The Tampa Bay Rays (20-5) take one of the most productive offenses in the league on the road to face the Chicago White Sox (7-18) at Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday to open a four-game series.
The Rays just wrapped up a successful six-game homestand (4-2). They won only one out of three in their last series against the Astros, dropping the finale 1-0 on Wednesday at Tropicana Field.
Manuel Margot had the only hits for Tampa Bay, going 2 for 3. The White Sox are back home for a seven-game homestand after returning from a winless six-game road trip.
They are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Blue Jays, dropping the finale 8-0 on Wednesday at Rogers Centre for their seventh straight loss. Romy Gonzalez went 1 for 2.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Rays have won all three games this season between the teams, including a 4-1 victory in their most recent meeting on Sunday at Tropicana Field. Zach Eflin got the win, allowing one run on three hits over five innings, and Pete Fairbanks earned his third save with a scoreless ninth.
ON THE MOUND
Shane McClanahan (4-0, 1.86 ERA) is slated to start for Tampa Bay. The left-hander is tied for second in the AL in wins and fifth in both ERA and strikeouts (37). McClanahan takes on the White Sox for the second successive start.
He allowed two runs over six innings on Saturday, a 4-3 road win. He yielded three hits while striking out 10 and walking one in the no-decision.
RHP Dylan Cease (2-0, 2.73 ERA) will take the mound for Chicago. His only prior start against the Rays this season was his last outing, when Cease gave up three runs over four innings in a 4-3 road defeat on Saturday. He gave up six hits and walked one, while striking out five in the no-decision.
AT THE PLATE
The Tampa Bay offense is averaging 6.3 runs per game for the season, second best in the league, with a slash line of .276/.349/.509. Four Rays hitters have an OPS of .800 or better, led by Randy Arozarena (.996).
The center fielder is slashing .348/.412/.584 with five home runs, 24 RBIs, and 18 runs over 24 games. Over the last five games, though, Tampa Bay has averaged only 3.2 runs a game while performing worse across the board (.222/.285/.354).
Against righties like Cease this season, the Rays have an .842 OPS, highest in the league. Yandy Diaz is the team’s most productive hitter against right-handers with a 1.056 OPS in 62 at-bats.
Chicago is slashing .228/.287/.365 for the season and averaging 3.8 runs per game. Yasmani Grandal leads the team with a .785 OPS.
The first baseman has two home runs, seven RBIs, and six runs scored with a slash line of .257/.342/.443. Chicago is averaging only 1.2 runs per game in the last five with their slash line dropping across the board (.122/.165/.199). The Sox have a .662 OPS against southpaws in 2023. With a 1.139 OPS over 19 at-bats, Luis Robert Jr. has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Tampa Bay is 6-3 on the road in 2023, scoring 6.1 runs per game while allowing 3.3 runs. Chicago has gone 3-6 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 4.3 runs per game while surrendering 7.0.
The teams have split their last 10 games at Guaranteed Rate Field, though Tampa Bay has the scoring advantage with an average final margin of 5.0-3.1.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Rays lead the AL East by three games over the Orioles. The White Sox are fourth in the AL Central, seven games behind the Twins.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
TB Rays (-155)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
