in 16 straight games to begin a season was Brian Dozier (17 G), March 29-April 23, 2018 … This season, Stott has multiple hits in 10 of his 16 games, including six of the last nine (since 4/8) – over the last 90 seasons (since 1934), the only other Phillies player with 10+ multi-hit games within the first 16 games of a season was Pete Rose in 1981 (also 10) … Since last year’s All-Star break, Stott has played 79 games and is slashing .303/.344/.432 in 315 plate appearances.
RIPPING HEATERS: Phillies center fielder Brandon Marsh has seen 54 fastballs this season at 95+ MPH – he is 5-for-13 at the plate (.385 AVG) in plate appearances ending with a 95+ MPH fastball … Marsh has a .692 SLG % on 95+ MPH heaters this year which ranks 19th among 110 players in MLB (min. 10 PA) … Last season, Marsh saw 264 fastballs at 95+ MPH and was 10-for-56 (.179 AVG) with a .393 SLG … Overall, Marsh enters today’s doubleheader slashing .378/.440/.756 with a 1.196 OPS in 50 plate appearances …. Dating back to last season, since Aug. 30, 2022, Marsh is slashing .336/.377/.606 with a .983 OPS in 146 plate appearances over his last 41 games played … This season, Marsh leads all qualified Phillies players in pitches per plate appearance (4.30) after averaging 3.92 P/PA last season.
WHEELS UP: In 72 regular season starts with the Phils, Zack Wheeler is 30-20 with a 2.86 ERA (144 ER, 453.0 IP) and 481 strikeouts to 103 walks (4.67 SO/BB ratio) … Among all starters in MLB since 2020, Wheeler ranks 5th in OPP SLG at .339 (min. 400.0 IP), 6th in ERA (min. 400.0 IP) & OPP OPS at .616, T-6th in CG (3), 7th in innings pitched, 8th in SO/BB ratio and 9th in WHIP at 1.06 (min. 400.0 IP) … Wheeler made his postseason debut last year with the Phillies – in six starts, he posted a 2.78 ERA (11 ER, 35.2 IP) with a 0.73 WHIP … He faced 135 batters last postseason and held them to a .153/.222/.226 slash line … In any single postseason in MLB history, among all pitchers to face at least 100 batters, Wheeler’s .448 OPS in the 2022 playoffs ranks 6th all-time behind only Mike Mussina in 1997 with BAL (.406 OPS), Madison Bumgarner in 2014 with SF (.407 OPS), Curt Schilling in 2001 with ARI (.435 OPS), Orel Hershiser in 1988 with LAD (.439 OPS) and Randy Johnson in 2001 with ARI (.439 OPS).
STRIKE ONE, STRIKE TWO, GOOD LUCK: Wednesday against the Marlins at CBP, LHP Jose Alvarado became the first major league relief pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961) to strike out 11 consecutive batters in a single season … Eric Gagne (2003) and Chad Green (2019) were the only two to reach 10 straight, prior to Alvarado … Alvarado has multiple strikeouts in each of his last 13 appearances (since 9/13/22), and in that span, has 32 strikeouts to just one walk in 14.0 total innings pitched with a 65.3% strikeout rate (49 batters faced) … Alvarado has faced 23 batters this season – he has struck out 16 of them without allowing a walk.
50 SCHWARBOMBS: On 4/13 at CIN, Kyle Schwarber hit his 50th career home run as a Phillie (regular season only) and became the fastest in franchise history to reach 50, doing so in his 168th game … Schwarber eclipsed Jim Thome’s previous franchise record of 50 HR in his first 172 games with the club … Ryan Howard (50 HR in 182 G) ranks 3rd, Rhys Hoskins (50 HR in 192 G) ranks 4th and Chuck Klein (50 HR in 195 G) ranks 5th … Of Schwarber’s 50 regular season home runs with the Phillies, 47 have been hit with an exit velocity north of 100.0 MPH (94%) and 16 of those 50 have been hit over 110.0 MPH (32%)
TODAY’S GAME 1 STARTER – ZACK WHEELER • RHP #45
LAST START: 4/12 vs MIA: 6.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 3 BB, 6 SO … Wheeler vs Cabrera … The Phillies fell to the Miami Marlins, 3-2, in extra innings at CBP in South Philly … Jose Alvarado followed Wheeler and after striking out his 11th consecutive batter, he allowed a game tying solo home run to Jorge Soler … Bryson Stott had another multi-hit game as did Trea Turner.
