The Tampa Bay Rays will head north to face the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. WGN will be showing this AL matchup and the first pitch will be at 2:10 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Tampa Bay (+100) as the underdog to Chicago (-120). The total sits at eight runs and bettors can take the over for +100 and the under for -120. Bettors can also wager on the games runline with the most recent odds sitting at Rays -1.5 runs (-145) and White Sox +1.5 runs (+135).
The Rays are just 1-8 SU and have gone 5-3 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 5.5 units for moneyline gamblers over the early part of the season, despite having gained 1.1 units ATS. The White Sox are 3-5 SU and 2-5 ATS. The team has lost 0.5 units for moneyline bettors and 3.8 units ATS.
White Sox games have an over/under record of 3-4 so far in 2018. Tampa Bay has an over/under record of 4-4.
The Rays have lost 4.0 units and are 2-2 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in two of those games, as opposed to two that’ve gone under against righty starters. On the other hand, the White Sox have netted 0.5 units and are 1-3 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The overs hit in one of those games, compared to three which went under the total.
The right-handed Chris Archer (0-0, 6.55 ERA) will get the nod for Tampa Bay. Archer recorded 249 strikeouts across 201 innings last year (34 starts) while finishing the season 10-12 overall with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He made two starts against Chicago in 2017 and compiled a 0-2 record against the White Sox with a 5.14 ERA and 11 strikeouts.
The White Sox will put the ball in the hands of righty Miguel Gonzalez (0-1, 9.00 ERA), who started 27 games last year and finished the season 8-13 overall with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.
As a unit, Chicago’s pitchers have yielded 5.9 runs per game overall this season. The clubs starters have an ERA of 4.73, a WHIP of 1.25 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 5.1. The bullpen has a 7.11 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 9.6 K/9.
Chicago’s offense has put up 4.6 runs per outing, including 3.4 per game over its last five. The team has hit .237/.321/.396 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that span.
Matt Davidson and Tim Anderson have led the White Sox offense so far. Davidson is slashing .250/.400/.714 with seven hits, eight RBIs and nine runs scored, while Anderson’s line is .276/.364/.586 with eight hits, four RBIs, seven runs and five steals.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .257/.276/.402, Anderson didn’t seem to enjoy batting against right-handed pitching at home last year, producing .210/.238/.332 across 214 plate appearances.
In the visiting dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 5.4 runs per game and its starters own a 6.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 7.25 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.78, along with a K/9 of 7.68.
The Rays offense has slashed .201/.274/.295 on its way to 3.0 runs scored per game this year, including over the teams last five contests (0-5 SU).
Second baseman Daniel Robertson and second baseman Joey Wendle have led Tampa Bay’s hitters. Robertson is slashing .333/.556/.417 with four hits, zero RBIs and four runs scored, while Wendle is slashing .333/.316/.556 with six hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Rays went 3-3 SU against the White Sox in 2017.
- The White Sox have lost five of their last six games SU,
- The White Sox bullpen recorded an ERA of 2.75 against the Rays last year.
