The Chicago White Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Sunday in MLB action from Tropicana Field. This will be the final installment in a three-game weekend series. The Rays eked out a win in the opener, then on Saturday Tampa Bay kept it going with another close victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox had a 7-4 lead at one point during the Friday opener of this series but ended up losing 8-7. On Saturday Chicago tied it up in the eighth but eventually lost 4-3 in 10 innings. Starter Dylan Cease managed 4.0 innings, three earned, six hits and a walk.
As starter for the Sunday finale, the White Sox are sending out Lucas Giolito. In his four starts so far Giolito is 1-1 with a 4.29 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 21.0 innings. Giolito is 54-48 with a 4.33 ERA in 151 career games (149 starts).
Tampa Bay Rays
Over on the Rays’ side, they got a walk-off home run from Brandon Lowe in the Friday game to cap the comeback rally. On Saturday Tampa Bay got a walk-off single from Randy Arozarena. Shane McClanahan put up 6.0 innings in the start with two earned, three hits, a walk and 10 Ks.
For the starter job in the Sunday game, the Rays are going with Zach Eflin. This year Eflin has two starts under his belt; he’s 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA and 12 Ks in 11.0 innings. Eflin is 38-45 with a 4.47 ERA in his career across 129 games (117 starts).
The White Sox are 2-5 in their last seven on turf and 0-7 in their last seven in game three of a series. The over is 12-5-2 in Chicago’s last 19 overall.
Meanwhile, the Rays are 6-0 in their last six in game three of a series and 40-15 in their last 55 at home. Tampa Bay is 43-18 in their last 61 on turf.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I might take a stab on the White Sox in this one. Giolito has bounced back well since giving up seven earned on 12 hits in 4.0 innings versus the Pirates on April 7. In his last two starts Giolito has just one earned on five hits and three walks over 12.0 combined innings. In the Saturday game the White Sox had a measly five hits and played from behind most of the way. That said, a few more offensive opportunities could go a long way in the finale.