The Tampa Bay Rays (18-3) host the Chicago White Sox (7-14) at Tropicana Field on Sunday with the home team eyeing a sweep of the three-game series.
The Rays lead the series 2-0 after winning 4-3 in 10 innings on Saturday. Reliever Garrett Cleavinger was credited with the win after throwing one scoreless inning.
Randy Arozarena went 3 for 5 with a home run and four RBIs in the win. Yandy Diaz went 3 for 4 with two runs. Gavin Sheets was 1 for 1 with a solo home run for the White Sox. Yasmani Grandal added a solo home run.
ON THE MOUND
Lucas Giolito (1-1, 6.00 ERA) is set for the start for Chicago. The righty threw six no-hit innings in his last start, a 3-0 home win over the Phillies on Tuesday.
He was credited with the win, striking out seven and walking one.Giolito is making his first appearance against the Rays this season. Giolito made one start against the Rays in 2022, a 6-5 road victory on June 5.
He surrendered five runs on eight hits over six innings, striking out three and walking two.Righty Zach Eflin (2-0, 3.27 ERA) gets the start for Tampa Bay. It’s his first appearance of the season against the White Sox. In his last start on April 7, Eflin got the win at home against the Athletics. He threw six innings and gave up three runs on nine hits, striking out seven, in the 9-5 victory.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Chicago has averaged 3.8 runs a game, a small drop compared to their season average of 4.4. Against right-handed pitchers like Eflin this season, the Sox have a .711 OPS.
Grandal is the team’s strongest performer against right-handers with a .947 OPS in 47 at-bats. Tampa Bay is averaging only 6.2 runs per game in the last five, down slightly from 6.9 for the season.
The Rays have a .900 OPS against right-handers in 2023, highest in MLB. With a 1.261 OPS over 43 at-bats, Josh Lowe has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Chicago is on a four-game losing streak in road games, bringing their record to 4-8 in 2023. The Sox have scored 4.5 runs per game away from home, while allowing 4.8 runs.
Tampa Bay has won 12 in a row at Tropicana Field. The Rays are 12-0 at home this season, averaging 7.5 runs per game while surrendering 2.5. In the last 10 games between the teams at Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay is 6-4 with an average scoreline of 5.2-3.7.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The White Sox are fourth in the AL Central, four games behind the division-leading Twins. The Rays lead the AL East by four games over the Orioles.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
TB Rays (-165)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
