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 (0-1). This afternoon, the Cardinals play the middle of a three-game series with the White Sox at 1:10 p.m. Central Time. Tomorrow, the Cardinals play their final game before the All-Star Break at 1:10 p.m. on Sunday.
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 74 of 101 days in last place on this season’s MLB schedule (April 26-May 19 & May 29-present) including the last 40 days. This season is the Cardinals slowest start since 1990 when they were 36-52 after 88 games.
BLOWN UP: The Cardinals bullpen blew two more saves last night to bring their otal to 20 on the season, surpassing the Chicago White Sox (19) and Washington Nationals (18). Last night marked the first time since Opening Day vs. Toronto (3/30) the Cardinals had two blown saves in one game (3/30: Hicks & Helsley). The Cardinals record for blown saves in a season is 31 held by the 2008 and 1998 clubs.
MONTGOMERY EXITS EARLY: Last night’s starting pitcher, LHP Jordan Montgomery, exited the game in the 5th inning with a hamstring issue. He was taken under evaluation and the team hopes to have a diagnosis today. Montgomery had won his last four decisions for the Cardinals dating back to June 9 vs. CIN.
EXTRA VALUE: Nolan Arenado cracked his 18th and 19th home runs last night, vaulting past George Brett (317) into 14th place all-time among primary third base with 318. His 2nd multi-home run game this season was also his 24th career, which ranks T-9th with Mike Trout since Arenado’s career began in 2013. The 8-time all-star has cracked an extra base hit for each of his last seven hits (4 doubles, 3 HR).
SOUTHSIDER STREAK: Paul Goldschmidt ran his hitting streak to 10 games against the Chicago White Sox with a single in the 1st inning last night as part of a three-hit game (7th season). Goldschmidt’s 10-game hit streak vs. the Southsiders, dates back to his days with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2017, and ranks 3rd among active leaders trailing Cedric Mullins (14) and Luis Arraez (11).
DEBUT CITY: Last night, relief pitcher Kyle Leahy and infielder José Fermín both made their Major League debuts, Leahy pitching in the 7th inning and Fermin as a pinch-runner in the 9th inning. It marked the first time two Cardinals made their MLB debut on the same date since Nabil Crismatt and Ricardo Sanchez both debuted at Wrigley Field, August 17, 2020. The Cardinals debuted 11 players during that five-day road trip to Chicago (Aug. 15-19) in 2020 including seven at Guaranteed Rate Field. That also marked the last time the Cardinals debuted a pitcher and position player in the same game (8/16/20 – RHP Roel Ramirez, RHP Seth Elledge, LHP Rob Kaminsky & 1B John Nogowski). Since 2020, the Cardinals have had nine players make their Major League debut on the Southside of Chicago.
MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING IN THAT TEA?: Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras has been on a tear since his final game in London in which he went 4-for-4. Since June 25, Contreras ranks 2nd among MLB batters with a .484 (15-31) batting average (Cody Bellinger, CHI, .489) and ranks first 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 Thursday night in Miami with five shutout 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.
O’NEILL REHAB UPDATE: Cardinals outfielder Tyler O’Neill played in his third injury rehabilitation game (lower left back strain) with Memphis (AAA) last night in Indianapolis (Pirates). The Canadian slugger was 1-for-2 with a walk and played five innings in centerfield. O’Neill has missed 56 games since landing on the Injured List on May 5.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP STEVEN MATZ (0-7, 5.02)
TODAY’S GAME
NL Ranks: Losses (7, T-6th)
- Making his first start since May 24 at Cincinnati. Started the first 10 games of the season before being moved to the bullpen where he has made his last eight appearances.
- Has made 156 starts in his career and 18 relief appearances, 13 of those in relief with the Cardinals.
- Enters play today with a career-high tying 7-game losing streak (also 2018).
- Is 0-1 with a 2.81 ERA in eight relief appearances, allowing runs in only three of eight appearances. Has worked 2.0+ IP in relief in four outings, and threw 64 pitches in 3.1 IP of relief on 6/29 vs. HOU.
- Established the Cardinals season-high for innings pitched in relief with 3.1, garnering 10 outs, both scoreless, in London vs. CHI (6/24) and vs. HOU (6/29).
- Last win came against the Reds in relief on Sept. 17, 2022 in extra innings and his last win as a starting pitcher came vs. the Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 23, 2022.
