TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
BACK TO THE BASICS — Following consecutive shutout defeats to Houston, Tampa Bay opened the four-game series at Guaranteed Rate Field with a 14-5 victory over Chicago… LHP Shane McClanahan improved to 5-0 after tossing 5.0 innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits and two walks with five strikeouts…3B Isaac Paredes (2-for-5, 2B, 5RBI, 2R) recorded a career-high 5 RBI while CF Josh Lowe (3-for-5, RBI, R) set a career high with three hits.
DH Brandon Lowe (3-for-4, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, BB, 3R) became the second Ray this season to have at least one triple and one home run in the same game, joining Taylor Walls, who went 4-for-5 with a triple, 2 HR and 4 RBI on 4/18 at Cincinnati…Tampa Bay is the only team in the majors this season to have multiple players record at least one triple and one homer in the same game.
3B Isaac Paredes registered his second 4+ RBI performance of the season (also 4 RBI on 4/7 vs. OAK)…he joins Brandon Lowe (5RBI, 4/9 vs. OAK) as the only Rays with 5 RBI in a game this season.
RF Luke Raley (3-for-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 2R) homered in the top of the ninth inning and finished the game on the mound, allowing two runs on three hits over 1.0 inning…according to STATS LLC, Raley is the fifth pitcher in Rays history to hit a homer and pitch in the same game, joining Christian Bethancourt (8/23/22 vs. LAA), Yu Chang (8/6/22 at DET), Nate Karns (7/21/15 at PHI) and Esteban Yan (6/4/00 at NYM)…Raley, Bethancourt and Chang were each pitching for the final out of the game…Raley joins Minnesota’s Willi Castro (4/20 at BOS) as the only players to homer and pitch in the same game this year.
GOING, GOING. GONE — The Rays have hit a major league-best 51 home runs, tied with three clubs for the fourth most through a team’s first 26 games of a season in MLB history (since 1901) behind the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals (59HR), 2019 Seattle Mariners (56HR) 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 St. Louis (11) and San Francisco (10)…the Rays have an MLB-best five players with at least five home runs, ahead of Atlanta and Los Angeles-AL who each have four.
RUN PRODUCER — Randy Arozarena has amassed 24 RBI, tied with BOS Rafael Devers for the fourth most in MLB behind TEX Adolis García (29), HOU Yordan Alvarez (27) and NYM Pete Alonso (25).
Arozarena ranks among qualified MLB outfielders in multi-hit games (T3rd, 9), hits (4th, 31), batting average (5th, .323), OPS (6th, .938) total bases (T6th, 52), fWAR (10th, 1.1) and homers (T11th, 5).
HIGHS AND LOWES—Josh Lowe produced a career-high three hits in yesterday’s win… extended his road hitting streak to 13 games dating back to 7/24/22, the longest active run in the majors ahead of HOU Mauricio Dubón (11G)…marks the longest road hitting streak by a Rays hitter since Austin Meadows (14G) from 5/24-6/19, 2021…Lowe is slashing .383/.408/.638 (18-for-47) with three doubles, 3 HR and 9 RBI during the streak.
Lowe has hit safely in three straight and nine of his last 10 games overall, batting .350 (14-for-40) with three doubles, 2 HR, 11 RBI and 3 SB during that stretch.
After falling behind 0-2 in the count, Lowe is batting .421 (8-for-19) with a double, a home run and 5 RBI with three strikeouts…after falling behind 0-2 last season, Lowe hit just .093 (4-for-43) with 2 XBH and 22 strikeouts.
CONSISTENCY IS KEY — 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 HOU Ryan Pressly (39.0IP from 8/15/18-5/20/19), MIL Josh Hader (38.0IP from 8/1/21-6/5/22) and NYY Clay Holmes (31.1IP from 4/9/22-6/18/22).
Yonny Chirinos has thrown 18.0 scoreless innings dating back to 8/16/20…it is the third-longest active run in the majors behind teammate Pete Fairbanks (29.0IP) and ARI Zac Gallen (28.0IP).
IF THE SOX FIT — Yandy Díaz has hit safely in eight straight games against the White Sox dating back to 4/17/22, batting .500 (14-for-28) with two doubles, a homer, 4 RBI, eight runs and eight walks during the streak…in 36 career games against Chicago-AL, Díaz is batting .319 (38-for-119) with six doubles, 2 HR, 12 RBI and 23 walks against 20 strikeouts.
TURNING BACK THE CLOCK — The Rays lead the majors in runs scored (171) while surrendering the fewest runs (75)…Tampa Bay’s +96 run differential is tied for the second-best mark through the first 26 games of a season in MLB history (since 1901), trailing only the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates (+103).
