ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The St. Louis Cardinals continue their final road trip prior to the All-Star Break with four games against the Miami Marlins (1-3) and three Interleague games against the Chicago White Sox (July 7-9). Tonight, the Cardinals open a three-game series with the first game against the White Sox at 7:10 p.m. Central Time. Two day games will follow at 1:10 p.m., on Saturday and Sunday.
BABY, DON’T YOU WANT TO GO: The Cardinals arrived at their Chicago hotel at 2:20 a.m., last night, flying in from Miami in the Eastern Time Zone. St. Louis is playing on the Southside for the first time since May 24-26, 2021, when they took one of three games.
FLIGHT PATTERN: The Cardinals enter today in last place in the N.L. Central, 12.5 games out of 1st place behind Cincinnati and 4.0 games behind 4th place Pittsburgh. St. Louis has spent 73 of 100 days in last place on this season’s MLB schedule (April 26-May 19 & May 29-present) including the last 39 days. This season is the Cardinals slowest start since 1990 when they were 36-51 after 87 games.
IN THE BIG-INNING: Entering play tonight, the Cardinals pitching staff leads all of Major League Baseball with 68 runs allowed in the 1st inning. Division rivals Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are tied for second place with 67. Cardinals opposing batters are hitting at a .361 clip in the opening frame (Pittsburgh, 2nd, .304) with an on-base percentage of .409 (N.Y. Mets, 2nd, .393). After allowing a total of nine runs in the 1st inning of their first three games with Miami, Jack Flaherty posted a zero in the 1st inning last night and the Cardinals went on to win 3-0.
EDMAN PLACED ON INJURED LIST; FERMIN RECALLED FROM MEMPHIS: Prior to today’s game, the Cardinals placed INF/OF Tommy Edman on the 10-day Injured List with right wrist inflammation. INF José Fermín was recalled from Memphis (AAA). Fermin and RHP Kyle Leahy, who was selected yesterday, will make their Major League debut with their first action. Jordan Walker, Guillermo Zuñiga and Luken Baker are the three Cardinals who have already debuted this season.
MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING IN THAT TEA?: Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras has been on a tear since his final game in London on which he went 4-for-4. Since June 25, Contreras leads all National League batters with a .484 (15-31) batting average and all MLB players with a .568 on-base percentage. Contreras has doubled in a career-high four straight games and is tied for the Cardinals team lead with 20 doubles, matching the high by an MLB primary catcher this season (Realmuto, PHI & Heim, TEX – 20). The Cardinals backstop caught his 47th career shutout last night with five coming with the Cardinals this season.
WINDY CITY WHACKER: Of Willson Contreras’ 13 career multi-home run games, three have come against the boys on the Southside of town while he was a member of the Cubs.
FLAHER-GUN BECOMES A SCATTER-GUN: Last night, Jack Flaherty scattered nine hits over 6.2 scoreless innings before departing at a Cardinals season-high 111 pitches. The last time a Cardinals pitcher threw 6.2 or more scoreless innings while giving up nine or more hits was July 22, 2004 when Jason Marquis threw 8.0 scoreless innings allowing nine hits vs. Milwaukee. Flaherty also extended his homerless streak to 55.1 innings, 3rd-longest active in MLB (José Quintana, STL/NYM, 61.2 IP; Andres Muñoz, SEA, 59.2 IP).
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE: Over the four games of the Marlins series, the Cardinals smacked 14 doubles, tied for the Major League lead since July 3 with the Baltimore Orioles and their counterparts, the Miami Marlins. The 14 doubles hit by the Cardinals in a four-game series was their most since tabulating 14 two-baggers vs. Milwaukee in four games from Sept. 30-Oct. 3 to close out the 2004 regular season.
BLOWN SAVES: The Cardinals and White Sox are tied for the Major League lead (along with Washington) with 18 blown saves this season. The Cardinals blew past their 2022 season total of 16 on Monday with their 17th. The Cardinals record is 31 held by the 2008 and 1998 clubs.
