TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
ON TO THE NEXT — The Rays suffered their second straight shutout, dropping yesterday’s rubber match to Houston by a score of 1-0… RHP Calvin Faucher (2.0IP, H, ER 2BB, SO) made his third career start, working one time through the Astros batting order…LHP Josh Fleming tossed 6.0 scoreless relief innings, scattering four hits with one walk and two strikeouts…he became the fifth pitcher in Rays history to toss 6.0+ scoreless relief innings in a game, and the first since Ryan Yarbrough on 9/24/21 vs. Miami (6.0IP, 2H, 4K)…RF Manuel Margot (2-for-3) was responsible for Tampa Bay’s only two hits, turning in his first multi-hit game since 4/18 at Cincinnati.
The Rays have been shut out in consecutive games for the first time since 9/19- 20, 2022 — both of those games were also against Houston (4-0, 5-0)…Tampa Bay has not been held scoreless in back-to-back contests on any other occasion over the last six seasons (2018-pres.)
Despite the last two losses, Tampa Bay is just one of five clubs since 1986 to win 20 of its first 25 games to begin the season, joining the 2003 New York Yankees, 2001 Seattle Mariners, 1987 Milwaukee Brewers and 1986 New York Mets.
GOING, GOING. GONE — The Rays have hit a major league-best 48 home runs, tied with the 2003 New York Yankees for sixth most through a team’s first 25 games of a season in MLB history (since 1901) behind the 2019 Seattle Mariners (56HR), 2000 St. Louis Cardinals (55HR), 2019 Milwaukee Brewers (50HR), 2019 Minnesota Twins (49HR) and 1997 Cleveland (49HR).
The Rays homered in each of their first 22 games, the longest streak to open a season in MLB history…marked the longest home run streak at any point in a single season since the 2019 Houston Astros (25G, 9/1-29, 2019).
The Rays homered in 23 straight games overall from 10/5/22-4/23/23, the longest streak in franchise history, surpassing a 21-game run from 9/20/15-4/12/16.
Tampa Bay has an MLB-best 12 players with multiple homers, ahead of San Francisco and St. Louis (10 each)…the Rays are tied with Atlanta for the most players with at least five homers (4).
THE RANDY MAN CAN — Randy Arozarena has amassed 24 RBI, tied with Boston’s Rafael Devers for third most in MLB behind TEX Adolis García (29) and HOU Yordan Alvarez (27)…the 24 RBI are tied for fourth most by any player through Tampa Bay’s first 25 games in club history, trailing Evan Longoria (30RBI in 2009), Carlos Peña (27RBI in 2009) and Ben Zobrist (25RBI in 2001).
Arozarena ranks among qualified MLB outfielders in batting average (3rd, .341), multi-hit games (T3rd, 9), hits (4th, 31), total bases (T5th, 52), OPS (6th, .981) fWAR (9th, 1.2) and homers (T11th, 5).
MONEY IN THE BANK — RHP Pete Fairbanks has thrown 29.0 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to 7/25/22…it marks the longest scoreless inning streak in club history, ahead of J.P. Howell’s 27.1-inning run (6/14-8/30, 2012)…during the streak, Fairbanks has held opponents to a .124/.175/.124 (12-for-97) clip with 41 strikeouts, six walks and a 0.62 WHIP.
According to STATS LLC, the 29.0 scoreless inning streak is the fourth-longest run among relievers in MLB since 2018, trailing Houston’s Ryan Pressly (39.0IP from 8/15/18-5/20/19), Milwaukee Josh Hader (38.0IP from 8/1/21-6/5/22) and New York-AL’s Clay Holmes (31.1IP from 4/9/22-6/18/22).
IF THE SOX FIT — Yandy Díaz has hit safely in seven straight games against the White Sox dating to 4/17/22, batting .478 (11-for-23) with two doubles, 3 RBI, six runs and seven walks during the streak…in 35 career games against Chicago-AL, Díaz is batting .307 (35- for-114) with six doubles, a home run, 11 RBI and 22 walks against 19 strikeouts.
