PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
DOUBLEHEADER RECAP: In their first doubleheader of the 2023 season, the Phillies split 1-1 with the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field … In Game 1, a 7-4 Phils win, starter Zack Wheeler (W, 1-1), went 5.0 innings and allowed 4 runs on 8 hits with 5 strikeouts and 0 walks … Josh Harrison returned to Chicago and went 3-for-5 with a HR and 4 RBI and Bryson Stott extended his hitting streak to 17 games … In Game 2, a 3-0 Phils loss, starter Bailey Falter (L, 0-3), became the first Phillies pitcher to complete 7.0 innings this season – he allowed 3 runs on 3 hits with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts over 7.0 innings … Falter allowed a 3-run home run to Jake Burger in the 1st but would retire 14 in a row from the 2nd through 7th inning following the home run.
MORE ON GAME 2: Yesterday marked only the fifth time in the modern era (since 1900) that the Phillies completed a game in which they had one hit or none and their opponent had three hits or fewer … In chronological order, the other four times: 10/1/1982 vs NYM (PHI 1 H, NYM 2 H), 5/13/1966 vs HOU (PHI 1 H, HOU 3 H), 5/26/1910 at CHI (PHI 1 H, CHI 3 H) and 5/10/1904 at PIT (PHI 1 H, PIT 3 H) … Per Elias, prior to Game 2 last night, the last time the Phillies played a game where both teams combined for four hits or fewer was in Game 2 of another doubleheader, July 9, 2018 at NYM (also 4 hits combined) … It marked only the 12th time in Phillies modern day franchise history they completed a game with four or fewer hits between both clubs, with the last six coming in the expansion era (since 1961).
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 14 appearances (since 9/13/22), and in that span, has 34 strikeouts to just one walk in 15.0 total innings with a 65.4% strikeout rate (52 batters faced) … Alvarado has faced 26 batters this season – he has struck out 18 of them without allowing a walk.
IT’S DRAFTY IN HERE: Of the last 27 outs Jose Alvarado has recorded (9.0 IP), 22 have been via strikeout (since 10/3/22) … In that span, he has 0 walks and a 71.0% strikeout rate (31 batters faced) … Yesterday, Alvarado became one of only eight pitchers since the current mound distance was established in 1893 with multiple strikeouts in 14 straight appearances as a relief pitcher … In chronological order, the others to do so: Yonny Chirinos (8/22/18-4/14/23, 17 straight), Ryan Yarbrough (6/18/2019-8/18/2021, 16 straight), Aroldis Chapman (9/3/2020-4/22/21, 15 straight), Felix Pena (5/17/2018-7/27/2020, 17 straight) Jeff Weaver (5/30-9/13/09, 14 straight), Joe Sparma (6/7/1964-5/31/1966, 15 straight) and Cy Young (8/18/1902-5/31/1906, 14 straight).
STARTING TO FIND IT: Over their last nine starts (since 4/10), the Phillies rotation has combined for 48.0 innings pitched and in that span rank 5th among all ML rotations in innings, trailing only PIT (52.1), MIL (51.2), STL (49.0) and SD (48.1) … Over their first nine games of the year (3/30-4/9), the Phillies starting staff combined for 42.2 innings which ranked 24th among ML staffs.
BULLISH ON THE PEN: Over the last three games (since 4/16 at CIN), the Phillies bullpen has totaled 8.0 scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts, 0 walks and only three hits allowed while averaging 12.4 pitches per inning pitched … Over their first 15 games of the season (3/30-4/15), the bullpen posted a 7.19 ERA (45 ER, 56.1 IP) with 60 strikeouts to 41 walks while averaging 19.7 pitches per inning pitched.
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.
FEELING SLG-ISH: The Phils enter play today with 64 extra-base hits (42 2B, 6 3B, 16 HR) which ranks T-2nd in MLB (with LAD), trailing only the Rays (78 XBH) … Philadelphia’s .445 SLG ranks 4th in MLB behind only the Rays (.547), Dodgers (.464) and Atlanta (.458) … The Phillies have 42 doubles this season which leads MLB and is tied for the 2nd-most by a Phillies club in the modern era (also: 2002) through the first 8 games of a season, behind only 2007 (43 2B) … In Game 1 of yesterday’s doubleheader, the Phils failed to double for the first time all season, snapping a 16-game double streak that was the second-longest to open a season for a Phillies club in the modern era (longest: 22 G streak to open 2002).