O’NEILL CONTINUES REHAB AT MEMPHIS: Cardinals outfielder Tyler O’Neill played in his second injury rehabilitation game (lower left back strain) with Memphis (AAA) Wednesday night in Indianapolis (Pirates). The Canadian slugger went 1-for-3 with a double. O’Neill has missed 55 games since landing on the Injured List on May 5.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP JORDAN MONTGOMERY (6-7, 3.28)
TONIGHT’S GAME
NL Leaders: ERA (3.28, 9th); Quality Starts (10, T-7th); Losses (7, T-6th); HR/9 IP (0.82, 8th)
- Makes his 18th start of the season and his 126th career (29th as a member of the Cardinals). Is facing the White Sox for the 1st time as a member of the Cardinals.
- Has won a season-high 4-straight decisions since snapping his 7-game losing skid. Is one win shy of matching his career-high win streak (5 games).
- Is 4-0 with a 1.38 ERA (32.2 IP) and 31 strikeouts in his last five starts (June 9-present).
- Ranks among MLB lefty pitching leaders in innings pitched (98.2, 4th), Quality Starts (10, T-5th), Wins (6, T-10th) & ERA (3.28, 6th).
- Is 12-10 with a 3.22 ERA in 28 starts as a member of the Cardinals. St. Louis won 10-of-his-first-13 starts as a Cardinal, but have gone 4-11 over his last 15.
- The Cardinals have lost 9 of the 17 games he has started this season by one-run and/or shutout.
- Leads all Cardinals pitchers with 152 strikeouts since being acquired at the 2022 Trade Deadline (8/2/22); Miles Mikolas ranks 2nd with 125.
- Went seven consecutive starts (4/13-5/16) with three runs of support or fewer and three with zero (4/13, 4/24, 4/29).
- Has not walked a left-handed batter since being acquired by the Cardinals (97 total batters faced). Is the only pitcher in MLB who has faced 90+ left-handed batters without a walk to a LHB since Aug. 1, 2022.
- Has held his opposition to three earned runs or fewer in 79% (99-of-125) of his career starts.
- Is 9-5, 3.23 ERA at Busch Stadium in 18 starts, including a 4-3, 3.61 mark in 2023.
LAST TIME OUT
- Allowed one unearned run on two hits over 6.2 innings in the Cardinals 5-1 win on Sunday in the homestand finale. It was his 2nd career start against his former team the NY Yankees, as the left-hander opened the game with a career high 5.2 hitless innings
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
7/2 NYY W 5-1 W-6 6.2 2 1 0 3 6 0 96-61
2023
- Finished June 7th in NL in ERA (1.71) & 12th in opp. BA (.212). Owns a career mark of 10-2 with a 2.91 ERA in June, his most total wins in any calendar month.
- Capped off month of June with 3rd-straight winning decision on Tue. in a 4-2 win over the Astros (6/27). Posted team-high 9th quality start & improved to 5-7 on the season.
- Won on the road for the 1st time since April 9 at MIL in a 9-3 win over Washington on 6/20 at Nationals Park, matching his season-high with 7.0 IP.
- Came away with a no-decision in the Cardinals 8-5 loss to the Giants in 10 innings at Busch Stadium on 6/14. Twirled his second consecutive quality start (7th overall) as the Cardinals lost for the 11th time in his 14 starts this season.
- Threw 6.0 scoreless innings of three-hit ball on 6/9 vs. CIN for his first win since April 9 at MIL. Snapped a stretch of 10 straight starts without a winning decision. Received more than four runs of support for the 3rd time this season and first since 4/9 at MIL.
- Surpassed 600 strikeouts vs. CIN (6/9), fanning Elly De La Cruz in the first inning.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost 13 of the last 20 games and 16 of 24 as they continue the final homestand of the first half tonight with the series opener vs. the St. Louis Cardinals.
RHP Dylan Cease, who has allowed two earned runs or less in five of his last six starts, is scheduled to start tonight’s game.
The Sox opened the homestand losing three games vs. Toronto, including a sweep in yesterday’s doubleheader.
The White Sox are in fourth place in the American League Central, 8.5 games behind division-leading Minnesota (45-43).
Following this series vs. the Cardinals and the All-Star break, the Sox will open the second half with a nine-game, 10-day trip at Atlanta (7/14-16), the Mets (7/18-20) and the Twins (7/21-23).
Chicago went 3-4 on its last trip from 6/26-7/2 at Los Angeles-AL (2-2) and Oakland (1-2) and 3-3 on the last homestand from 6/19-25 vs. Texas (1-2) and Boston (2-1) .