Tampa Bay’s 171 runs scored are its most through 26 games in club history, ahead of the 2010 Rays (152R)…marks the most runs scored by any team through 26 games since the 2017 Washington Nationals (173R)…the Rays 75 runs allowed are their fewest through 26 games in franchise history, ahead of the 2019 club (81R).
ON THE MOUND — Tampa Bay’s 2.83 ERA is the best mark in the majors, ahead of Houston (3.16)…this includes the best starter ERA (3.00) and second-best bullpen ERA (2.64) behind New York-AL (2.47)…Rays pitchers pace the majors in opponents’ OPS (.573), opponents’ average (.184), fewest pitches per IP (15.4) and WHIP (1.06).
IN THE BOX — Rays hitters lead MLB in OPS (.868), OBP (.352), SLG (.516), batting average (.280), extra-base hits (98) and total bases (430)…the Rays offense has produced an 11.6 barrel percentage, tied with Los Angeles-NL for the second-highest mark in the majors behind Atlanta (12.6%)…the Rays also rank second among all clubs in hard hit percentage (45.1%) behind the Braves (45.7%).
BACK ON THE SOUTH SIDE — The Rays play the second contest of a four-game series with the White Sox tonight in Chicago…Tampa Bay has won four straight against the ChiSox…with a win tonight, the Rays would match their longest win streak against the White Sox in franchise history (3x: 6/12-8/4, 2015, 4/27-7/7, 2013 & 5/30-8/23, 2008).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP ZACH EFLIN (3-0, 2.81)
TONIGHT’S START — Zach Eflin makes his second start since returning from the injured list tonight in Chicago, his first road outing of the season…marks his first road start since 6/25/22 at San Diego as a member of Philadelphia…an Orlando, Fla. native, Eflin joined the Rays during the 2022-23 offseason after signing the largest free-agent contract in club history, a three-year, $40 million deal, surpassing Wilson Álavrez’s fiveyear, $35 million pact.
LAST TIME OUT — Making his first start in over two weeks, Eflin worked 5.0 innings of one-run ball in Tampa Bay’s 4-1 win over the White Sox on 4/23 (5.0IP, 3H, ER, 4SO)…earned the win for a third consecutive start, his longest such streak since 6/5-7/3, 2018 (6GS)…tossed 67 pitches in the outing, the fewest in his career in an outing of 5.0+ innings.
IN THE WINDY CITY — Eflin will be making his third career appearance (2nd start) against the White Sox, including his first at Guaranteed Rate
Field…has gone 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA (7.0IP, 1ER) and a .125 (3-for-24) opponents’ average in his previous two outings opposite Chicago-AL.
Eflin is 4-0 with a 0.96 ERA (28.0IP, 3ER) in five career games (4 starts) against AL Central clubs, holding opposing hitters to a .163/.188/.235 (16-for-98) clip with one walk against 23 strikeouts…m arks his lowest ERA against any division in his career, ahead of the NL Central (3.75).
NO FREE RIDES — Eflin has pitched to a 1.6 percent walk rate across three starts, the second-lowest mark in the majors (min. 60BF) behind WSH Mason Thompson (1.4%)…he has not issued multiple walks in an outing since 6/25/22 at San Diego (2BB) and has walked just one batter over his last eight appearances (21.2IP) since Philadelphia reinstated him from the injured list on 9/12/22 (91 BF in that span).
Last season, among NL pitchers with at least 75.0 IP, Eflin‘s 4.8% walk rate ranked sixth…since 2020, his 4.5% walk rate ranks third in the majors (min. 1,000BF):
THANKS FOR THE LIFT — Eflin has enjoyed 12.38 runs of support per 9.0 IP through his first three starts (16.0IP, 22 runs)…marks his most runs of support in any three-game span in his career…the righty is 38-6 with a 3.39 ERA (385.0IP, 145ER) in his career when receiving 3+ runs of support compared to 1-39 with a 6.13 ERA (274.1IP, 187ER) with two or fewer runs.
ON THE BIG STAGE — Pitched in the postseason for the first time in his career during Philadelphia’s run to Game 6 of the 2022 World Series…
turned in a 3.38 ERA (10.2IP, 4ER) and did not record a decision over 10 appearances out of the bullpen, including seven straight scoreless outings (7.2IP) to conclude the postseason.
Earned his first career postseason save in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series at STL, working a scoreless 9th inning.