TODAY’S START:
• Ace True Value: Since joining the Phillies in 2020, Wheeler’s 13.8 fWAR is the 2nd-highest in MLB, trailing only Corbin Burnes’ 14.6 and is more than half a win over the 3rd place pitcher (Aaron Nola, 13.2) … Since 2020, he ranks 6th in MLB ERA (2.86, min. 400.0 IP) & BB% (5.7%), 7th in & IP (453.0), 8th in SO/BB (4.67) & 9th in WHIP
(1.06)
• Pair Of Sox: Wheeler has faced CWS twice in his career – on 6/25/13 in his second career start in the majors, and on 8/1/19 … All 3 of his career starts again CWS counting today will have come in Chicago … He tossed 7.0 scoreless IP with 4 hits and no walks in his last start against CWS … Today is only his 7th career start against any AL Central team
• Battery Operated: Wheeler has made 58 starts with J.T. Realmuto behind the plate, more than any other catcher who has caught him … His 4.65 SO/BB ratio with Realmuto behind the dish is the highest among all catchers who have caught Wheeler for at least 10 games, and his 2.81 ERA (114 ER, 365.2 IP) is 2nd (best: Kevin Plawecki, 2.19 in 12 starts)
• Ramping Up: Wheeler’s average 4-seam velocity was up to 96.5 mph in his last start, topping at 98.0 mph… It was 95.7 mph in his first two starts of the season … His 7 fastest pitches of the season and 11 of his fastest 13 came in his last start
• Couldn’t Have Done It Without Ya: In the 2022 postseason, Wheeler set a Phillies record and tied the ML record for most starts in a postseason with 6, done by 7 other pitchers … Wheeler had a quality start in each of his first 4 postseason starts, becoming the first pitcher in MLB to start his postseason career with 4 straight quality starts since Michael Wacha in 2013
• vs AL Central: 2-2, 4.15 ERA (16 ER, 34.2 IP) in 6 starts
• vs Interleague: 9-10, 4.32 ERA (87 ER, 181.1 IP) in 32 starts
ROAD:
• 2023: 0-1, 8.31 ERA (4 ER, 4.1 IP) in 1 start
• Career: 38-27, 3.52 ERA (228 ER, 583.1 IP) in 98 starts
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost four of their last five games and seven of 10 as they continue a six-game homestand today against defending National League champion Philadelphia.
RHPs Lance Lynn and Lucas Giolito are scheduled to start today’s doubleheader for the White Sox, who are tied with Detroit for third place in the American League Central, 4.0 games behind Minnesota and 3.0 behind Cleveland.
The Sox and Phillies were postponed yesterday due to inclement weather … the White Sox opened the homestand by losing two of three games to Baltimore, including a 8-4 defeat on Sunday after holding an early 4-0 lead.
Following this series and Thursday’s off day, the White Sox take a six-game trip to Tampa Bay (4/21-23) and Toronto (4/24-26).
The Sox went 2-4 on their last trip to Pittsburgh (1-2) and Minnesota (1-2) from 4/7-12 and 1-2 on their first homestand vs. San Francisco from 4/3-6.
TODAY’S STORYLINES
White Sox starting pitchers own a 2.48 ERA (11 ER/40.0 IP) with 42 strikeouts and a .203 (30-148) opponents average and five quality starts over the last seven games. Through six home games, the Sox have posted a 7.85 ERA (48 ER/55.0 IP) with 48 walks allowed (7.9 per 9.0 IP) … they have walked seven-plus batters in fi ve of the six games.
RHP Lance Lynn is 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA (5 ER/19.0 IP) in three career starts against the Phillies, with his most recent outing coming on 7/25/13 with St. Louis.
Lance Lynn posted a ND in a quality start, allowing three runs on seven hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts … Lynn retired 13 of the final 15 batters faced (seven strikeouts) and recorded his 23rd career game with 10-plus strikeouts (fourth with the Sox) and fourth such outing with no walks.
