The Tampa Bay Rays (43-24) meet the Chicago White Sox (41-25) for the second game of their three-game set Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Rays vs. White Sox odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Tampa starting RHP Tyler Glasnow turned the series opener over to his bullpen in the fifth inning and the Rays relievers pitched five scoreless frames in Tampa’s 5-2 victory over Chicago Monday.
Season series: Rays lead 1-0.
LHP Shane McClanahan is on the rubber for the Rays. McClanahan is 2-1 with a 4.54 ERA (33 2/3 IP, 17 ER), 1.37 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 11.2 K/9 across 8 starts.
- Last outing: No-decision with 3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 3 BB and 4 K in Tampa Bay’s 9-7 loss to the Washington Nationals Wednesday.
- No career appearances vs. White Sox.
LHP Dallas Keuchel makes his 14th start for the White Sox. Keuchel is 5-1 with a 4.14 ERA (71 2/3 IP, 33 ER), 1.30 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9 and 5.1 K/9 this year.
- Last outing: Win, 5-2, with 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB and 8 K Thursday vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.
- vs. Rays on the current roster: 40 at-bats with a .225/.279/.425 slash line, 10/3 K/BB, 2 HR and 3 RBIs.
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Rays at White Sox odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:03 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Rays -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | White Sox -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rays -1.5 (+155) | White Sox +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under: 8 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Prediction
Rays 6, White Sox 3
Money line (ML)
GIMME the RAYS (+100) FIRST 5 INNINGS for 1 unit because I favor Tampa in the starting pitching matchup and the Rays have the best road record in the majors (24-10) with the highest margin of victory on the road.
Chicago’s projected starting lineup has six right-handed hitters and three switch-hitters who’ll bat righty since McClanahan is a lefty. However, McClanahan actually pitches better vs. righties than lefties.
In fact, McClanahan has a .317 opponent’s wOBA, 32.9% hard-hit rate and 21.7% K-BB% against right-handed hitters compared to a .435 opponent’s wOBA, 50.0% hard-hit rate and 18.5% K-BB% vs. lefties.
Furthermore, McClanahan is a highly-touted prospect from a Rays organization that’s known for developing talent.
For instance, McClanahan is Tampa Bay’s ninth-ranked prospect, a 2018 first-round draft pick and grades in the 79th percentile in K%, 82nd percentile in chase rate, and 96th percentile in whiff rate.
Also, Keuchel’s advanced pitching numbers vs. current Tampa hitters are subpar. Keuchel has a 4.69 FIP, .395 expected opponent’s wOBA, .560 expected slugging percentage and a 91.4 mph exit velocity in 44 plate appearances against Rays on the current roster.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
PASS since I don’t like Tampa Bay enough to take Rays -1.5 (+155) despite that being a really chunky payout.
Over/Under (O/U)
“LEAN” to the OVER 4 (-135) FIRST 5 INNINGS for a half unit because the Rays have a 22-10-2 O/U record on the road this season and, despite taking a flyer on McClanahan in this outing, the White Sox’s lineup is the best vs. left-handed pitching across most advanced hitting categories.
The reason for backing the OVER 4 (-135) FIRST 5 INNINGS instead of the full game total is because Chicago’s bullpen has the best WAR in the majors and Tampa’s has the fifth-best.
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