TURNING BACK THE CLOCK — The Rays lead the majors in runs scored (157) while surrendering the fewest runs (70)…Tampa Bay’s +87 run differential is the fourth best mark through the first 25 games of a season in MLB history (since 1901), trailing the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates (+97), 1905 New York Giants (+94) and 2016 Chicago Cubs (+89)…the current record since 1901 through 26 games is +103, held by the 1902 Pirates.
Tampa Bay’s 157 runs scored are its most through 25 games in club history, ahead of the 2010 Rays (147R)…marks the most runs scored by any team through 25 games since the 2019 Seattle Mariners (160R)…the Rays 70 runs allowed are their fewest through 25 games in franchise history, ahead of the 2019 and 2010 clubs (80R).
ON THE MOUND — Tampa Bay’s 2.74 ERA is the best mark in the majors, ahead of Houston (3.16)…this includes the best starter ERA (2.97) and best bullpen ERA (2.49)… Rays pitchers pace the majors in opponents’ OPS (.553), opponents’ average (.177), fewest pitches per IP (15.5) and WHIP (1.05), while trailing only Chicago-NL (87.0 mph) in lowest average exit velocity (87.5 mph).
IN THE BOX — Rays hitters lead MLB in OPS (.858), OBP (.349), SLG (.509), extra-base hits (98) and total bases (430)…the Rays offense has produced an 11.2 barrel percentage, the third-highest mark in the majors behind Atlanta (12.6%) and Los Angeles-NL (12.0%).
BACK ON THE SOUTH SIDE—The Rays kick off a four-game set with the White Sox tonight in Chicago…Tampa Bay swept the three-game series from Chicago-AL from 4/21-23 at Tropicana Field…after winning four straight and six of seven at Guaranteed Rate Field from 4/9/18-6/14/21, the Rays have dropped four of five at Guaranteed Rate Field since 6/15/21.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: LHP SHANE McCLANAHAN (4-0, 1.86)
SUGAR SHANE—The southpaw makes his sixth start in tonight’s series opener on the South Side, including his third on the road…marks his second consecutive start opposite the White Sox…is looking to become the first Rays pitcher to begin a season 5-0 since Andrew Kittredge in 2021.
CAN’T TOUCH THIS—McClanahan registered his first double-digit strikeout game of the season in Tampa Bay’s 4-3 win over Chicago-AL on 4/22 (6.0IP, 3H, 2ER, BB, 10SO, 2HR)…he induced a franchise-record 32 swings and misses in the outing, surpassing the previous mark of 27 (3x,
last: Tyler Glasnow, 4/12/21 vs. TEX).
McClanahan tied the fifth most whiffs in an outing by any pitcher in MLB’s pitch-tracking era (since 2008)…his 65.3 pct. whiff rate (32 misses, 49 swings) was the highest by any pitcher in a single game in the pitch-tracking era (min. 25 swings).
SIZING UP THE SOX — Over three career starts opposite Chicago-AL, Shane is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA (17.0IP, 6ER), fanning 22 while walking two… his 11.00 SO/BB ratio against the White Sox is his highest against any opponent in his career.
His only previous start at Guaranteed Rate Field came on 6/15/21 in a 3-0 Rays loss (5.0IP, 7H, 3R-2ER, BB, 4SO).
Shane has pitched to a 5-5 mark with a 3.18 ERA (68.0IP, 24ER) in 12 career starts against AL Central clubs, including 1-0 with a 1.89 ERA (19.0IP, 4ER) and a 0.74 WHIP in his last three outings, holding opponents to a .141/.214/.297 (9-for-64) clip in those games.
