TORONTO BLUE JAYS NOTES:
THE LATEST: The Blue Jays used a two-run 8th inning to sneak by the White Sox for a 4-3 final last night…Have gone an even 14-14 in series openers, ending a three-game slide in such games…Are now 14-9 in one-run contests, having played each of their last three games to a one-run final score…Improved to 12-5 vs. AL Central opponents. Toronto snapped its three-game slide with the win… Has gone 17-13 over its last 30 games and is 20-15 over the last 35…Toronto’s .571 win% over that span (since May 26) is 2nd best in the AL (CLE: 21-15, .583).
VLADIOS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. put Toronto in front, 4-3, with a two-run homer in the 8th last night…Marked his 13th home run of the campaign, 10 of which have come on the road…Was his 6th go-ahead blast of 2023 and the 37th of his career…Has hit four homers in his last 10 games while batting .297 (11-for-37) with seven extra-base hits and 12 RBI (1.084 OPS). The three-time All-Star also singled and scored a run in the 4th as part of a 2-for-4 evening…Was his 23rd multi-hit game…His 89 hits are 11th most in the AL while his 54 RBI are tied for 10th…Has recorded an AL-leading 153 hard-hit balls (95+ MPH) this season.
OUT-WHITTING THEM: Whit Merrifield drove in the other pair of Toronto runs last night with a 4th-inning double to left…Also singled and stole a base in the 7th to finish 2-for-4… Has maintained a .306 (44-for-144) batting average over his last 40 games, including eight doubles, a homer, and 16 RBI (.745 OPS)…Among AL players, is currently T-6th in stolen bases (19) and 14th in AVG (.285)…The 19 swipes before the All-Star break are the most by a Blue Jay since Rajai Davis nabbed 24 in 2013.
BRANDON ON BRAND: Brandon Belt singled, walked twice, and scored a run in a 1-for-2 night…Over his last 40 contests, has batted .309 (38-for-123) with 12 doubles, five homers, 15 RBI, and 26 walks (.959 OPS)…His .430 OBP over that span (since May 4) is the highest in the AL (min. 100 AB), trailing only Juan Soto’s .439 for tops in the Majors, while he also ranks 6th in OPS and 9th in AVG…His 6.84 PA/BB this season is the 4th highest rate in the AL (min. 100 PA).
BO KNOWS BASE HITS: Bo Bichette reached base on an infield single during the 5th inning last night…Currently leads the AL with 114 hits, 12 more than any other batter (3rd in MLB)… His .315 batting average has surpassed Yandy Díaz (.313) for the AL lead while sitting 3rd in total bases (182), 5th in SLG (.503), 8th in XBH (37), and 10th in OPS (.847).
A QUALITY GUY: Chris Bassitt allowed three runs on a homer and nothing more over his 6.0 innings of work last night… Now has 12 quality starts this season, one back of Kevin Gausman and George Kirby for the AL lead.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Blue Jays are on a six-game, AL Central road trip (1-0 so far)…Own a 23-22 road record this season for a .511 win%, 7th in the AL…After this trio of games against the White Sox, will play three more in Detroit (37-47) as they head into the All-Star Break. Blue Jays hitters rank 2nd among AL clubs in road AVG (.261), 3rd in road OPS (.747), 4th in road OBP (.325), and 4th in road SLG (.422)…The pitching staff ranks 11th in the AL in road ERA (4.46), 12th in road WHIP (1.38), and 14th in road opponents’ AVG (.265).
ROMANO-MATIC: Jordan Romano struck out all three batters faced to close out last night’s game…Marked his 8th save coming into a one-run game, tied for the AL lead. The Markham, ON, native has converted each of his last 15 save opportunities…Last night marked his MLB-leading 25th save…The 25 saves have also surpassed B.J. Ryan (24 in 2006) for the most saves before the All-Star break in team history.
STARTING SOMETHING: Toronto pitchers have now combined for 41 quality starts, tied for 3rd most in the Majors…The starting rotation ranks 3rd in MLB in strikeouts (493), 5th in innings pitched (471.2), 9th in ERA (4.03), 11th in AVG (.243), and 15th in WHIP (1.28).
HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 767 hits this season, 4th most in the AL…Are also currently 4th in the AL in team AVG (.260), 5th in OBP (.327), 5th in SLG (.417), 5th in OPS (.744), and 5th in extra-base hits (263).
THE D-JAYS: According to Sports Info Solutions, Toronto fielders have recorded a total of 45 Defensive Runs Saved, the most in the Majors (2nd: TEX – 44)…The group is led by an MLB-high 20 runs saved in center field – 13 from Kevin Kiermaier who leads all MLB center fielders and seven from Daulton Varsho (T-2nd).
VS. THE WHITE SOX: All-Time: 221-202-1
2023: 4-0 Road: 100-108-1
Road: 1-0 Guaranteed Rate Field: 57-68-1
The Blue Jays swept the White Sox when the teams last met in April at Rogers Centre, outscoring the Pale Hose, 20-2, over the three games…Went 4-2 against Chicago last season, dropping two of the three games in the Windy City.
Bo Bichette went 5-for-12 (.417) with a home run, three RBI, and two walks during the prior series in Toronto…Is now a career 20-for-71 (.282) with two doubles, two homers, and 11 RBI in 16 meetings vs. CWS (.757 OPS).
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. recorded three doubles and drove in two runs during that April series vs. the ChiSox as he went 4-for-14 (.286)…Has batted .275 (25-for-91) across 24 contests against Chicago, including six doubles, four home runs, 13 RBI, and 13 walks (.838 OPS).
Whit Merrrifield is now 5-for-13 (.385) with two doubles and five RBI vs. the White Sox this season…Leads all current Blue Jays with 111 games played vs. CWS,
recording 24 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, and 71 RBI along the way (.770 OPS).
STARTING PITCHER – José Berríos, RHP #17
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 18th start of the season and his 11th on the road…Took the loss his last time out, on 6/30 vs. BOS, surrendering 4 runs on 5 hits (3HR) with 8 punchouts. Over his last 15 starts, has gone 8-4 with a 2.96 ERA (30 ER/91.1 IP), 83 strikeouts, and a 1.13 WHIP…The 2.96 ERA is the 7th-lowest mark among
AL pitchers over that span (since 4/14). Has made 157 starts since the beginning of 2018, tied for the 3rd most among MLB hurlers (Aaron Nola – 161, Gerrit Cole – 158).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS:
Picked up his 8th win of the year on 6/24 vs. OAK, giving up 3R/2ER over 6.0 innings (6H, 2BB, 8K). Improved to 7-4 on the year on 6/14 at BAL, taking a no-hitter into the 7th inning before allowing a leadoff single to Adley Rutschman…Marked the longest no-hit bid by a Blue Jay since Ross Stripling also tossed 6.0 hitless innings on 8/17/22 vs. BAL…Finished the game with a season-high 7.2 innings of shutout ball (3H, BB, HBP, 5K)…Improved to a perfect 10-0 lifetime against the O’s (13 starts), joining Jon Lester (14-0) and Red Faber (12-0) as the only pitchers in MLB history to win each of his first 10 career decisions against Orioles/Browns franchise. Won his 6th game of the year on 6/8 vs. HOU, tossing 6.0 innings of 2-run ball (4H, 2BB, 2K)…Marked his 7th quality start of the season. Took a no-decision on 6/3 at NYM, throwing 6.0 innings of one-run ball with 4 hits, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts…Allowed 1 run or fewer in a 3rd straight outing. Pitched 5.2 frames of shutout ball on 5/28 at MIN (4H, 5BB, 5K)…Became the winningest pitcher in Target Field history, earning his 33rd career victory to break a tie with Kyle Gibson (32). Tossed 7.0 frames of one-run ball on 5/23 at TB, scattering 5 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts…Was his 5th quality start of the year and his 3rd in the last 4 games. Improved to 3-3 on the year on 5/6 at PIT, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits and a walk over 6.1 frames with 7 strikeouts. Worked 7.0 shutout frames on 4/25 vs. CWS, scattering 4 singles and a walk with a season-high 9 strikeouts…Completed 7.0 innings in consecutive starts for the 13th time in his career (last: 3G from 6/4-15/22)…Has allowed 3 runs over his last 3 starts, posting a 1.42 ERA (3 ER/19.0 IP) with a pair of walks and 18 punchouts. Picked up his 1st win of the year on 4/14 vs. TB, tossing 5.0 innings of one-run ball with 4 hits, no walks, and 6 strikeouts…Was removed from the game with a left knee contusion after being hit by a comebacker from Yandy Díaz.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX NOTES:
WHITE SOX AT A GLANCE
The Chicago White Sox have lost 11 of the last 18 games and 14 of 22 as they continue the final homestand of the first half with the second game vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.
