Rays vs Sox Series Preview: Can ChiSox Win a Game?
White Sox Off to Dreadful Start to MLB Season
The Tampa Bay Rays visit the Chicago White Sox for a three-game series starting Friday. So far this season, the White Sox have practically been guaranteed wins for the opposition. The White Sox enter the game with a 3-22 record, easily the worst in Major League Baseball. The pitching has been bad, but the offense has been worse.
The Rays are 13-13 on the season but have played 17 of their 26 games at home. Tampa will have to win on the road to stay competitive in the tough AL East. Oddsmakers like their chances tonight, as the Rays vs Sox series preview shows Tampa -235 in the opener with a total of 7.5-under (-112).
Tampa Bay’s offense has been average this season. The Rays are No. 15 in team batting with a .244 average. Tampa Bay doesn’t hit for power and the team is tied for last with 62 walks. As a result, the Rays are No. 25 in on-base percentage. The Rays have some decent bats, but they’re not all producing.
The pitching staff is no longer one of the best in baseball due to players leaving. The starting rotation is still pretty solid, with four starters having ERAs of 3.90 or less, but the bullpen has been shaky. The relief pitchers have a 5.31 ERA, which is why Tampa Bay is No. 24 in team ERA at 4.40.
Chicago’s offense is the worst in MLB. The White Sox have scored just 56 runs in 25 games and are hitting .192 as a team. Chicago is at the bottom in the majority of the MLB’s hitting stats. The pitching staff hasn’t been quite as bad, which isn’t saying much. The White Sox are No. 29 in team ERA at 5.26. Only the Colorado Rockies are worse.
Rays vs White Sox 
Records: Tampa Bay Rays (13-13), Chicago White Sox (3-22)
Day/Time:
Location: Guaranteed Rate Field, in Chicago, IL
Streams: Apple TV+
Friday’s Game
The MLB pitching matchups show Zach Eflin and Chris Flexen as the starters for this game. Eflin hasn’t pitched badly, with Tampa 2-3 in his five starts. He has a 3.68 ERA and is coming off strong back-to-back efforts. He hasn’t allowed a run over 12 1/3 innings in those two starts.
After a couple of strong seasons in Seattle, Flexen began to unravel last year. After a slow start, the Mariners shipped him to Colorado, where he struggled. His starts have been awful for the White Sox, who are 0-3 when he takes the mound. He came out of the bullpen in his last two appearances and showed signs of putting things together, allowing one run in 6 1/3 innings.
If Flexen can regain a bit of his form, he’ll help the Chicago rotation, although it’s the offense that needs the most help. A team struggling offensively like the White Sox makes it almost impossible to bet on. The play that makes the most sense here is the under 8.5 and hope Flexen builds on his time in the bullpen.
It’s not strong enough to use as one of your best MLB bets today, but there is a bit of value there.
Saturday’s Game
The Rays vs Sox series preview shows Aaron Civale and Jonathan Cannon as the scheduled starters. The Rays are going to be big favorites in this game. Civale is having a decent season so far and Tampa Bay is 3-2 in his five starts. He was uncharacteristically wild last outing, walking five batters in a loss to the Yankees.
Cannon had a pretty solid debut against Kansas City, allowing one run in five innings. He was roughed up some by Minnesota on his last trip to the mound, so he has some unsightly numbers. Which Cannon shows up here is the big question in this game and makes this one of the tougher pitching matchups to gauge.
Civale is pretty steady, but it’s hard to measure Cannon at the moment.
The Rays are going to be huge favorites in this game. Until the Chicago bats show some life, it’s either fade it or take the under. Laying -235 against a team is not easy. However, the ChiSox are just 2-9 at home.
Sunday’s Game
The Rays vs Sox series preview shows Zack Littell and Erick Fedde as the scheduled starters for the finale. Littell is coming off his worst start of the season, but he has been decent for the Rays. Tampa Bay is 2-3 when he starts, with the bullpen giving one game away.
He has a 3.33 ERA and has been better on the road, with a 1.93 ERA, one of the better marks in the MLB today’s games.
Fedde has pitched well but received no help from the offense or the bullpen. He allowed three hits and one run in six innings last start while fanning 11. The relief pitchers allowed five runs in three innings and the White Sox lost 6-5.
This season, Fedde has a 2.73 ERA, but Chicago is 1-4 when he starts. He’s had one rough start this season but has been solid in the others. His ERA at home is just 1.74.
The total on this one will likely be low, but the under is the most sensible play. Both pitchers have thrown their best in today’s location and runs should be hard to come by.
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