- Prior to the 7/23/22 start at Cincinnati, Matz had missed approx. two months with a left shoulder impingement.
- Ranks 10th in MLB in Pitch Tempo with bases empty (12.0 sec/pitch) and 41st with runners on base (16.7 sec/pitch), leading all Cardinals.
- Limiting opposing LH batters to a .200 BA (11-55) with two extra base hits (HR, double).
- Since joining the Cardinals in 2022, is 5-10 with a 5.12 ERA in 33 appearances (20 starts). The Cardinals lost his first six games started this year, before posting a 12-6 win vs. Detroit (5/7).
- Missed 102 games on the Injured List with a left shoulder impingement (5/23-7/16) and strained left knee (7/24-9/16). Was activated from his second stint in mid-September and was added to the bullpen where he made five appearances.
- Only win as a Cardinals starting pitcher at Busch Stadium came on May 2, 2022, a rescheduled game tossing 6.0 scoreless innings in a 1-0 win vs. Kansas City.
LAST TIME OUT
- Was nicked for two runs in 2.1 relief innings last Wed. (7/5) at MIA, snapping his season-best 8.2 scoreless innings streak.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
7/5 @MIA L 10-9 — 2.1 3 2 2 1 2 0 32-22
2023 SEASON
- Moved to the bullpen after his start at CIN (5/24) and went 0-1 with a 1.98 in the eight relief appearances working his way up to back-to-back appearances of 3.1 innings, the longest by a Cardinals reliever this season.
- Has pitched 5.0 innings or more in 7-of-10 starts.
- Fired 3.1 scoreless innings of one-hit ball in relief pn 6/29 vs. HOU. Tied his longest career relief outing for the second straight appearance (6/24 vs. CHI in London).
- Suffered his 4th straight loss on 5/2 vs. LAA. All four of his runs allowed came in the opening frame, including a Taylor Ward 3-run homer.
- Surpassed 800 career innings pitched in his start at SEA (4/21).
- Surrendered a lead-off home run to Ke’Bryan Hayes, then settled in allowing just one run n two hits over the next 17 outs. Matched his career-high with five walks. Received a no-decision in a 6-3 Cardinals loss in 10 innings vs. PIT (4/15). Threw a season-high 110 pitches, 2nd most in MLB this season at the time (Ohtani, 111).
- Allowed a season-high six runs on nine hits in a 7-4 loss at COL (4/10). Allowed only three doubles of his nine hits for extra bases.
- Struck out a season-high seven batters over 5.1 innings in a 4-1 loss vs. ATL (4/4). Allowed a career-high 10 hits (6th time) for the first time as a member of the Cardinals. Surrendered two home runs, including a 479-foot blast to Austin Riley, the 2nd-longest opposing HR at Busch Stadium III in the StatCast Era.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost 13 of the last 21 games and 16 of 25 as they continue the final homestand of the first half this afternoon vs. the St. Louis Cardinals.
RHP Touki Toussaint, who has allowed two earned runs in three of his four appearances, is scheduled to start today’s game.
The Sox are 1-3 on the homestand, recording a comeback win over the Cardinals last night after being swept by Toronto.
The White Sox are in fourth place in the American League Central, 7.5 games behind division-leading Minnesota (45-44).
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) .
TODAY’S STORYLINES
Chicago has scored 55 runs over the last nine games (6.1 R/G), compared to 32 in their previous 11 contests (2.9 R/G).
The White Sox rank second in the American League with a 3.71 ERA (185 ER/447.2 IP) in 50 games since 5/13, but they have posted a 5.66 mark (57 ER/90.2 IP) over the last 10 contests.
Chicago is looking to clinch its first series victory since winning two of three from 6/23-25 vs. Boston.
Sox starters have allowed three earned runs or less in five of the last six games … they own a 4.22 ERA (15 ER/32.0 IP) with 34 strikeouts (9.6 per 9.0 IP) during that span.
Luis Robert Jr. is just the fifth player (sixth time) in franchise history to hit 26-plus home runs prior to the All-Star break … he has hit safely in 13 of his last 15 games, going 19-61 (.311) with eight homers, 12 RBI and a 1.120 OPS.
Eloy Jiménez is 15-45 (.341) with three homers, 10 RBI, a .939 OPS and five multi-hit eff orts in his last 11 games.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
Kendall Graveman induced a game-ending groundout with the tying and go-ahead runs on base as the White Sox held on for an 8-7, comeback win over the Cardinals.