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
Chicago has scored 47 runs over the last eight games (5.9 R/G), compared to 32 in their previous 11 contests (2.9 R/G).
The White Sox rank fourth in MLB with a 3.65 ERA (178 ER/438.2 IP) in 49 games since 5/13, but they have posted a 5.51 mark (50 ER/81.2 IP) over the last nine contests.
Chicago has lost eight of its last 11 home games … all 11 contests have been decided by four runs or less.
Dylan Cease is 0-0 with a 2.65 ERA (10 ER/34.0 IP), .210 opp. average, .646 OPS and 47 strikeouts (12.44 SO/9.0 IP) over his last six starts … he has allowed two runs or less five times.
Luis Robert Jr. has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games, going 18-56 (.321) with seven homers, 11 RBI and a 1.129 OPS … he is just the eighth player (ninth time) in franchise history to hit 25-plus home runs prior to the All-Star break.
Eloy Jiménez is 14-41 (.341) with three homers, 10 RBI, a .982 OPS and five multi-hit eff orts in his last 10 games.
YESTERDAY’S DOUBLEHEADER RECAP
Toronto recorded a doubleheader sweep over Chicago, winning the opener, 6-2, in 11 innings, and the nightcap by a 5-4 margin.
In the opener, the Blue Jays snapped a scoreless game with six runs, all off Aaron Bummer, on seven hits in the 11th.
Lance Lynn received a ND despite allowing just one hit with one walk and 11 strikeouts over 7.0 scoreless IP.
He reached 41 strikeouts over his last four starts, a career high in that span … the 41 strikeouts marked the most by a Sox over four games since Lucas Giolito struck out 43 from 8/20-9/5/20.
The Sox fell to 0-7 when striking out 15-plus this season.
In Game 2, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a game-winning RBI double off Nick Padilla in the seventh to snap a 4-4 tie.
The White Sox were unable to hold leads of 3-1 and 4-3 … starter Jesse Scholtens allowed three runs on 11 hits in 4.0 IP.
Eloy Jiménez went 1-4 with a two-run home run.
INDECISION 2023
Dylan Cease has received a no decision in his last seven starts since 5/28, the longest streak of NDs by a White Sox starter since LHP José Quintana from 6/1-7/4/13 (also seven).
No Sox starter has ever recorded eight straight NDs in a season.
Cease owns a 3.32 ERA (14 ER/38.0 IP), .214 opp. average, 1.24 WHIP and 55 strikeouts during the seven-start span.
ROBERT SHOOTING FOR THE STARS
Luis Robert Jr. has been named to his fi rst American League All-Star team … he is the fi rst Sox center fi elder (primary position) to make the All-Star team since Chet Lemon from 1978-79.
He joins José Abreu, Alexei Ramírez, José Contreras, Minnie Miñoso and Sandy Consuegra as Cuba natives to make the All-Star team with the Sox … the last Sox OF to start the ASG was Richie Zisk (LF) in 1977, and the last in CF was Thurman Tucker in 1944.
Below is additional information from his season to date.
His 25 home runs are the most by a Sox player in the fi st half since Todd Frazier in 2016 (also 25) … is one of eight White Sox (nine times) to hit 25-plus homers prior to the All-Star break.
On pace for 46 homers, 89 RBI, 109 runs, 86 XBH and 339 total bases … 46 homers would rank second in club history behind Albert Belle (49, 1998), and 88 XBH would rank second (Belle, 99 in 1998)
Is hitting .301/.368/.653 (65-216) with 16 doubles, 20 homers, 36 RBI and 46 runs scored in 57 games since 5/1 … hitting .343/.418/.686 (24-70) with six home runs and an AL-best 1.103 OPS vs. LHP in 2023
Is the only player in MLB with 20-plus doubles, 25-plus home runs and 45-plus RBI this season
Ranks sixth in MLB with 15 home runs of 400-plus feet in 2023
One of fi ve players in franchise history (8x) to record 20-plus doubles and homers before the break, joining Thomas (1993-94, 2003), Abreu (2014, ’19), Jermaine Dye (2008) and Ordóñez (2000)
WHITE SOX VS. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
The White Sox and Cardinals are playing for the third time over the last four seasons (1-2 in 2020 and 2-1 in 2021).