GREAT STOTT!: INF Bryson Stott hit safely in his first 17 games this year and set a Phillies modern day franchise record for consecutive games with a hit to begin a season … Stott eclipsed Puddin’ Head Jones’ previous mark of 16 straight games to begin the 1950 season … Stott is the first Phillies player with 29 or more hits through the team’s first 18 games of a season since Pete Rose had 29 in 1981 – prior to Rose, the last Phillie with as many hits through 18 team games was Pinky Whitney who also had 29 hits through 18 games in 1932 … Since last year’s All-Star break, Stott has played in 81 games and is slashing .300/.341/.426 in 324 plate appearances.
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 STARTER – TAIJUAN WALKER • RHP #99
2023: 1-1, 4.20 ERA
LAST START: 4/14 at CIN: W, 6.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 4 SO …
Walker vs Overton … The Phillies defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 8-3, at GABP in Cincinnati … The Phillies offense combined for 6 extra-base
hits and four walks … Kyle Schwarber reached base safely four times and Jose Alvarado struck out the side in the 8th inning.
TODAY’S START:
• To the Left: Walker has allowed only 2 hits to the 25 LHH he has faced this season (2-20, .100 AVG) and 1 XBH (2B) … Among the 97 RHP in MLB to face at least 25 LHH, only Graham Ashcraft (.057 AVG) has a lower OPP AVG and only Hunter Greene (.125) and Luis Castillo (.146) have a lower OPP SLG than his .150 vs LHH… LHH are batting 17 points lower than RHH against him in his career (.230 vs .247)
• From the Ground Up: Walker’s 65.9% ground ball rate is highest among all NL pitchers (min. 10.0 IP) and trails only Framber Valdez (67.2%) and Tanner Houck (66.7%)
• Hit Me: Opponents have batted just .200 (11-65) against Walker this season … He has not allowed more than 4 hits in any of his 3 starts this season, 1 shy of tying his career-best such streak (4x, last: 6/29-7/16/22)
• Keeping Them In The Yard: Walker has allowed just 1 HR through his 3 starts this season, and dating back to last year has allowed 1 in his last 4 starts overall (19.1 IP) … Walker surrendered only 15 home runs last season, T-8th fewest among NL pitchers with at least 150.0 IP
• Early Bird: Last season, Walker went 7-2, 2.55 ERA (26 ER, 91.2 IP) in 16 first half starts, the 8th-best among qualifying NL pitchers … He is 33-25 with a 3.52 ERA (193 ER, 494.0 IP) in his career prior to the All-Star break as opposed to 18-23 with a 4.59 ERA (186 ER, 365.2 IP) after
• vs AL Central: 9-4, 3.41 ERA (38 ER, 100.1 IP) in 17 starts
• vs Interleague: 10-7, 3.86 ERA (53 ER, 123.2 IP) in 22 starts
ROAD:
• 2023: 1-1, 4.35 ERA (5 ER, 10.1 IP) in 2 starts
• Career: 31-30, 3.97 ERA (206 ER, 467.0 IP) in 89 games (87 starts)
2023 SEASON:
• Made his season and Phillies debut on 4/3 at NYY after signing a 4-year contract with the club in December
• Pitched for Team Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, making one start in Pool Play against Great Britain … He threw 4.0 scoreless IP with 2 baserunners allowed and recorded 8 of his 12 outs via strikeout
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost fi ve of their last seven games and eight of 12 as they conclude a six-game homestand today against defending National League champion Philadelphia.
RHP Mike Clevinger is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are looking to win a series and back-to-back games for the first time this season.
The Sox are 2-3 on the homestand, splitting a DH with the Phillies yesterday after losing two of three to Baltimore.
Following today’s game and a day off tomorrow, the White Sox take a six-game trip to Tampa Bay (4/21-23) and Toronto (4/24-26) before returning home for four more games vs. the Rays (4/27-30) and three vs. Minnesota (5/1-3).
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 2.81 ERA (16 ER/51.1 IP) with 56 strikeouts and a .209 (40-191) opponents average and six quality starts over the last nine games.
RHP Mike Clevinger makes his second career regular-season start against the Phillies … Clevinger allowed one hit over 5.0 scoreless IP in a victory on 5/17/22 at Citizens Bank Park.
Clevinger is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA (2 ER/24.0 IP) and 29 strikeouts in his last four starts at Guaranteed Rate Field (three with Cleveland and one with the White Sox).
Jake Burger has homered in four of his last five games (four days in a row) … seven of Burger’s eight hits in 2023 have gone for extra bases (5 HR, 2 2B).
Through eight home games, the Sox have posted a 6.78 ERA (55 ER/73.0 IP) with 54 walks allowed (6.7 per 9.0 IP) … they have walked fi ve-plus batters in seven of the eight games.