RHP Lance Lynn, who has struck out 30 over his last three starts (14.46 SO/9.0 IP), is scheduled to start for Chicago.
The White Sox are in fourth place in the American League Central, 7.0 games behind division-leading Minnesota.
The Sox went 3-4 on their last trip from 6/26-7/2, splitting four games at the Angels and losing two of three at Oakland … they avoided a sweep at the Coliseum with an 8-7 win on Sunday.
Following this series vs. the Blue Jays, the White Sox will conclude the first half vs. St. Louis … they will open the post All-Star break portion of the schedule 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 3-3 on their last homestand vs. Texas (1-2) and Boston (2-1) from 6/19-25.
TONIGHT’S STORYLINES
The White Sox have scored 41 runs over the last six games (6.8 R/G), compared to 32 in their previous 11 (2.9 R/G).
The White Sox rank fourth in MLB with a 3.61 ERA (168 ER/418.2 IP) in 47 games since 5/13, but they have posted a 5.84 mark (40 ER/61.2 IP) over the last seven contests.
Chicago has been outscored by a 24-5 margin in its four losses to Toronto this season, and is 2-8 vs. the Blue Jays since the start of the 2022 season (outscored 67-36).
Luis Robert Jr. is just the eighth player (ninth time) in franchise history to hit 25-plus home runs prior to the All-Star break … is the first White Sox to hit seven-plus homers in a 10-game span since José Abreu (nine homers) from 8/16-26/20.
Robert Jr. has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games, going 17-48 (.354) with seven homers, 11 RBI and a 1.259 OPS.
Lance Lynn owns a 3.10 ERA (10 ER/29.0 IP), .193 average, 1.00 WHIP and 28 strikeouts in his last five starts vs. Toronto.
LAST NIGHT’S RECAP
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. connected on a game-winning, two-run home run off Joe Kelly in the eighth to lead Toronto to a 4-3 win.
Jordan Romano struck out Andrew Vaughn, Oscar Colás and Jake Burger on 13 pitches in the ninth to finish the game.
Luis Robert Jr. gave the White Sox a 3-2 lead with a three-run homer (No. 25) in the sixth, capping a four-hit inning … the Sox were limited to one hit over the final three frames.
Lucas Giolito received a ND despite allowing just two runs on four hits with four strikeouts in 6.0 IP, lowering his ERA to 3.50 … Kelly suffered his sixth blown save and fourth loss.
Tim Anderson (2-4, 3B, R) and Eloy Jiménez (2-4) recorded Chicago’s only multi-hit eff orts.
ROBERT SHOOTING FOR THE STARS
Luis Robert Jr. has been named to his first American League All-Star team … below is information from his season to date.
His 25 home runs are the most by a Sox player in the first 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 47 home runs, 91 RBI, 112 runs scored, 88 XBH and 344 total bases … 47 homers would rank second in Sox history behind Albert Belle (49 in 1998), 112 runs scored would be the most since Magglio Ordóñez (116) in 2002, 88 XBH would rank second in White Sox history (Belle, 99 in 1998), and 344 TB would rank fourth
Is hitting .308/.376/.668 (65-211) with 16 doubles, 20 homers, 36 RBI and 46 runs scored in 56 games since 5/1 … hitting .358/.434/.716 (24-67) with six home runs and an AL-best 1.151 OPS vs. LHP in 2023
Joins Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mookie Betts as the only players with 20-plus doubles, 20-plus home runs and 45-plus RBI this season
Fifteen of his career-high 25 homers this season have registered 400-plus feet, the sixth-most in the major leagues
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)
Ranked second in MLB with 11 homers in June, the most by a Sox player in a single month since José Abreu hit 11 in August 2020;
Named AL POW for 6/19-25 (first weekly honor) after hitting .444/.524/1.111 (8-18) with four homers, five RBI and six runs (6 G)
WHITE SOX VS. TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Toronto leads the season series, 4-0, winning last night’s opener after sweeping three games from 4/24-26 at Rogers Centre.