Chicago won two of three in the last meeting from 5/24-26/21 at Guaranteed Rate Field (13-8 edge in runs scored).
The Sox are 15-20 all-time but 4-8 over the last 12 contests … they have won 10 of 19 games at Guaranteed Rate Field.
FAMILIAR FACE
Cardinals bench coach Joe McEwing worked in the Sox organization from 2008-22, including 11 seasons on the MLB staff under managers Robin Ventura, Rick Renteria and Tony La Russa.
McEwing served as the White Sox third-base (2012-16, ’21-22) and bench coach (2017-20 under Renteria).
INTERLEAGUE INSIGHT
Chicago is 7-11 vs. the National League this season (1-5 series mark), going 3-6 at Guaranteed Rate Field and 4-5 on the road … their only series win came from 5/5-7 at Cincinnati (2-1).
The White Sox have lost four of the last fi ve and eight of the last 13 interleague games … each of the last six games have been decided by four runs or less.
Luis Robert Jr. is hitting .385/.444/.831 (25-65) with eight doubles, seven homers and 20 RBI in 17 games vs. the N.L.
CLOSE CALLS
Forty-two of the White Sox 89 games (47.2 pct.) in 2023 have been decided by two runs or less … the Sox are 13-15 in one-run games and 5-8 in two-run games … 30 of the last 31 games since 6/2 at Detroit have been decided by four runs or less.
ARMS RACE
White Sox pitchers have recorded a 3.65 ERA (178 ER/438.2 IP) in 49 games since 5/13, the fourth-best mark in MLB … the Sox lead MLB with a .222 opp. average, rank sixth with a .686 opp. OPS and eighth with a 1.23 WHIP during that span.
A breakdown of White Sox pitching through their first 40 games of the season and last 49 contests:
Games W-L ERA QS IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG OPS WHIP
Last 49 24-25 3.65 20 438.2 65 194 178 56 175 466 .222 .686 1.23
First 40 13-27 5.66 12 351.2 366 241 221 65 167 385 .263 .817 1.52
ROTATION SENSATION
Sox starters own a 3.62 ERA with a .232 opp. average in 49 games since 5/13 … during that span, they lead MLB with an average of 10.13 SO/9.0 IP and rank second in ERA and average.
During the 49-game stretch, Sox starters have made nine-scoreless outings, allowed one earned run or less 19 times and two earned runs or less 30 times … the rotation since 5/13:
W-L ERA WHIP QS IP H R ER HR BB SO SO/9.0 AVG OPS
12-13 3.62 1.26 20 261.1 229 113 105 37 101 294 10.13 .232 .723
GRAB SOME BENCH
The White Sox lead MLB with an average of 9.69 strikeouts per 9.0 IP (851 SO/790.1 IP), which would be the second-highest total in franchise history behind the 2021 club (10.18).
Sox pitchers have struck out 10-plus batters 45 times in 2023, including 14 or more eight times (0-8 record).
Lance Lynn (4th, career-high 11.10), Dylan Cease (5th, 10.71) and Lucas Giolito (10th, 9.57) rank among the AL Leaders … Lynn ranks fourth in the AL and fifth in MLB with 127 strikeouts.
LONG BALL LOGISTICS
The Sox are tied for seventh in the AL with 101 homers, including 31 in the last 20 games (25 solo; eight multi-homer eff orts).
The White Sox this season are 29-32 when homering, 14-11 in multi-homer games and 8-20 when homerless.
Luis Robert Jr. (2nd, 25) and Jake Burger (T6th, career-high 18) rank among the AL leaders this season … Robert Jr. (13) ranks fourth-hand Burger (12) is tied for fifth in MLB in home homers.
LUIS DIGS THE LONG BALL
Luis Robert Jr. will participate in the 2023 T-Mobile Home Run Derby on 7/10 at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park.
He will be the No. 1 seed and face No. 8 Adley Rutschman in the opening round … the other matchups are No. 2 Pete Alonso vs. No. 7 José Rodríguez, No. 3 Mookie Betts vs. No. 6 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and No. 4 Adolis García vs. No. 5 Randy Arozarena.