YESTERDAY’S DOUBLEHEADER RECAP
Lucas Giolito combined with three relievers on a one-hitter with one walk and 12 strikeouts, and Jake Burger hit a three-run home run in the first inning as the White Sox defeated Philadelphia, 3-0, in the nightcap to salvage a doubleheader split.
Giolito threw 6.0 hitless IP for his fi rst win of the season, walking one batter with seven strikeouts before being removed after throwing 102 pitches (see note below).
Kendall Graveman pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning before Brandon Marsh led off the eighth with a double off Aaron Bummer to end the no-hit bid … Reynaldo López retired all four batters with three strikeouts to record his second four-out save of the season and complete Chicago’s fi rst shutout of 2023.
The White Sox recorded their first one-hitter since 9/3/22 vs. Minnesota (Dylan Cease CG) … the three hits were their fewest in a victory since 7/6/21 at Minnesota (also three).
Burger’s 118.2-mph homer off Bailey Falter is the second-hardest hit ball in MLB this season and the second-hardest by a Sox player in the Statcast era (since 2015) behind Daniel Palka’s 118.6-mph double on 6/5/18 at Minnesota.
Andrew Vaughn’s season-opening streak of reaching base safely in 16 games came to an end.
The Phillies recorded a 7-4 victory in the opener … they took an early 5-0 lead in the opener before the White Sox rallied for four runs on six hits in the third, including a two-run double from Luis Robert Jr. and two-run single from Vaughn.
Lance Lynn suffered the loss, allowing fi ve runs on 10 hits with three walks and seven strikeouts over 5.0 IP.
Phillies pitchers did not issue a walk, struck out 13 and combined to retire the fi nal 13 batters.
NEAR NO˨NO’S
Lucas Giolito last night became just the second White Sox pitcher since 1974 to exit a game with a no-hitter of at least 6.0 IP still intact, joining Michael Kopech, who no-hit Detroit for 6.0 IP on 8/12/22 at Guaranteed Rate Field (STATS).
Prior to Giolito and Kopech, Dane Dunning (8/30/20 vs. Kansas City) and Reynaldo López (8/25/19 vs. Texas) each threw 5.0 no-hit IP for the Sox before reaching their pitch limits.
As a note of interest, Steve Stone threw 6.2 no-hit IP in relief of Goose Gossage (3 ER/2.1 IP) to finish the White Sox 3-0 loss to Minnesota at old Comiskey Park … HOF Jim Kaat threw a complete-game, six-hitter for the Twins in that game.
ON THE AIR
Gordon Beckham will fi ll in for Steve Stone in the NBC Sports Chicago booth for the White Sox trip to Tampa Bay and Toronto.
Saturday’s game at Tropicana Field will be nationally televised on FOX with Jason Benetti and Tom Verducci on the call.
WHITE SOX VS. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
The White Sox are 9-12 in the all-time series, including a 4-3 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 .296/.395/.681 (40-135) hitter with 14 home runs and 31 RBI in 40 games against the Phillies.
INTERLEAGUE INSIGHT
The White Sox are 256-235 (.521) all-time in interleague play (132-113 at home), the seventh-best winning percentage in MLB.
The Sox are 3-5 this season after going 11-9 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2021 … they are 24-15 since 7/25/21.
The White Sox rank second all-time with 612 home runs, trailing only Toronto (647) and the Yankees (616).
SEARCHING FOR HOME˨FIELD ADVANTAGE
The White Sox are 3-5 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 eight home games this season, the White Sox have been outscored, 58-37, and outhomered, 16-6.
Gavin Sheets (23 of 27) and Burger (12 of 14) have combined to hit 35 of their 42 career home runs at Guaranteed Rate Field
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS
The White Sox are batting .274/.339/.444 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, third in OPS (.783) 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 .354/.406/.626 (70-198) hitter vs. lefties … Jake Burger owns a .661 slugging percentage vs. LHP.
NO RISP, NO REWARD
The White Sox rank fourth in the American League with a .294 (45-153) average with runners in scoring position … Andrew Vaughn is batting .500/.611/.786 (7-14) with 11 RBI with RISP, and Andrew Benintendi is hitting .455/.500/.545 (5-11).
FROM THE TRAINING ROOM
INF Hanser Alberto (strained left quad), SS Tim Anderson (sprained left knee), LHP Garrett Crochet (Tommy John recovery), RHPs Matt Foster (right flexor 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.
ELVIS BECOMES MR. 2,000
Elvis Andrus became the 290th player in MLB history to reach 2,000 career hits on 4/5 vs. San Francisco with a fifth-inning single off Logan Webb.