WHIFF YOU PLEASE — McClanahan’s 40.5 pct. whiff rate is second in the majors behind only TEX Jacob DeGrom (43.5%), while his 32.5 pct. strikeout rate ranks fifth…opponents are swinging at 37.4 pct. of his pitches outside of the strike zone, the fourth-highest chase rate in baseball…McClanahan has also been effective on pitches inside the zone, recording the second-highest in-zone whiff pct. in MLB (29.6%), trailing only ATL Spencer Strider (30.5%).
Shane has produced a 58.2 pct. whiff rate on his changeup, third-highest of any pitch in MLB (min. 25PA ending w/ pitch), behind BAL Felix Bautista’s splitter (63.4%) and HOU Rionel Blanco’s slider (61.9%).
ALL I DO IS WIN — McClanahan earned a win in each of his first four starts this season, becoming the third pitcher in Rays history to accomplish the feat, joining Matt Moore (5GS, 4/5-27/13) and Tyler Glasnow (4GS, 3/30- 4/16, 2019)…the streak marked his most consecutive starts with a win since a career-high-tying five-start run from 5/17-6/9, 2022.
The longest overall winning streak of McClanahan’s career was six games, set over a seven-start span from 5/5-6/9, 2022…his current four-game winning streak is the third-longest of his career, also trailing a 5-0 run from 8/1-27, 2021.
AMONG THE BEST — This season, McClanahan ranks among AL leaders (min. 25.0IP) in whiff rate (2nd, 40.9%) wins (T2nd, 4), strikeout rate (3rd, 32.5%), hits/9.0 IP (T4th, 5.59), opp. average (T4th, .176), ERA (5th, 1.86), opp. SLG (8th, .284), opp. OBP (9th, .254) and opp. OPS (9th, .547).
WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK—McClanahan’s 7.76 runs of support per 9.0 IP lead Rays starters and rank fifth among AL qualifiers, trailing MIN Joe Ryan (10.69), LAA Patrick Sandoval (9.82), BOS Tanner Houck (9.69) and BAL Kyle Gibson (8.50)…in his career, the Rays are 27-3 when providing
him with three-or-more runs of support (5-0 in 2023), compared to 8-20 with two-or-fewer runs of support.
FULL SPEED AHEAD—McClanahan’s four-seam fastball has clocked in at an average velocity of 97.1 mph this season, second-fastest among AL starting pitchers’ fastballs behind TEX Jacob deGrom (98.7 mph) and fifth-fastest among MLB starters (min. 400 FB thrown)…since breaking into the majors in 2021, his 96.6 mph average velocity on fastballs is ninth-fastest in MLB, including third among southpaws (min. 1,500 FB thrown) behind only José Alvarado (97.7 mph) and Gregory Soto (98.2 mph).
BACK-TO-BACK — McClanahan was named the Rays’ Opening Day starter by manager Kevin Cash on 3/24…McClanahan is the first Rays pitcher to make consecutive Opening Day starts since Chris Archer made four straight from 2015-2018 and is the sixth to do so in club history (also: David Price, 2013-2014; James Shields, 2008-2010; Scott Kazmir, 2006- 2007; Wilson Álvarez, 1998-1999).
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost seven straight games, nine of their last 10, 12 of 14 and 15 of 19 as they open a seven-game homestand tonight against Tampa Bay, owners of the best record in baseball.
RHP Dylan Cease is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are off to their worst 25-game start since 1986 (also 7-18).
The Sox are coming off a winless trip at the Rays (0-3) and Toronto (0-3), which ended yesterday with their second straight shutout loss, 8-0, to the Blue Jays.
Following this four-game series and a day off on Monday, the White Sox conclude the homestand with three games vs. Minnesota (5/2-4) before taking a seven-game trip to Cincinnati (5/5-7) and Kansas City (5/8-11).
The Sox went 2-4 on their last homestand vs. Baltimore (1-2) and Philadelphia (1-2) from 4/13-19.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
Dylan Cease is 5-3 with a 1.46 ERA (15 ER/92.2 IP) in his last 15 starts at home since 5/29/22.
