Are The Tampa Bay Rays Finally Back?
The White Sox vs Rays Odds Have Been Released!
After a three-game sweep over the New York Mets, the Tampa Bay Rays are just one game away from returning to .500.
With a series against the Chicago White Sox coming up next, the Rays are highly likely to get above .500 this week.
The Rays haven’t been nearly as good as in previous seasons. But the good news is that there’s still plenty of baseball left on the schedule to improve. Over the weekend, the Tampa Bay bullpen got much better after pitching poorly throughout the season’s first month. The Rays’ bullpen held the Mets in multiple games to escape with the sweep.
On the other hand, with the White Sox coming to Tropicana Field next, the Rays are in a good position. The White Sox are just 8-26 on the season and won’t even have their best pitcher, Garrett Crochet, throwing in this series.
Therefore, the Rays are currently -180 favorites against the White Sox in Game 1 of the series. The total is also at 7.5, with the Under juiced to -120.
Here’s a full breakdown of the White Sox vs Rays odds for the three-game series.
White Sox vs Rays 
Records: Chicago White Sox (8-26), Tampa Bay Rays (17-18)
Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Day/Time: Streaming: NBCSCH, Bally Sports Sun
Bryan Ramos’ MLB Debut
The White Sox are desperate for positive press. They got some out of top prospect Bryan Ramos.
Ramos had his first MLB hit and RBI in yesterday’s Chicago White Sox win over the St. Louis Cardinals. He got the call earlier in the series after Danny Mendick went to the MLB Injured List. The 22-year-old added a sacrifice fly in his first plate appearance and later got a hit against St. Louis’ reliever John King to help put runners on the corners for the White Sox with no outs.
The White Sox won’t make the playoffs or be very competitive this year. But it’s good to know that the prospects have some potential for Chicago in the future.
Ryan Pepiot’s Leg Bruise
The Rays weren’t going to pitch Ryan Pepiot in the three-game series. But Starling Marte hit him with a line drive in the leg, forcing him to leave the game.
The Rays call it a leg bruise, meaning there are likely no fractures. It probably just really hurts after Marte hit the 7th hardest-hit ball of the MLB season.
White Sox vs Rays Odds For Game 1:
RL: Rays -1.5 (+130) ML: Rays -180, O/U 7.5 +100/-120
Game 1
Monday, 6:50 pm ET
Mike Clevinger vs. Tyler Alexander
It looks like Mike Clevinger will get his first start of the season. Last season, Clevinger allowed a .163 ISO and a wOBA of .316. He also gave up 33.8% of fly balls and only 31.3% of ground balls. Therefore, don’t expect a crazy good outing from Clevinger in his first start of the year in the Majors.
Clevinger will face a Rays lineup that has hit a .168 ISO and wOBA of .289 against righties since last season. Isaac Paredes and Richie Palacios have led the charge. But after those two, the Rays haven’t been consistently offensively against righties.
It also sounds like Tyler Alexander will get the start for the Rays. He’s a lefty who hasn’t pitched well this season. However, he has at least limited walks to 7.2%. Still, opponents have hit a .188 ISO and wOBA of .343 against Alexander this season. He’s also induced only 27.2% of grounders while giving up nearly 36% of fly balls. That’s never a good sign.
On the other hand, the White Sox have hit a .137 ISO and wOBA of .275 against lefties since last season using the projected lineup. Only Robbie Grossman and Tommy Pham have had much success with power numbers and getting on base consistently.
The Rays have more momentum right now. Back the Rays to win Game 1 at -180 with these White Sox vs Rays odds.
Game 2
Tuesday, 6:50 pm ET
Michael Soroka vs. Zach Eflin
Michael Soroka will get the call in Game 2 of the series. Soroka has a 6.48 ERA on the season and has allowed a .237 ISO and wOBA of .379 to 151 batters. He has also walked more than he has struck out this season.
That said, he’s still added 47.8% of ground balls and has only allowed 20.9% of fly balls with 22.6% of line drives. Those numbers are good. He’s just walking too many lefties and not fooling any hitters with super-low strikeouts.
Tampa Bay doesn’t have the most consistent hitters, but every Major League hitter has destroyed Soroka this season.
Soroka will face Zach Eflin, who hasn’t put up his best stuff this season. Eflin has only walked 2.3% of batters but has watched righties hit a .229 ISO and wOBA of .366 against him this year. As a righty, that’s never a good look.
The White Sox might have a little more power against righties, but they’re not getting on base at a high rate. Chicago has also walked only 7% of the time against righties using the projected lineup since last year.
Don’t be afraid to back the Rays in Game 2 of the series, either. We also don’t suggest backing many White Sox MLB prop bets today.
Game 3
Wednesday, 6:50 pm ET
Chris Flexen vs. Aaron Civale
Chris Flexen is penciled in for the start of the series finale. Flexen has struck out just 13.6% of batters this season. He’s also allowed a .356 ISO and wOBA of .379 to lefties, with 43.6% of fly balls and only 30.8% of ground balls induced.
While Soroka could see some progress with his analytics, Flexen’s numbers, especially against lefties, are absolutely terrible. There’s no room for positive regression for Flexen against lefties.
On the other hand, Aaron Civale is coming off a poor performance against the Mets. Civale has allowed a .246 ISO and wOBA of .404 to his first 62 lefties. However, the White Sox have few power lefties that can take advantage of Civale.
We’d much rather back the Rays in the series’ final game. Per our MLB predictions, a win here could give the Rays a second consecutive series sweep.
With the potential sweep, the White Sox, with eight wins, would even be at the bottom of the American League West baseball standings, with three teams below .500, including the Athletics.
For MLB odds, betting analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