Jake Burger has homered in a career-high three straight games, the longest streak by a White Sox since Eloy Jimenez from 9/7-9/22 (also three) … six of Burger’s seven hits in 2023 have gone for extra bases.
Andrew Vaughn has reached base safely in all 15 of his games this season, hitting safely in 12.
ROSTER MOVES
The White Sox have added RHP Nick Padilla from Class AAA Charlotte to serve as the 27th player for today’s doubleheader. Padilla, 26, is 0-0 with a 1.23 ERA (1 ER/7.1 IP), one walk, seven strikeouts and a .120 (3-25) opponents average over six relief appearances with Class AAA Charlotte this season.
LET’S PLAY TWO
The White Sox are playing their fi rst doubleheader of the season after playing six in 2022.
The Sox posted a 1-1-4 record in doubleheaders last season, including a sweep on 5/22 at Yankee Stadium and a split with Cleveland on 7/23 in their last twin-bill at home.
Below is additional White Sox doubleheader information:
Last White Sox DH: 8/9/22 at Kansas City (split)
Last White Sox DH at home: 7/23/22 vs. Cleveland (split)
Last White Sox DH vs. Philadelphia: N/A
Last time White Sox swept a DH: 5/22 at New York-AL
Last time Sox were swept in a DH: 4/20/22 at Cleveland
SUNDAY’S RECAP
Baltimore overcame an early 4-0 deficit to defeat the White Sox, 8-4, in the deciding game of the series.
The Sox scored all four runs in the first inning on a three-run homer by Baltimore-area native Gavin Sheets and a solo shot by Jake Burger off Orioles starter Grayson Rodriguez, but were held scoreless on four hits over the final eight innings.
Dylan Cease posted a ND, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits with fi ve walks and fi ve strikeouts over 6.0 IP … Keynan Middleton pitched a scoreless seventh inning, but Aaron Bummer gave up three runs in the eighth without recording an out.
Sox pitchers issued seven walks, upping their total in the three-game series to 26 and 48 through six home games.
The start of the game was delayed by rain for 2:22.
WHITE SOX VS. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
The White Sox are 8-11 in the all-time series, including a 3-2 record in Chicago.
The Sox won two of three games in the most recent meeting from 8/2-4/19 at Citizens Bank Park and split a two-game set in the last matchup at Guaranteed Rate Field from 8/23-24/16.
Yasmani Grandal is a career .305/.406/.703 (39-128) hitter with 14 home runs and 31 RBI in 38 games against the Phillies.
INTERLEAGUE INSIGHT
The White Sox are 255-234 (.521) all-time in interleague play (131-112 at home), the seventh-best winning percentage in MLB.
The Sox are 2-4 this season after going 11-9 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2021 … they are 23-14 since 7/25/21.
The White Sox rank second all-time with 611 home runs, trailing only Toronto (647) and the Yankees (616).
SEARCHING FOR HOME˨FIELD ADVANTAGE
The White Sox are 2-4 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 six home games this season, the White Sox have been outscored, 51-30, and outhomered, 15-5.
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS
The White Sox are batting .275/.340/.445 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 (.785) and fi fth in slugging.
Tim Anderson owns a .353/.383/.564 (141-399) slash line vs. LHP since 2019, while Hanser Alberto is hitting .343/.362/.483 (170-495) … during that span, Anderson and Alberto rank 1-2 in MLB in average vs. LHP.
Luis Robert Jr. is a career .357/.407/.633 (70-196) hitter vs. lefties … Jake Burger owns a .617 slugging percentage vs. LHP.
Gavin Sheets (23 of 27) and Burger (11 of 13) have combined to hit 34 of their 41 career home runs at Guaranteed Rate Field
NO RISP, NO REWARD
The White Sox rank fourth in the American League with a .287 (41-143) average with runners in scoring position … over the last seven games, the Sox are hitting .220/.298/.415 (9-41) with RISP.
Andrew Vaughn is batting .462/.588/.769 (6-13) with nine RBI with RISP
FROM THE TRAINING ROOM
All-Star SS Tim Anderson (sprained left knee), LHP Garrett Crochet (Tommy John recovery), RHPs Matt Foster (right fl exor strain) Liam Hendriks (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma treatment) and Joe Kelly (right groin strain) and 3B Yoán Moncada (lower back soreness) are on the injured list.
