Rays vs White Sox Prediction
Two of the best teams in the American League will complete their three-game series on Wednesday at 2:30 PM EST, as we look forward to another Rays vs White Sox match-up.
The Chicago White Sox came into the series on a four-game winning streak before dropping the series opener to the Rays 5-2 on Monday. Tuesday saw them rebound back, and the Rays own four-game winning streak in their 3-0 win on Tuesday.
The Tampa Bay Rays are playing like a team with aspirations to return to the World Series for the second year in a row. With a Major League-best 43-24 record, they look even better than they did in their run to the World Series last year.
The Rays have a 24-10 road record and have won 24 of their last 29 overall.
No team has been as statistically dominant as the Tampa Bay Rays this season, ranking sixth in runs per game at just under 5 per contest and ranking first in pitching WHIP (1.10). In addition to that, their sixth in ERA (3.27) and first by far in defensive saves on the season at 57. No other team is above 36.
The Chicago White Sox are atop the AL Central with a 41-25 record and have won eight of their last 11 games, after splitting the first two games of this series. The White Sox are now MLB‘s fifth-highest scoring team averaging five runs per game, and leads all MLB with an insane +103 run differential.
Last year’s AL MVP Jose Abreu continues to be the biggest factor for the White Sox with 11 home runs and 49 RBI, which lead the team.
With that insane run differential and high runs per game, the White Sox are comparable in statistical dominance to the Rays. They also boast the fourth-best ERA in the MLB with a 3.20.
Two of the best teams in the American League will complete their three-game series on Wednesday, as we look forward to another Rays vs White Sox match-up.Pitching Matchup
The pitching matchup in this one will see Lucas Giolito take the mound for the White Sox vs Ryan Yarbrough of the Rays.
Giolito is 5-5 on the year with a 3.81 ERA. Ryan Yarbrough holds a 4-3 record, boasting an ERA of 3.63, showing to be similar statistically to Giolito this season.
The White Sox have not done so well with Giolito at the mound in his last 8 home starts vs. teams over .500. The White Sox are 1-7 in those games with Giolito and hope to improve on that in this start. However, Giolito has started 3 games vs. the Rays in his career and is 1-0, and holds an ERA of 1.61.
Yarbrough is coming off a start versus the Orioles, where he allowed two runs and three hits over 6 innings pitched where he notched his fourth win of the season in a 4-2 victory for the Rays. He hopes to continue the winning ways in this one and continue to get the run support.
Offensively, the Rays will look to the bats of Austin Meadows, Randy Arozarena, and Joey Wendle.
Austin Meadows leads the team with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs. Joey Wendle tops the team with a batting average of .291.
The White Sox will lean on 2020 MVP Jose Abreu, as well as shortstop Tim Anderson who leads the team with a batting average of .302.
Nick Madrigal was leading the team prior to being placed on 60-day IL. Yasmani Grandal will also look to bring some runners across home plate, as he has 10 homers and 23 RBIs on the year.
Prediction
Both of these teams are playing phenomenal baseball, so this really could go either way. So with that being said, I would take the Rays at the plus value in this one. Their ML is placed at +120, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. They should be able to continue bringing runs across home plate, and I think this one will be a higher scoring affair.
The over/under at 8 runs makes the over look like a good value at -110.
Final Picks: Rays ML (+120), 8 Runs (-110)
*0dds via DraftKings Sportsbook