The Sox overcame a 5-1 deficit with five runs in the sixth, and the two clubs exchanged a pair of runs in the seventh.
Luis Robert Jr. hit a game-tying homer and Zach Remillard walked with the bases loaded to give the Sox the lead for good.
Dylan Cease received his eighth straight ND after allowing five runs on 11 hits with eight strikeouts in 6.0 IP.
Remillard and Jake Burger each drove in three runs and recorded multi-hit eff orts for Chicago.
INDECISION 2023
Dylan Cease last night received his eighth straight no decision, the longest streak by a White Sox starter in a single season.
Cease owns a 3.89 ERA (19 ER/44.0 IP), .243 opp. average, 1.32 WHIP and 63 strikeouts during the eight-start span.
ROBERT SHOOTING FOR THE STARS
Luis Robert Jr. has been named to his first 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 is the sixth native of Cuba to make the All-Star team with the White 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 26 home runs are tied for the fourth-most by a White Sox prior to the All-Star break, and are the most since 29 by José Abreu in 2014
On pace for 47 homers, 90 RBI, 110 runs, 86 XBH and 342 total bases … 47 homers would rank second in club history behind Albert Belle (49, 1998), and 86 XBH would rank second (Belle, 99 in 1998)
Is hitting .299/.365/.656 (66-221) with 16 doubles, 21 homers, 37 RBI and 47 runs scored in 58 games since 5/1 … hitting .329/.402/.658 (24-73) with six home runs and a 1.060 OPS vs. LHP in 2023
Joins the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts as the only players in MLB with 20- plus doubles, 25-plus home runs and 50-plus RBI this season
Ranks sixth in MLB with 15 home runs of 400-plus feet in 2023
One of five 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)
GRAB SOME BENCH
The Sox lead MLB with 862 strikeouts and 9.71 per 9.0 IP … the 9.71 mark would be second-best in club history (10.18, 2021).
Sox pitchers have struck out 10-plus batters 46 times in 2023, including 14 or more eight times (0-8 record).
Lance Lynn ranks fifth in MLB with 127 strikeouts and seventh with 11.10 strikeouts per 9.0 IP … Dylan Cease (5th, 10.78) and Lucas Giolito (10th, 9.57) rank among AL SO/9.0 IP leaders.
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 8-11 vs. the National League this season (1-5 series mark), going 4-6 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 six and eight of the last 14 interleague games … each of the last seven games have been decided by four runs or less.
Luis Robert Jr. is hitting .371/.429/.829 (26-70) with eight doubles, eight homers and 21 RBI in 18 games vs. the N.L.
CLOSE CALLS
Forty-three of Chicago’s 90 games (47.8 pct.) in 2023 have been decided by two runs or less … the Sox are 14-15 in one-run games and 5-8 in two-run games … 31 of the last 32 games since 6/2 at Detroit have been decided by four runs or less.
ARMS RACE
White Sox pitchers have recorded a 3.72 ERA (185 ER/447.2 IP) in 50 games since 5/13, the second-best mark in the AL … the Sox lead MLB with a .226 opp. average, rank sixth with a .693 opp. OPS and eighth with a 1.24 WHIP during that span.
A breakdown of White Sox pitching through their first 40 games of the season and last 50 contests:
Games W-L ERA QS IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG OPS WHIP
Last 50 25-25 372 20 447.2 381 201 185 58 176 477 .226 .693 1.24
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 3.70 ERA with a .236 opp. average in 50 games since 5/13 … during that span, they lead MLB with an average of 10.17 SO/9.0 IP, rank third in ERA and fifth in average.
During the 50-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 3.70 1.28 20 267.1 240 118 110 38 101 302 10.2 .236 .729
LONG BALL LOGISTICS
The Sox rank seventh in the AL with 103 homers, including 33 in the last 21 games (27 solo; nine multi-homer efforts).
The White Sox this season are 30-32 when homering, 15-11 in multi-homer games and 8-20 when homerless.
Luis Robert Jr. (2nd, 26) and Jake Burger (T5th, career-high 19) rank among the AL leaders this season … Robert Jr. (14) is tied for fourth and Burger (13) ranks sixth 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.