STARTER – #33 LANCE LYNN RHP
LYNN AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his fourth start of the season, second at home and second during interleague play.
Has allowed six home runs this season, the most he has allowed over his first three starts of a season.
Is 7-5 with a 3.28 ERA (37 ER/101.2 IP), .234 (92-394) opponents average and 110 strikeouts in 17 starts since the 2022 All-Star Break.
Ranks among MLB active pitchers in HR/9.0 IP (7th, 0.93), SO/9.0 IP (8th, 9.08), opponents average (9th, .241), opponents SLG (9th, .382), wins (9th, 123), opponents OPS (11th, .693), IP (11th, 1,721.1), starts (T11th, 288), ERA (12th, 3.56), WHIP (12th, 1.26), opponents OBP (12th, .311) and strikeouts (12th, 1,736).
Signed a two-year contract extension with a club option with the White Sox on 7/17/21 … under terms of the extension, he will receive $18.5 million in both 2022 and 2023, with the Sox holding an $18-million option for 2024 with a $1-million buyout.
Is a two-time All-Star (2012 and 2021) … has finished fifth in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2019, sixth in 2020 and third in 2021 … was a member of the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
Was acquired from Texas in exchange for RHP Dane Dunning and LHP Avery Weems on 12/8/20.
LAST START
Received a no decision on 4/11 at Minnesota despite recording his first quality start of the season … allowed three runs on seven hits (two home runs) with no walks and 10 strikeouts over 6.0 IP … surrendered a two-run homer to Byron Buxton in the first inning and a solo shot to Michael A. Taylor in the second … held the Twins scoreless from the third-sixth, allowing just two hits.
Left the game in the seventh with the White Sox trailing, 3-2 … threw 98 pitches (69 strikes) … the Sox would go on to lose, 4-3, in 10 innings.
Owned a 84.0 first-strike percentage and 16.3 swinging-strike percentage (18 swing and misses) vs. 25 batters … threw 41 four-seam fastballs (92.7 mph avg; 94.1 mph max), 18 sinkers (91.4 avg; 93.0 max), 17 cutters (89.0 avg; 90.6 max), 12 curveballs (81.6 avg; 82.7 max), eight
changeups (85.4 avg; 86.7 max) and two sliders (86.7 avg; 86.8 max).
GRAB SOME BENCH
Recorded his 23rd career double-digit strikeout performance and fourth with the White Sox in his last start on 4/11 at Minnesota.
Ranks 11th in the majors with 656 strikeouts since 2019 … teammate Lucas Giolito (719) ranks seventh.
Has struck out at least five batters in 81 of his 98 starts since 2019, tied with the Phillies Zack Wheeler for the 11th-highest total in the majors.
MONSTER OF THE MIDWAY
Is 11-7 with a 3.48 ERA (59 ER/152.2 IP), .217 (125- 577) opponents average, one complete game, one shutout and 174 strikeouts in 27 home starts since 2021… made one start in Dyersville, Iowa at the “Field of Dreams” Game on 8/12/21 vs. New York-AL.
Has gone 11-7 with a 3.35 ERA (55 ER/147.2 IP) in 26 starts at Guaranteed Rate Field since 2021.
Ranks among American League home leaders (min. 150.0 IP) since 2021 in opponents OBP (5th, .267), opponents average (11th) and ERA (13th).
ORTHODOX HITTERS
Owns a career .229/.284/.353 (791-3,460) opponents slash line against right-handed hitters.
His .229 opponents average vs. right-handers is the ninth-lowest mark among active pitchers in the majors.
VS. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES || INTERLEAGUE
Is scheduled to make his fourth career start against the Philadelphia Phillies, second at home, first at Guaranteed Rate Field and first since 7/25/2013 with St. Louis.
Has won each of his last two starts vs. the Phillies, allowing just one run on six hits over 14.0 IP.
Has gone 3-2 with a 3.92 ERA (18 ER/41.1 IP) and .222 (35-158) opponents average in seven interleague starts since 2021.
Is 11-16 with a 4.11 ERA (112 ER/245.1 IP), .234 (236-956) opponents average and 234 strikeouts in 43 career interleague games (40 starts).