The White Sox are batting .146/.211/.195 (18-123) with three extra-base hits (one home run), own a 6.27 ERA (23 ER/33.0 IP) with one QS and have been outscored, 24-5, this season.
The Blue Jays won the 2022 season series, 4-2, sweeping a three-game set at Rogers Centre from 5/31-6/2 before losing two of three in Chicago from 6/20-22.
The Sox are 17-13 vs. Toronto at Guaranteed Rate Field since the start of the 2013 season.
BATTLING BERRÍOS
The White Sox are hitting .289/.331/.508 (37-128) with eight home runs and have scored 21 runs in the last six starts by José Berríos dating back to 7/21/21 … the Sox have scored four-plus runs four times and hit three home runs twice over the six games.
FAMILIAR FACE
Sox bench coach Charlie Montoyo spent three-plus seasons as Toronto’s manager from 2019-22, recording a 236-236 record.
Montoyo guided the Blue Jays to an American League Wild Card Series berth in 2020 and to 91 victories in 2021 despite playing home games during those two seasons in Dunedin, Fla. (spring training complex), Buffalo, N.Y. and Rogers Centre.
LOOKING FOR AN EDGE VS. THE EAST
The White Sox are 6-14 against American League East teams this season, going 4-7 at home and 2-7 on the road … they have been outscored by a 116-71 margin this season.
Chicago has won fi ve of the last eight games, including consecutive series at the Yankees and vs. Boston, after losing 11 of their first 12 games vs. Baltimore, Tampa Bay and Toronto.
By comparison, the Sox went 34-31 vs. the AL East in 2021-22.
CLOSE CALLS
Forty of the White Sox 87 games (45.9 percent) this season have been decided by two runs or less … the Sox are 13-14 in one-run games and 5-8 in two-run games … 27 of the last 29 games have been decided by four runs or less.
ARMS RACE
White Sox pitchers have recorded a 3.61 ERA (168 ER/418.2 IP) in 47 games since 5/13, the fourth-best mark in MLB … the Sox lead MLB with a .218 opp. average, rank third with a .682 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 47 contests:
Games W-L ERA QS IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG OPS WHIP
Last 47 24-23 3.61 19 418.2 341 183 168 53 173 444 .218 .682 1.23
First 40 13-27 5.66 12 351.2 366 241 221 65 167 385 .263 .817 1.52
ROTATION SENSATION
White Sox starting pitchers own a 3.67 ERA with a .230 opponents average in 47 games since 5/13 … during that span, they lead MLB with an average of 10.14 strikeouts per 9.0 IP and rank second in opponents average and third in ERA.
During the 47-game stretch, Sox starters have made eight scoreless outings, allowed one earned run or less 18 times and two earned runs or less 29 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 3.67 1.27 19 250.2 217 110 102 35 100 282 10.1 .230 .722
GRAB SOME BENCH
The White Sox lead MLB with an average of 9.69 strikeouts per 9.0 IP (829 SO/770.1 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 44 times in 2023, including 15 or more six times (0-6 record).
Lance Lynn (4th, career-high 10.88), Dylan Cease (5th, 10.71), Michael Kopech (8th, 10.15) and Lucas Giolito (10th, 9.57) rank among the American League leaders in strikeouts per 9.0 IP.
Cease (3rd, 16) and Giolito (T4th, 15) rank among the all-time franchise leaders in double-digit strikeout games.
LONG BALL LOGISTICS
The Sox rank seventh in the American League with 100 homers, including 30 in the last 19 games (25 solo; eight multi-HR eff orts).
The White Sox this season are 29-31 when homering, 14-11 in multi-homer games and 8-19 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 third and Burger (12) ranks fourth in the AL in home homers.
STARTING PITCHER – #33 LANCE LYNN RHP
LYNN AT A GLANCE
Is scheduled to make his 18th start of the season, eight at home and second against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Has gone 1-3 with a 7.71 ERA (28 ER/32.2 IP), 1.59 WHIP and .292 (40-137) opponents average over his last six starts.