Made 4 scoreless appearances in the World Series against HOU, yielding only 4 hits in 4.1 IP.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost eight straight games, 10 of their last 11, 13 of 15 and 16 of 20 as they continue a seven-game homestand tonight against Tampa Bay, owners of the best record in baseball.
RHP Lucas Giolito is scheduled to start for the White Sox, who are off to their worst 26-game start since 1950 (6-20).
The Sox opened the homestand last night with a 14-5 loss to the Rays as they allowed 10-plus runs for the fourth time in 2023.
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 0-6 on their last trip to Tampa Bay (0-3) and Toronto (0-3) from 4/21-26 and 2-4 on their last homestand vs. Baltimore (1-2) and Philadelphia (1-2) from 4/13-19.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
Lucas Giolito is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA (14 ER/46.2 IP), 48 strikeouts and a 0.92 WHIP in seven career starts (six quality) against Tampa Bay … Giolito threw 6.0 hitless IP in his last start at home on 4/18-2 vs. Philadelphia (see note below).
The White Sox are looking to avoid their first nine-game losing streak since 7/9-23/17.
The Sox are hitting .191/.250/.318 (107-559) with 49 runs scored (2.9 R/G) over the last 17 games … they have collected 10-plus hits three times during that span.
Jake Burger leads the White Sox with six home runs in just 59 plate appearances … 10 of Burger’s 12 hits this season have gone for extra bases (six homers, four doubles).
ROSTER MOVES
The White Sox have sent INF Hanser Alberto (strained left quad) and All-Star SS Tim Anderson (sprained left knee) to Class AAA Charlotte on injury rehab assignments.
The Sox also outrighted RHP A.J. Alexy to Charlotte.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
Tampa Bay recorded 16 hits, including three home runs, and handed the White Sox their eighth straight loss, 14-5.
Dylan Cease suff ered the loss, allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits over 4.0 IP (99 pitches) … Aaron Bummer retired all three batters faced in the fi fth inning on 10 pitches.
Jake Burger went 2-2 with a double, home run (No. 6), two RBI and two runs scored, and Adam Haseley came off the bench to go 2-2 with a double, RBI and run scored.
The Sox went 3-14 with RISP and left eight runners on base.
NEAR NO˨NO’S
Lucas Giolito threw 6.0 hitless IP in his last home start on 4/18-2 vs. Philadelphia … Giolito 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.
HIGHWAY ROBERT˨Y
Luis Robert Jr. is tied for second in MLB lead with six defensive runs saved this season (Sports Info Solutions) … Robert Jr. made an over-the-wall catch on 4/24 at Toronto to rob Matt Chapman of a home run, and he also denied San Francisco’s Joc Pederson of a home run on 4/3.
Per Sports Info Solutions, Robert Jr. is the first White Sox player in 20 years of tracking to record multiple home run robberies before the end of April, and the fi rst in MLB to accomplish the feat since Milwaukee’s Lorenzo Cain had three in 2019.
Robert Jr’s. two home-run saving catches already are tied for the second-highest total by a Sox player over the last 20 seasons, trailing Adam Engel in 2018 and Jermaine Dye in 2009 (3).
AS TA GOES, SO GO THE WHITE SOX
The White Sox have gone 2-13 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 66-82 (.446) 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.
WHITE SOX VS. TAMPA BAY RAYS
Tampa Bay leads the season series, 4-0, winning the series opener last night after sweeping a three-game series at home last weekend, their first of the White Sox at Tropicana Field since 6/12-14/15 … the Rays won the fi rst two games of that series in walkoff fashion.
The White Sox are batting .207/.279/.400 (29-140) with a 6.29 ERA (24 ER/34.1 IP) and have been outscored, 30-16.
The Sox went 4-2 against Tampa Bay in 2022, winning two of three games at home from 4/15-17 and at Tampa Bay from 6/3-5.
LOOKING FOR AN EDGE VS. THE EAST
The White Sox are 1-9 against American League East teams this season, going 1-3 at home and 0-6 on the road … they have been outscored, 70-32.
By comparison, the Sox combined to go 34-31 vs. the AL East in 2021-22.
SEARCHING FOR HOME˨FIELD ADVANTAGE
The White Sox are 3-7 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 10 home games this season, the White Sox have been outscored, 77-44, and outhomered, 21-9.
Gavin Sheets (23 of 28) and Burger (13 of 15) have combined to hit 36 of their 43 career home runs at Guaranteed Rate Field.
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 (.779) 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 .348/.402/.609 (72-207) hitter vs. lefties … Jake Burger owns a .643 slugging percentage vs. LHP.
