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 Tuesady 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 for a .609 win%, tied with Baltimore for the best in the AL…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 the best in the AL (2nd: CLE – .568).
VLADIOS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. put Toronto in front, 4-3, with a two-run homer in the 8th Tuesday 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 currently tied for 12th 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 on Tuesday 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 13th 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 Tuesday 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 .442 for tops in the Majors, while he also ranks 7th in OPS and 8th in AVG…His 6.84 PA/BB this season is the 3rd highest rate in the AL (min. 100 PA) while his 4.50 pitches/PA tops all AL batters.
BO KNOWS BASE HITS: Bo Bichette reached base on an infield single during the 5th inning Tuesday night…Currently leads the AL with 114 hits, 12 more than any other batter (3rd in MLB)…His .315 batting average also is tops in the AL while sitting 3rd in total bases (182), 4th in SLG (.503), T-8th in XBH (37), and 9th in OPS (.847).
DOUBLEHEADER DETAILS: The Blue Jays are playing their 1st doubleheader of the season…Participated in five double dips last season, earning an even 5-5 record across the 10 contests… Have played 10 doubleheaders vs. CWS: have swept three, were swept once, and split six.
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 (37-48) 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 Tuesday 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…Is currently tied with Camilo Doval for the MLB lead in saves…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 4th most in the Majors…The starting rotation ranks 3rd in MLB in strikeouts (493), 6th in innings pitched (471.2), 9th in ERA (4.03), 11th in AVG (.243), and 15th in WHIP (1.27).
HITTING IT: Toronto batters have notched 767 hits this season, 5th 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 7th 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.
STARTING PITCHER – Yusei Kikuchi, LHP #16
TODAY’S GAME: Making his 18th start of the season and his 10th on the road…Took the loss his last time out, on 7/1 vs. BOS, giving up 5 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks over 4.1 frames with 7 punchouts…Has pitched into the 5th inning in all 17 starts this year, the only Blue Jay starter to do so. Over his last 3 road starts, has given up 4 runs over 15.2 combined frames (2.30 ERA), walking 3 batters while striking out 21 (0.96 WHIP, .207 AVG).
2023 HIGHLIGHTS: Earned his 7th win of the season on 6/25 vs. OAK, tossing 7.0 frames of one-run ball with 2 hits, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts…Marked his longest outing as a Blue Jay. Faced one batter over the minimum on 6/20 at MIA, tossing 6.0 shutout innings with 2 hits, no walks, and 6 strikeouts on 87 pitches (57 strikes)…Marked his 3rd scoreless start of the season. Took a no-decision on 6/15 at BAL, giving up a pair of runs over 4.2 frames (6H, 2BB, 7K)…Has allowed 2 runs in each of his last 4 games. Took a no-decision on 6/4 at NYM, giving up 2 runs over 5.0 innings with 4 hits, a walk, and 8 strikeouts…Induced a season-high 19 swing-and-misses. Improved to 6-2 on 5/30 vs. MIL, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and a season-high 5 walks over 5.0 frames with 4 strikeouts…Punched out Joey Wiemer in the 4th inning for the 500th strikeout of his career…Became the 9th Japanese-born player to record 500 strikeouts and 500.0 innings pitched in the Majors. Shouldered the loss on 5/24 at TB, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks over 5.0 frames with 5 strikeouts…The outing was his 100th career start, becoming the 11th Japanese-born player to reach the century mark. Earned his 3rd win of the year on 4/21 at NYY, tossing 6.0 frames of one-run ball with 4 hits, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts…Has back-to-back starts of 6.0+ innings and 0-or-1 runs allowed for the first time since 6/18-25 of his 2021 All-Star campaign.
Improved to 2-0 on 4/15 vs. TB, throwing 6.0 innings of one-run ball with 4 hits, a walk, and a season-high 9 strikeouts…Marked his most punchouts in a single game as a Blue Jay…Completed 6.0 frames for the 1st time since 6/30/22 vs. TB.
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 today with a straight doubleheader 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 Game 1.
The White Sox are in fourth place in the American League Central, 7.5 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.
Following today’s games vs. the Blue Jays, the White Sox will conclude the fi rst 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.
TODAY’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 third 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 vs. Toronto this season, and is 2-8 vs. the Blue Jays since the start of the 2022.
The Sox are hitting .289/.331/.508 with eight homers and have scored 21 runs in the last six starts against José Berríos.
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 fi ve starts vs. Toronto.
ROSTER MOVES
Prior to Game 1 vs. Toronto, the White Sox added RHP Jimmy Lambert as the 27th player for the doubleheader, recalled RHP Nick Padilla from Class AAA Charlotte and placed RHP Joe Kelly on the 15-day IL (retroactive to 7/5) with right elbow inflammation.
Lambert is 2-1 with a 6.85 ERA (17 ER/22.1 IP), three holds and 25 strikeouts in 24 games (one start) with the Sox in 2023
Padilla is 2-1 with a 4.08 ERA (13 ER/28.2 IP) and 34 strikeouts in 26 relief appearances with Charlotte in 2023.
TUESDAY 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.
Tim Anderson (2-4, 3B, R) and Eloy Jiménez (2-4) recorded Chicago’s only multi-hit efforts.
LET’S PLAY TWO
Chicago is playing its third doubleheader of the season after playing six in 2022 (1-1-4 DH record) … the Sox have split straight DHs on 4/18 vs. Philadelphia and 6/8 at the Yankees.
Below is additional White Sox doubleheader information.
Last White Sox DH vs. Toronto: 9/9/08 in Chicago (swept)
Last time White Sox swept a DH vs. Toronto: 7/15/98
Last time White Sox swept a DH: 5/22/22 at New York-AL
Last time White Sox were swept in a DH: 4/20/22 at Cleveland
Last time White Sox swept a home DH: 5/29/21 vs. Baltimore
Last time Sox were swept in a home DH: 8/15/20 vs. St. Louis
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; won in 1995) and Carlton Fisk (1985).
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 home since the start of 2013.
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 third-best mark in MLB … the Sox lead MLB with a .218 opp. average, rank fourth with a .682 OPS and seventh with a 1.23 WHIP during that span.
A breakdown of White Sox pitching through their fi rst 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
Sox starters own a 3.67 ERA with a .230 opp. average in 47 games since 5/13 … during that span, they lead MLB with an average of 10.14 SO/9.0 IP and rank second in ERA and average.
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.
ON DECK: VS. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
The White Sox conclude the first half with a weekend series vs. the Cardinals … RHP Dylan Cease (3-3, 4.10 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday night’s series opener.
The Sox are 7-11 vs. the National League in 2023 (3-6 at home).
Chicago won two of three in the last series from 5/24-26/21 vs. St. Louis … the White Sox are 15-20 all-time vs. the Cardinals
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 (9th, 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, 3.68), 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 OBP (6th, .279), opponents average (7th), strikeouts (9th), wins (T11th) and ERA (19th).
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.
