The Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago White Sox meet Saturday in MLB action from Guaranteed Rate Field. Here’s a Chicago White Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays prediction. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
The Rays took on the Detroit Tigers in their last series and had a few issues. Following losses 7-1 and 4-2 in the first pair, Tampa Bay staved off the sweep with a 7-5 win on Wednesday. In the Friday opener versus the Sox, the Rays were out-hit 12-9 in a 9-4 loss. Starting pitcher Zach Eflin put up 6.0 innings with four earned on nine hits and two walks.
In the starting pitcher role for the Saturday matchup, the Rays will send out Aaron Civale. This year in his five starts Civale is 2-2 with a 3.90 ERA and 31 Ks in 27.2 innings. Over his career Civale is 33-28 with a 3.92 ERA in 91 starts.
Chicago White Sox Betting Preview
Over on the White Sox’ side, they played four games versus the Minnesota Twins in their last set. Chicago lost all four of those games 7-0, 6-5, 6-3 and 6-3 again. On Friday versus the Rays, the White Sox scored three runs in the sixth inning alone. Chris Flexen managed 5.0 clean frames in the start with two hits and three walks.
Jonathan Cannon will take the mound for the White Sox’ starting pitcher role on Saturday. This year over his two starts (the first two of his career), Cannon is 0-1 with a 7.27 ERA and eight strikeouts in 8.2 frames.
Rays vs White Sox Injury Notes
Rays LF Johnny DeLuca (hand) started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Thursday.
Chicago White Sox Team Facts
- The home team has won each of the White Sox’s last nine games.
- The White Sox have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight games against American League opponents following a home win.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the White Sox’s last 13 night games against AL East opponents.
- The White Sox have led after 5 innings in four of their last five games as home underdogs against AL East opponents.
- The White Sox have led after 3 innings in four of their last five games as home underdogs against AL East opponents.
Tampa Bay Rays Team Facts
- The underdogs have won each of the Rays’ last four games.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight games as favorites.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rays’ last three road games against AL Central opponents.
- The Rays have trailed after 5 innings in five of their last six games as favorites against American League opponents.
- The Rays have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last three games as favorites against American League opponents.
Chicago White Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction
I’ll stay with the Rays. The line’s too thick to mess with, though. Both pitchers need good bounce-back efforts in their respective starts here. Civale is coming off a loss to the Yankees, giving up five earned on eight hits and five walks in 4.2 innings. In his two starts prior, Civale put up five earned in 11.0 frames. As for Cannon, he took a loss to the Twins on April 22 with six earned on nine hits and a walk in 3.2 innings.
On Friday the Rays had a few rough innings late. The bullpen wasn’t taxed too badly, though. Erasmo Ramirez was the only pitcher to come in after Eflin. Tampa Bay needs to bounce back on the mound Saturday.