Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox Picks and Prediction for Thursday, September 11
It’s the conclusion of a series on the diamond between a pair of American League foes in the Windy City as the Tampa Bay Rays play the final game of a three-game set with the Chicago White Sox Thursday afternoon and we break it down for you with our Rays vs. White Sox prediction. In the opening game of the series Tuesday night, Tampa Bay picked up a 5-4 victory to draw first blood in the series. Will Tampa Bay take the finale on the South Side of the Windy City or can the White Sox defend their home field? This article was posted prior to the conclusion of the middle game of the set at Rate Field Wednesday night. Don’t go down on strikes! Increase your bankroll with our MLB Betting Picks! Read more about this Rays vs. White Sox prediction!
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Rays Battling to Stay in Wild Card Chase
Tampa Bay snapped a three-game skid as they took the opening game of the set Tuesday night. The Rays entered Tuesday 72-72 and stood fourth in the AL East, 11 games behind the Blue Jays for the top spot. They were 4.5 games behind Seattle for the final wild-card spot in the American League playoff picture. On Tuesday, Tampa Bay finished with seven hits as no player had more than one. Ronnie Palacios (his first), Josh Lowe (his 11th) and Tristan Gray (his third) each went deep in the contest. Adrian Houser threw 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with no walks and nine strikeouts, but didn’t factor in the decision. Kevin Kelly (2-3) got the final out of the sixth to earn the win in relief. Pete Fairbanks worked a scoreless ninth, allowing no hits with no walks or strikeouts, for his 25th save.
Ian Seymour takes the ball for his 16th appearance, third start, of the season for the Rays in the series finale. He is 3-1 with a 2.89 ERA, a 1.098 WHIP, 12 walks and 47 strikeouts over 37.1 innings of work this season. Seymour took the loss in his last outing, which came against the Guardians at home Friday night. He threw four innings, allowing five runs (one earned) on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts in a 7-1 Rays loss. In his last three appearances, two starts, Seymour is 2-1 with a 1.29 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, four walks and 21 strikeouts over 14 innings of work. Seymour didn’t factor in the decision in his lone career appearance against the White Sox, which came at home July 23. He threw 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing two hits with no walks or strikeouts in an 11-9 Rays defeat. Seymour, in his 16th career appearance, third start, pitches at Rate Field for the first time here.
Chicago Looking to Prevail in Series Finale
Chicago battled but fell short in the series opener against Tampa Bay at home Tuesday night. The White Sox entered Wednesday 55-90 on the year and stood in the basement of the AL Central, 28 games behind the Tigers for the top spot. They have been eliminated from playoff contention. Against Tampa Bay on Tuesday, Chicago banged out seven hits as Lenyn Sosa (run) was the lone player with two in the contest. Kyle Teel (his seventh) homered in the contest for the White Sox. Yoendrys Gomez threw five innings, allowing four runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts, but didn’t factor in the decision. Tyler Alexander (5-14) took the loss as he allowed one run on one hit with no walks and two strikeouts in 1.1 innings of relief.
Shane Smith is on the mound for the White Sox as he makes his 26th start of the season in this contest. He is 5-7 with a 3.95 ERA, a 1.197 WHIP, 52 walks and 118 strikeouts over 125.1 innings of work on the season. Smith earned the win in his last start, which came against the Tigers on the road Friday night. He threw five innings, allowing four runs on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts in a 7-5 Chicago win. In his last three starts, Smith is 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA, a 0.709 WHIP, five walks and 16 strikeouts over 18.1 innings of work. Smith, in his 26th career major league start, pitches against the Rays for the first time here. He makes his 13th career start at Rate Field in this contest. Smith is 2-3 with a 3.26 ERA, a 1.055 WHIP, 24 walks and 53 strikeouts over 60.2 innings of work in those outings.
Rays vs. White Sox Pick
Moneyline Pick for Rays vs. White Sox
- Rays (4 units)
Chicago has played good ball over the last week-plus, though it won’t matter in the grand scheme of things as they are eliminated from playoff contention. The White Sox are reduced to playing spoiler but their pitching is in a bit of disarray at this stage of the season. Tampa Bay managed to take the opening game of this series on the strength of three homers and they have a more complete lineup to lean on in support of their pitcher. Smith keeps Chicago in the game but the Rays are the better team at this stage as they pull out the victory here to secure a series victory before traveling crosstown to face the Cubs over the weekend.
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Over/Under Pick for Rays vs. White Sox
- Under (4 units)
Tampa Bay has seen the under post a 73-62-9 mark on the season entering Wednesday night. The Rays are tied for 13th with 4.51 runs per game, a number that slips to 4.37 runs per game on the road. Tampa Bay allows 4.12 runs per game, giving them an average total of 8.63 runs per game. That number falls to 8.43 runs per game away from home on the year. Chicago went into Wednesday having seen the under post a 68-69-8 mark in their first 145 games of the season. The White Sox are 26th in the majors in runs per game as they average 4.04 runs per contest. They have an average total of 8.64 runs per game on the season. At home this season, Chicago is 24th in the big leagues with 4.03 runs per contest at home and an average total of 8.56 runs per contest. Both pitchers have been solid at holding opposing teams in check and neither lineup sets the world on fire. Take the under in this contest as a result.
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