Has surrendered 22 home runs this season, the most in the majors … has allowed a homer in 13 of his 17 starts, including in six of his last eight.
Owns a 10.59 ERA (20 ER/17.0 IP) and .338 (26-77) opponents average in the first inning … his 10.59 ERA is the seventh highest mark in baseball this season while his 20 runs allowed are the second-most and his .338 opponents average is the 16-highest.
Ranks among MLB active pitchers in HR/9.0 IP (8th, 0.96), SO/9.0 IP (8th, 9.15), opponents average (9th, .243), wins (9th, 128), starts (9th, 302), opponents SLG
(10th, .387), IP (10th, 1,801.1), strikeouts (10th, 1,831), opponents OPS (11th, .699), ERA (12th, 3.66), WHIP (13th, 1.27) and opponents OBP (14th, .313).
Pitched for Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic … went 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA (3 ER/9.0 IP), .188 (6-32) opp. average and eight strikeouts in two starts.
Signed a two-year contract extension with a club option with the White Sox on 7/17/21 … the Sox hold an $18-million option for 2024 with a $1-million buyout.
Is a two-time All-Star (2012 and 2021) … has finished fifth in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2019, sixth in 2020 and third in 2021 … was a member of the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
LAST START
Earned the win on 6/29 at the Los Angeles Angels, allowing five runs on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over 6.0 IP … threw 105 pitches (69 strikes).
Surrendered a season-high (third time) three home runs, one to Mickey Moniak in the first and one to Mike Moustakas and Hunter Renfroe in the second.
Departed in the seventh with White Sox leading, 7-5 … Eloy Jiménez and Zach Remillard each recorded two RBI to help guide the Sox to a 9-7 victory.
Owned a 60.7 first-strike percentage and 21.9 swinging-strike percentage (24 swing and misses) vs. 28 batters … threw 31 sliders (83.1 avg; 84.8 max), 30 four-seam
fastballs (92.7 avg; 95.4 max), 25 cutters (89.6 mph avg; 91.9 mph max), eight changeups (85.2 avg; 86.3 max), seven sinkers (91.4 avg; 93.4 max), and four curveballs (80.3 avg; 81.1 max).
GRAB SOME BENCH
Recorded his 25th career double-digit strikeout performance and sixth with the Sox on 6/18 at Seattle, tying Jack Harshman (7/25/1954 at Boston) for the franchise
single-game strikeout record with 16.
Has struck out at least five batters in 91 of his 109 starts since 2019, the ninth-highest total in the majors.
MONSTER OF THE MIDWAY
Is 13-10 with a 3.95 ERA (82 ER/187.1 IP), .228 (163-716) opponents average, one complete game, one shutout and 215 strikeouts in 33 home starts since 2021 … made one start in Dyersville, Iowa at the “Field of Dreams” Game on 8/12/21 vs. New York-AL.
Has gone 13-10 with a 3.86 ERA (78 ER/182.0 IP) in 32 starts at Guaranteed Rate Field since 2021.
Ranks among American League home leaders (min. 170.0 IP) since 2021 in opponents strikeouts (9th), wins (T10th), OBP (15th, .279), opponents average (20th) and ERA (26th).
WORK HORSE
Ranks sixth in MLB with 1,801.2 IP since 2011 … is one of 10 active pitchers with 1,700.0-plus career IP.
Has thrown 100-plus pitches 73 times since 2019, the most in the majors during that span.
Has thrown 30,825 pitches since 2011, sixth-most during that span, and the most among MLB pitchers with less than 1,900.0 IP during that span.
VS. TORONTO BLUE JAYS || A.L. EAST
Is scheduled to make his 11th career start (12th appearance), second of the season against Blue Jays and third against them at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Has gone 2-2 with a 3.60 ERA (16 ER/40.0 IP) and .213 (32-150) opponents average in his last seven starts vs. Toronto … has allowed just one run in four of the starts.
Suffered the loss on 4/24 at Rogers Centre, allowing four runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts over 5.0 IP.
Is 10-12 with a 3.76 ERA (98 ER/234.2 IP) in 43 career games (38 starts) against the American League East.