Andrus ranks fourth among active players with 2,008 hits, trailing only Miguel Cabrera (3,095), Joey Votto (2,093) and Nelson Cruz (2,031) … he has recorded 1,743 hits with Texas, 205 with Oakland and 62 with the White Sox.
AT THE HELM
Pedro Grifol was named the 42nd diff erent manager in White Sox history on 11/3/22, replacing Hall-of-Famer Tony La Russa … Grifol joins the Sox after a 10-year stint in Kansas City (2013-22), including the last three as the Royals bench coach.
Grifol is one of four current Latino managers in MLB, joining Boston’s Alex Cora, St. Louis’ Oliver Marmol and Washington’s Dave Martinez.
STARTER – #52 MIKE CLEVINGER RHP
CLEVINGER AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his fourth start of the season, second at home and second during interleague play.
Agreed to terms with Chicago on a one-year, $12-million deal in December (includes a mutual option for 2024).
Has appeared in just 34 games (33 starts) since the start of the 2020 season … missed the entire 2021 season to continue his recovery from his second Tommy John surgery … also underwent Tommy John surgery in 2012.
Was originally drafted by the Angels in the fourth round of the 2011 MLB Draft … was traded to Cleveland in August 2014 … made 101 major-league appearances (88 starts) with Cleveland from 2016-20 … was traded to San Diego in August 2020, appearing in just 27 games (16 starts) with Padres from 2020-22.
LAST START
Did not factor in the decision on 4/14 vs. Baltimore after throwing 6.0 scoreless IP, allowing one hit with five walks and five strikeouts.
Departed the game in the sixth with the Sox leading, 3-0 … threw 92 pitches (49 strikes) … the White Sox would go on to lose, 6-3.
Owned a 72.7 first-strike percentage and 9.8 swinging-strike percentage (nine swing and misses) vs. 22 batters … threw 92 pitches (49 strikes) with the following pitch breakdown: 48 four-seam fastballs (93.7 mph avg; 95.6 mph max), 19 sliders (79.6 avg; 82.4 max), seven changeups (86.7 avg; 88.0 max), four curveballs (77.2 avg; 79.0 max) and two sinkers (91.6 avg; 91.7 max) ) … 12 of his pitches were unknown.
JUST WIN BABY
Clevinger has gone 9-7 with his team going 17-9 in his 26 appearances (25 starts) since 2022.
Is averaging 5.65 runs of support during that span.
Across his last eight outings, the Padres and White Sox have gone a combined 6-2 when he takes the mound.
APRIL LOVE
Has gone 5-0 with a 1.95 ERA (13 ER/60.0 IP), .194 (41-211) opponents average and 58 strikeouts in 10 career April starts … has surrendered one total home run in April, good for a 0.15 HR/9, the second best in baseball among active players (min. 50.0 IP).
His 1.95 career ERA in April ranks eighth among active major-league pitchers (min. 50.0 IP).
TAKE ME HOME
Is 4-3 with a 2.25 ERA (16 ER/64.0 IP) and .180 (41- 228) opponents average over his last 12 home starts.
Owns a 25-11 record, 2.87 ERA (109 ER/341.2 IP), .217 (273-1257) opponents average and 374 strikeouts over 66 career appearances (58 starts) at home … is 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA (8 ER/29.0 IP) in five career starts at Guaranteed Rate Field.
His 2.87 career ERA at home ranks 15th among active pitchers (min. 330.0 IP).
START STRONG
Posted a 2.04 ERA (10 ER/44.0 IP) and .173 (27-156) opponents average across the first two innings in 2022, compared to a 5.76 ERA (45 ER/70.1 IP) and .267 (75- 281) mark from the third-seventh.
Limited opponents to a .196 (37-189) average the first time through the lineup in 2022, compared to a .244 (43-176) mark the second time through the lineup and a .306 (22-72) average the third time through the order … Is limiting opponents to a .111 (2-18) batting average
across the first two innings this season.
DAY ‘N’ NITE
Has gone 20-10 with a 2.81 ERA (76 ER/243.2 IP), .205 (180-878) opponents average and 251 strikeouts in 46 career day appearances (42 starts).
His 2.81 ERA in day games ranks fourth among active MLB pitchers and his .205 opponents average ranks third (min. 240.0 IP).
VS. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES || INTERLEAGUE
Will make his second career start against the Philadelphia Phillies and 18th during interleague play
Earned the win in his lone start vs. the Phillies on 5/17/22 in Philadelphia with San Diego (0 ER/5.0 IP).
Is 4-8 with a 4.82 ERA (48 ER/89.2 IP) and .245 (82- 335) opponents average during interleague play lifetime.