NO RISP, NO REWARD
The White Sox rank fi fth in the American League with a .263 (54-205) average with runners in scoring position … over the last eight games, the Sox are hitting .173 (9-52) and have not collected more than three hits in any of the games.
Andrew Vaughn is batting .429/.520/.810 (9-21) with 15 RBI with RISP this season, and Andrew Benintendi is hitting .429/.529/.500 (6-14).
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 – #27 LUCAS GIOLITO RHP
GIOLITO AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his sixth start of the season, second at home and second vs. the Tampa Bay Rays.
Has tossed 5.0-plus IP in four of his five starts this season and 6.0-plus IP in three.
Is 110 strikeouts away from becoming the 12th pitcher in White Sox history with 1,000.
Finished sixth in the American League Cy Young Award voting in 2019, seventh in 2020 and tied for 11th in 2021.
Threw the 19th no-hitter in White Sox history on 8/25/20 vs. Pittsburgh, walking one with 13 strikeouts.
Was a finalist for a Rawlings(R) Gold Glove and Comeback Player of the Year Awards and was a 2019 AL All-Star.
Won AL Pitcher of the Month honors in May 2019 and AL Player of Week for 8/24-30/20 and 5/27-6/2/19.
LAST START
Suffered his second loss of the season on 4/23 at Tampa Bay, allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 7.0 IP… allowed a two-run homer to Luke Raley in the second inning and a two-out, solo home run to Harold Ramírez in the third.
Departed the game in the eighth with the White Sox trailing, 4-1 … threw 102 pitches (62 strikes) … is the only Sox starter this season to record 7.0 IP in a start.
Owned a 50.0 first-strike percentage and 12.7 swinging-strike percentage (15 swing and misses) vs. 28 batters … threw 49 four-seam fastballs (92.9 mph avg; 95.1 mph max), 29 sliders (82.9 avg; 85.7 max), 21 changeups (82.8 avg; 79.6 max) and three curveballs (78.2 avg; 79.5 max).
SUMMER AT 35TH AND SHIELDS
Is making just his second start at Guaranteed Rate Field this season … earned the win his last home start on 4/18-2 vs. Philadelphia, tossing 6.0 hitless IP.
Has gone 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA (7 ER/24.0 IP) and .171 (14-82) opponents average over his last four starts at home … has allowed three runs or less in each start.
Went 5-7 with a 6.08 ERA (52 ER/77.0 IP), .294 (90- 306) opponents average and 84 strikeouts in 14 home starts last season … his 6.08 ERA was the second-highest among MLB pitchers with at least 70.0 IP at home in 2022.
Threw the 19th no-hitter in White Sox history on 8/25/20 at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates … struck out a career-high tying 13, the most by a Sox in a no-hitter.
DÉJÀ VU
Will face Tampa Bay in back-to-back starts … marks the 10th time he has faced the same opponent in consecutive starts in the same season in his career and first since facing Minnesota on 9/29/22 and 10/4/22.
Is 2-4 with a 5.98 ERA (31 ER/46.2 IP) and 50 strikeouts in five starts when facing the same opponent for the second time.
POSTING PUNCHOUTS
Has recorded 14 career starts with 10-plus strikeouts, tied with teammate Dylan Cease for fourth-most in White Sox history … needs one double-digit strikeout game to tie Juan Pizarro for third place.
Recorded consecutive 10-plus strikeout games twice in his career from 8/20-25/20 (two) and 8/16-27/19 (three).
His last double-digit strikeout game came on 5/4/22 at the Cubs (10 SO).
BITTEN BY THE LONG BALL
Has allowed 55 home runs since the start of the 2021 season, tied for the ninth-most in baseball … is averaging 1.34 HR/9.0 IP during that span.
Has surrendered four home runs over his first five starts of the 2023 season, allowing two on 4/7 at Pittsburgh and two on 4/23 at Tampa Bay … has allowed one three-run homer, one two-run and two solo shots.
Allowed a home run in 16 of his 30 starts in 2022 and multiple homers in seven … allowed 10 homers on the road and 14 at home … surrendered 16 home runs in the first half of the season, compared to just eight in the second half.
VS. TAMPA BAY RAYS || A.L. EAST
Is scheduled to make his eighth career start against the Rays and third at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Received a no decision in his last start vs. the Rays in Chicago on 6/16/21, allowing three runs on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in 6.0 IP.
Six of his seven career starts vs. the Rays have been quality starts … has struck out six-plus five times and eight-plus three times.
Has gone 2-3 with a 6.21 ERA (20 ER/29.0 IP) and .305 (36-118) opponents average over his last five starts against the American League East.