Robert Jr. will be the sixth White Sox (seventh time) to participate in the Home Run Derby, joining Todd Frazier (2016), Jermaine Dye (2006), Paul Konerko (2002), Frank Thomas (1994-95) and Carlton Fisk (1985) … Thomas won the Derby in 1995, defeating Cleveland’s Albert Belle in Arlington, Texas.
STARTING PITCHER – #84 DYLAN CEASE RHP
CEASE AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 19th start of the season, 10th at home and fourth during interleague play.
Needs one win for 40 in his career.
Has allowed one run or less while tossing 5.0-plus IP in 27 starts since 2022 … the 27 starts are the most in baseball ahead of the Dodgers’ Julio Urías (23) and the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani (23).
Is 1-1 with a 3.04 ERA (19 ER/56.1 IP), .213 (44-207) opponents average and 66 strikeouts in his last 10 starts.
The White Sox are 9-9 in his starts this season … has recorded seven quality starts.
According to STATS, he is the fastest White Sox pitcher to reach 600 career strikeouts (495.1 IP).
Is tied for the MLB lead since 2021 in starts (82), ranks fourth in SO/9.0 IP (11.45), fifth in strikeouts (568) and 10th in opponents average (.211).
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 his seventh straight no decision on 7/1 at Oakland, allowing three runs on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts over 5.1 IP … allowed solo runs in the first, fifth and sixth innings.
Departed the game in the sixth with one out, a runner on second and the game tied, 3-3 … threw 87 pitches (54 strikes) … the White Sox lost, 6-7, in 10 innings.
Owned a 54.2 first-strike percentage and 14.9 swinging-strike percentage (13 swing and misses) vs. 24 batters … threw 37 sliders (86.5 mph avg; 88.3 mph max), 35
four-seam fastballs (95.0 avg; 97.0 max) and 15 knuckle curveballs (80.1 avg; 82.2 max).
INDECISION 2023
Dylan Cease has received a no decision in his last seven starts since 5/28, the longest streak of NDs by a White Sox starter since LHP José Quintana from 6/1-
7/4/13 (also seven).
No Sox starter has ever recorded eight straight NDs in a season.
Cease owns a 3.32 ERA (14 ER/38.0 IP), .214 opponents average, 1.24 WHIP and 55 strikeouts during the seven-start span.
35TH AND SHIELDS
Is 5-5 with a 2.19 ERA (32 ER/131.1 IP), .193 (91-472) opponents average and 143 strikeouts in his last 22 starts at home dating back to 5/29/22 … his 2.19 ERA at home is the seventh-lowest in baseball during that span.
Owns a 15-9 record, 2.93 ERA (87 ER/267.0 IP), .201 (194-965) opponents average and 322 strikeouts in 48 starts (25 quality) at Guaranteed Rate Field since 2020.
Ranks among American League home leaders since 2020 in strikeouts (2nd), ERA (5th), opponents average (7th) and wins (T11th).
SUMMER LOVING
Is a combined 7-2 with a 1.30 ERA (14 ER/97.0 IP), .197 (69-351) opponents average and 133 strikeouts over 17 starts in June and July since 2022.
Went 7-2 with a 0.57 ERA (4 ER/63.0 IP), .189 (43-227) opponents average and 85 strikeouts over 11 combined starts in June and July last season … was named American League Pitcher of the month for June and July 2022.
UNDER PRESSURE
Opponents are hitting .232 (16-69) with RISP, .184 (7-49) with RISP/two outs and .222 (2-9) with the bases loaded this season.
Owns a career .211 (96-455) opponents average with RISP, the fifth-lowest mark in the majors since 2019.
OVER WORKED
Has thrown 1,752 pitches in 18 starts this season, are tied for the sixth-most in the majors … his 97.3 pitches per game are tied for the 11th-most in baseball.
Is averaging 18.1 pitches per IP and 4.18 pitches per batter faced, the second and fourth highest marks in MLB respectively.
VS. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS || INTERLEAGUE
Is scheduled to make his first career appearance against the St. Louis Cardinals and his 19th start during interleague play.
Has gone 6-3 with a 2.32 ERA (19 ER/73.2 IP), .189 (51-270) opponents average and 102 strikeouts over his last 13 starts during interleague play … is 1-0 with a 2.20 ERA (4 ER/16.1 IP), .155 (9-58) opponents average and 25 strikeouts in three starts vs. the National League this season.
