Last year’s AL East champion meets the AL Central winner Friday when the Tampa Bay Rays (4-3) visit the Chicago White Sox (4-2). First pitch at Guaranteed Rate Field is 7:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Rays vs. White Sox odds with MLB picks and predictions.
These teams split last year’s regular-season series 3-3 and Chicago won its home series 2-1. The Rays outscored the White Sox 34-24 last season.
Tampa hits the road for the first time this season after dropping 3 of 4 to the Oakland Athletics. The Rays were outscored by the A’s 31-16 in the 4-game set and Tampa’s only victory was by 1 run in extra innings.
Chicago had its 4-game winning streak snapped Thursday by the Seattle Mariners 5-1, but the White Sox have won their first 2 series this season.
Rays at White Sox: Projected starters
Tampa RHP Drew Rasmussen vs. Chicago RHP Dylan Cease
Rasmussen (0-0, 4.50 ERA) earned a no-decision Saturday in Tampa’s 5-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles after going 4 IP, allowing 2 ER on 3 H and 1 BB with 3 K. This is Rasmussen’s first-ever start versus the White Sox.
- 2021 road splits: 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA (43 IP, 10 ER), 0.88 WHIP and 7.7 K/9 over 7 starts and 10 relief appearances.
Cease (1-0, 1.80 ERA) got a win Saturday in Chicago’s 5-2 victory at the Detroit Tigers. In 5 IP, he gave up 1 ER on 2 H and 3 BB with 8 K.
- 2021 home splits: 6-2 with a 3.18 ERA (85 IP, 30 ER), 1.18 WHIP and 12.2 K/9 in 16 starts.
- vs. Rays on the current roster: 4.15 FIP with a .222 batting average, .285 wOBA, .365 expected slugging percentage, 18.2 K% and 96.6 mph exit velocity in 11 plate appearances.
Rays at White Sox odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:02 p.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Rays +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | White Sox -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays +1.5 (-190) | White Sox -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -130 | U: +105)
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Rays at White Sox picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 5, White Sox 4
Money line
GIMME the RAYS (+105) because Tampa at plus-money is too juicy to pass up. The Rays had the fourth-best record as road underdogs last season and the gap between Tampa’s and Chicago’s bullpen is bigger than Cease and Rasmussen.
Tampa’s bullpen is second in both K-BB% and xFIP thus far (according to FanGraphs) and Rasmussen was sensational on the road last season.
Also, most casual baseball fans think the Rays are carried by their pitching but Tampa’s lineup is one of the best in the MLB.
Lastly, this is a Pros vs. Joe’s game in the betting market as more money has been wagered on the Rays but more bets have been placed on the White Sox, according to Tipico Sportsbook. Since the sharps put up more dough than your average Joe, let’s tail the cash column of the market.
BET 1 unit on the RAYS (+105).
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Run line/Against the spread
PASS because Tampa’s 33-11 RL record as road underdogs last season is accurately accounted for in the Rays +1.5 (-190).
Furthermore, Tampa’s alternate RL of -1.5 (+175) is a no-go because the White Sox are one of the best teams in the league, so I’ll stick with the Rays’ ML at plus-money.
Over/Under
PASS because there’s been a sharp line move heading South of the total but both lineups can rake and I don’t see a lot of value in this total. For what it’s worth, the Rays are 3-4 O/U this season and the White Sox are 3-3 O/U.
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