The White Sox have won two of three games against Tampa Bay in each of the last two meetings at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The Sox are 11 games under .500 in April for the first time since 2018.
The White Sox are hitting .184/.245/.301 (96-521) with 44 runs scored (2.8 R/G) over the last 16 games … they have scored three runs in the last four games, including a current 24-inning scoreless drought.
Andrew Benintendi has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games, going 16-50 (.320).
ROSTER MOVES
Prior to tonight’s game, the White Sox reinstated RHP Lucas Giolito from the Bereavement List and optioned LHP Tanner Banks to Class AAA Charlotte.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
The White Sox were limited to four hits (all singles) as they suffered their seventh straight loss and second in a row by shut-out, 8-0, at Toronto.
Michael Kopech suffered the loss to fall to 0-3, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks over 5.0 IP.
The Sox walked once and struck out a season-high 17 times … 10 of their fi nal 11 outs came via strikeout.
For the second straight season, the Sox were swept at Rogers Centre and recorded an 0-6 trip in the month of April (4/20-24/22 at Cleveland and Minnesota).
CEASE AND DESTROY
Dylan Cease, who fi nished second in the American League Cy Young Award voting last season, has gone 12-6 with a 1.70 ERA (31 ER/163.2 IP) and 190 strikeouts over his last 28 starts dating to 5/29/22.
During that stretch, Cease ranks second in MLB in ERA behind Shohei Ohtani (1.68).
Since the start of the 2022 season, Cease has allowed one or zero runs 26 times, the most in MLB … 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).
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS
The White Sox are batting .272/.338/.441 vs. left-handed pitching since the start of the 2019 season … during that span, the Sox lead MLB in average, rank third in on-base percentage, fourth in OPS (.781) and sixth 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 .346/.398/.610 (71-205) hitter vs. lefties … Jake Burger owns a .594 slugging percentage vs. LHP.
WHITE SOX VS. TAMPA BAY RAYS
The Rays lead the season series, 3-0, after sweeping a three-game series at home last weekend, their first of the White Sox at Tropicana Field since 6/12-14/15 … they won the first two games of the series in walkoff fashion.
The Sox are batting .176/.263/.343 (18-102) with a 5.33 ERA (15 ER/25.1 IP) and were outscored, 16-11.
The White Sox went 4-2 against Tampa Bay in 2022, winning two of three games in Chicago from 4/15-17 and at Tropicana Field from 6/3-5 … all four of their victories came by one run.
LOOKING FOR AN EDGE VS. THE EAST
The White Sox are 1-8 against American League East teams this season, including an 0-6 record on the road … they have been outscored, 56-27.
By comparison, the Sox combined to go 34-31 vs. the AL East in 2021-22.
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 95 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 homered in six of Cease’s starts in 2022 (all in the second half), including three in a row from 7/24-8/5.
AS TA GOES, SO GO THE WHITE SOX
The White Sox have gone 2-12 since All-Star SS Tim Anderson was placed on the 10-day injured list on 4/11 with a sprained left knee suffered on 4/10 at Minnesota.
Since the start of the 2020 season, the Sox are 150-112 (.573) when Anderson is in the starting lineup and 66-81 (.449) 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, 27-9 when he registers a three-hit game, 94-46 when he scored a run and 27-3 when he hits a home run.
CLOSING OUT CANCER
White Sox closer Liam Hendriks, who ranks third in MLB since 2020 with 89 saves, announced on Thursday that he officially is cancer free … he completed his rounds of chemotherapy to treat Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on 4/5.
Hendriks and his wife, Kristi, launched an ongoing campaign inviting fans to purchase specially designed “Close Out Cancer” T-Shirts, with proceeds benefiting the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) and its Patient Aid Grants.
