Tampa Bay Rays (21-5) vs. Chicago White Sox (7-19)
April 28, 2023 7:10 pm EDT
The Line: Chicago White Sox +110 / Tampa Bay Rays -141; Over/Under: +8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago White Sox meet Friday in MLB action from Guaranteed Rate Field. This will be the second installment in a four-game weekend series. In the Thursday opener, Tampa Bay took a blowout win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays took on the Astros this week, winning Monday before dropping the other pair. On Thursday versus Chicago, Tampa Bay scored five runs in the sixth inning during a 14-5 blowout win. Starter Shane McClanahan put up 5.0 innings with two earned, five hits and two walks.
For the starter job in the Friday game the Rays will go with Zach Eflin. In his three starts this year Eflin is 3-0 with a 2.81 ERA and 16 Ks in 16.0 innings. Eflin has a career record of 39-45 with a 4.45 ERA in 130 games (118 starts).
Chicago White Sox
Over on the White Sox’ side, they played the Blue Jays in their last series and lost in a three-game sweep. On Thursday Chicago was out-hit 16-11 in the blowout defeat. Starter Dylan Cease put up 4.0 innings with six earned on nine hits and two walks.
Lucas Giolito will take the starting role on Friday for Chicago. In his five starts so far Giolito is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 28.0 frames. Over his career Giolito is 54-49 with a 4.34 ERA in 152 games (150 starts).
The Rays are 20-6 in their last 26 overall and 6-2 in their last eight in game two of a series. The over is 4-1-1 in Tampa Bay’s last six Friday games.
Meanwhile, the Sox are 7-19 in their last 26 overall and 7-19 in their last 26 versus the AL East. Chicago is 0-4 in their last four Friday games.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably stay with the Rays here. Eflin is off to a solid start this year, and he’s posted 16.0 innings with five earned on 15 combined hits and a walk over his last three outings. All three of those were victories as well. Giolito is coming off four earned in 7.0 innings in a loss to the Rays during his last outing; he should post a decent start here as well. In the opener on Thursday, Tampa Bay had three very big innings and scored in six of nine frames in total. Another performance anywhere near that in game two and the Rays will be in great shape.
