OK, OK, it’s a day late so the stats below are a little off, but there’s not excuse not to give Lucas some love for winning AL Player of the Week, marking a second straight win for the red-hot White Sox (José Abreu).
Given his start last night, Giolito will not be going back-to-back in PoW wins, but that just leaves more room for another White Sox player to take the honors. Luis Robert? Dallas Keuchel? James McCann?
Here’s the full White Sox release:
LUCAS GIOLITO NAMED AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CHICAGO – Chicago White Sox right-handed pitcher Lucas Giolito has been named American League Player of the Week for the period of August 24-30, his third career American League honor.
Giolito, 26, threw the 19th no-hitter in White Sox history, and the first of the 2020 season, on August 25 vs. Pittsburgh. He issued just one walk, matched his career high with 13 strikeouts, faced one more than the minimum and induced 30 swing-and-misses in the 4-0 win over the Pirates. The 13 strikeouts were the most by a Sox pitcher in a no-hitter, and the 30 swing-and-misses were the most in a no-hitter since Hall-of-Famer Nolan Ryan in 1990.
Giolito is 3-2 with a 3.09 ERA, 58 strikeouts (11.95 K/9), .180 opponents average, 1.01 WHIP and just three home runs allowed in seven starts this season. He has held the opposition scoreless in three outings, allowed four hits or less five times and struck out nine or more four times (including a career-high 13, twice).
Giolito ranks among the 2020 AL leaders in strikeouts (second), strikeouts per 9.0 IP (second), opponents slugging percentage (second, .273), opponents average (fourth), opponents OPS (fourth, .544), home runs per 9.0 IP (fifth, .062), WHIP (seventh) and ERA (10th, 3.09). His 58 strikeouts are the second-most in baseball behind Cleveland’s Shane Bieber (75).
Giolito also was named AL Pitcher of the Month for May 2019 and AL Pitcher of the Week for May 27-June 2, 2019. He joins José Abreu, who was named AL Player of the Week for August 17-23, as White Sox award winners this season.
The White Sox hadn’t won back-to-back Players of the Week since April 16-29, 2012, when Philip Humber and Paul Konerko won in consecutive weeks. Humber had thrown his perfect game as part of a week’s run of one earned run in 14 ⅓ innings and 16 strikeouts, while Konerko hit .435 with three homers and a 1.457 OPS.