NO RISP, NO REWARD
The White Sox rank fi fth in the American League with a .267 (51-191) average with runners in scoring position … over the last seven games, the Sox are hitting .158 (6-38) and have not collected more than three hits in any of the games.
Andrew Vaughn is batting .450/.542/.850 (9-20) with 15 RBI with RISP this season, and Andrew Benintendi is hitting .462/.563/.538 (6-13).
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 (Tommy John surgery) and Liam Hendriks (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma treatment) and 3B Yoán Moncada (lower back soreness) are on the injured list.
STARTER – #84 DYLAN CEASE RHP
CEASE AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his sixth start of the season, third at home and second vs. the Tampa Bay Rays.
Has allowed one run or less while tossing 5.0-plus IP in 23 starts since 2022 … the 23 starts are the most in baseball ahead of the Dodgers’ Julio Urías (22) and the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani (20).
The White Sox are 3-2 in his starts this season … has recorded two quality starts … has allowed at least one run in each of his five starts.
Is approaching the following career milestones: five 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 third in MLB since 2021 in SO/9.0 IP (11.66) and strikeouts (482) and sixth in opponents average (.202).
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
Received a no decision on 4/22 at Tampa Bay, allowing three runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts over 4.0 IP … surrendered a two-run home run to Randy Arozarena in the first inning.
Departed the game in the fifth with the game tied, 2-2, runners on first and third base and no outs … threw 101 pitches (62 strikes) … the Sox lost, 4-3, in 10 innings.
Owned a 50.0 first-strike percentage and 9.8 swinging-strike percentage (11 swing and misses) vs. 20 batters … threw 44 sliders (86.6 mph avg; 88.3 mph max), 41 four-seam fastballs (95.6 avg; 97.2 max) and 16 knuckle curveballs (80.2 avg; 82.4 max).
THE REMATCH
Will face Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan for the second straight start.
Faced McClanahan in his last start on 4/22 at Tropicana Field … bot pitchers did not factor in the decision as the Rays defeated the White Sox, 4-3.
Cease and McClanahan both finished in the Top 10 in the 2022 American League Cy Young Award voting … Cease finished second while McClanahan finished 6th.
Below are Cease and McClanahan’s AL rankings since last season:
Player WIN% ERA AVG H/9 SO SO/9
Cease T8th 3rd 3rd 4th 2nd 4th
McClanahan T8th 4th 5th 5th 5th 6th
35TH AND SHIELDS
Is 5-3 with a 1.46 ERA (15 ER/92.2 IP), .174 (57-327) opponents average and 104 strikeouts in his last 15 starts at home dating back to 5/29/22 … his 1.46 ERA is the lowest by a White Sox pitcher over a 15-start span in Guaranteed Rate Field history.
Owns a 15-7 record, 2.76 ERA (70 ER/228.1 IP), .195 (160-820) opponents average and 283 strikeouts in 41 starts (21 quality) at Guaranteed Rate Field since 2020.
Ranks among American League home leaders since 2020 in ERA (2nd), strikeouts (2nd), opponents average (4th) and wins (T6th).
DÉJÀ VU
Will face Tampa Bay in back-to-back starts … marks the sixth time he has faced the same opponent in consecutive starts in the same season in his career and first since facing Kansas City on 7/27/21 and 8/3/21.
Is 4-1 with a 4.23 ERA (13 ER/27.2 IP) and 30 strikeouts in five starts when facing the same opponent for the second time.
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. TAMPA BAY RAYS || A.L. EAST
Is scheduled to make his fifth career start against the Tampa Bay Rays and second at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Has pitched into the sixth inning in just one of his four career starts vs. the Rays (5.2 IP on 4/15/22 in Chicago) … owns a 2.33 run support average (5 RS/19.1 IP) lifetime.
Is 1-2 with a 5.18 ERA (23 ER/40.0 IP), .230 (35-152) opponents average and 58 strikeouts over his last eight starts against the American League East.