BACK WITH A VENGEANCE
White Sox No. 1 prospect Colson Montgomery is 18-45 (.400) with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, nine RBI, 14 walks and a 1.217 OPS in 13 games between Class A Winston-Salem (three games) and the Arizona Complex League Sox (10 games).
Montgomery missed the start of the 2023 season due to injury.
Montgomery was Chicago’s first-round pick (No. 22 overall) in 2021 … the White Sox own the No. 15 pick in the first round of tomorrow’s First-Year Player Draft.
STARTING PITCHER – #47 TOUKI TOUSSAINT RHP
TOUSSAINT AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 26th career start, third this season and third career against St. Louis (fifth appearance).
Owns a 0-1 record with a 3.95 ERA (6 ER/13.2 IP), .163 (7-43) opponents average, 13 walks and 13 strikeouts in 2023 with Cleveland and Chicago.
Is limiting right-handed hitters to a .059/.200/.118 (1-17) slash line with three walks and nine strikeouts this year.
Was claimed off waivers by the White Sox on 6/20 after being designated for assignment by Cleveland on 6/17
Opponents are batting .100/.412/.100 (1-10) with RISP and .000/.500/.000 (0-18) with RISP/two-outs this year.
Made his major-league debut on 8/13/18 with Atlanta vs. Miami, allowing one run on two hits over 6.0 IP.
Originally selected by Arizona in the first round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft.
START YOUR ENGINES
Will be making his 26th career start and third this year (second with Chicago).
Has gone 5-8 with a 5.35 ERA (67 ER/112.2 IP), .232 (96-413) opponents average, 67 walks and 118 strikeouts in his 25 starts (five quality).
Is 0-3 with a 5.68 ERA (12 ER/19.0 IP) across his last five starts dating back to 9/14/21 vs. Colorado with Atlanta.
START STRONG
Is holding batters to a .194/.352/.316 (40-206) slash line lifetime in his first IP.
First batters faced are hitting .188 (6-32) and is limiting opponents to a .194/.333/.355 (75-386) slash line the first time through the order.
Owns a 2.52 ERA (7 ER/25.0 IP) in the first inning, his lowest career ERA for any inning pitched.
DEBUT ON 35TH AND SHIELDS
Made his White Sox debut on 6/21 vs. Texas, spinning 4.0 hitless IP with two walks and four strikeouts.
Became the second Sox pitcher in franchise history to throw 4.0-plus hitless IP in his White Sox debut, joining Wilson Álvarez who threw a no-hitter on 8/11/91.
ON THE FARM
Went 2-1 with a 4.06 ERA (17 ER/37.2 IP), .206 (27- 131) opponents average, 23 walks and 48 strikeouts over 20 appearances (one start) with Triple-A Columbus this
year.
Twelve of his 20 appearances lasted 2.0-plus IP, including six scoreless.
SUMMER STRUGGLES
Has gone 2-2 with a 7.03 ERA (25 ER/32.0 IP), .258 (31-120) opponents average, 19 walks and 40 strikeouts in 10 career July appearances (four starts).
His July ERA is the highest for any month of his career (min. 10.0 IP).
TELL ME MORE
Has held right-handed hitters to a career .215/.326/.348 (85-396) slash line while left-handers have hit .250/.410/.460 (69-276) against him.
Was named Atlanta’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2018.
Spent time on the IL to start 2021 with a right shoulder strain before making his season debut on 7/20 … allowed two runs over 13.2 IP (1.32 ERA) in his first two starts of 2021.
Was designated for assignment by the Braves on 7/2/22 and traded to the Los Angeles Angles … signed as a free agent with the Guardians on 1/4/23.
VS. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS || N.L. CENTRAL
Is scheduled to make his fifth career appearance (third start) against St. Louis.
Is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA (5 ER/15.0 IP), .226 (12-53) opponents average, seven walks and 15 strikeouts lifetime.
Earned the win in his last game on 8/5/21 at Busch Stadium with Atlanta … allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits (one home run) with two walks and three
strikeouts over 5.1 IP.
Owns a 2-1 record with a 5.46 ERA (19 ER/31.1 IP), .256 (31-121) opponents average, 17 walks and 35 strikeouts in 13 career appearances (four starts) against the National League Central.
Is 2-4 with a 9.19 ERA (32 ER/31.1 IP),.297 (38-128) opponents average, 16 walks and 35 strikeouts in nine career interleague appearances.
