Two teams in the thick of the crowded American League wild card race get together when the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox conclude a three-game series. Chicago looks to regain the momentum of a recent seven-game winning streak while the Rays go in search of a road win, which have been hard to come by lately.
ODDS ANALYSIS
A seven-game winning streak got the White Sox back into the hunt for an AL wild card and reversed the club’s thinking around the trade deadline. The Sox were strongly rumored to be sellers but their hot streak turned things around when the team got within three games of the second wild card spot thanks to a rejuvenated offense. The Sox did all their damage during their win streak on the road against last place teams Cleveland and Boston. They returned home over the weekend and lost two of three games to the first place Yankees, dropping three of four overall following their season-best win streak. Improved play in their own yard would help the Sox obtain that last wild card spot. Chicago enters this series just one game over .500 at 25-24 down 2.46 units on the moneyline at U.S. Cellular Field. The Sox also struggled with Tampa Bay earlier this season, getting swept in a three-game series in Florida with aces Chris Sale and Jeff Samardzjia making starts
PITCHING MATCHUP
Erasmo Ramirez (8-4, 3.61 ERA) was done in by some shaky defense in his last outing. He went six innings Friday against the Red Sox and came away with a no-decision after allowing four runs – one earned – on five hits, walking two and striking out six. Ramirez departed with the lead but his bullpen couldn’t hold it and eventually lost the game 7-5.
He hasn’t allowed a run over eight career innings versus the White Sox with both appearances coming as a member of the Seattle Mariners.
Carlos Rodon (4-4, 4.84 ERA) finished with the shortest start of his rookie season in his last outing, allowing a career-high eight runs over three-plus innings against the Yankees. He walked four and threw three wild pitches as he struggled with his command. Rodon has shown the ability to bounce back posting a 1.45 ERA in three starts following games where he surrendered five or more runs.
Rodon will make his first career appearance against the Rays.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“We’ve kind of weathered the storm, and we’re probably stronger for doing it. When you weather it together, it’s a team game. It’s individual when you get to the plate but there’s something else going on when it becomes a team game and everybody feels like they’re contributing.” – White Sox manage Robin Ventura
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
After White Sox hitters struggled to find their offensive identity in the first half of the season, their patience is finally being rewarded at the plate. In the 10 games prior to Sunday’s loss to the Yankees, the Sox scored 70 runs. They began the month last in the Majors in runs scored but moved up four spots during those 10 games. The Sox also won eight of those 10 during that offensive surge, moving to third in the AL Central and in position to realistically reach a wild card in the suddenly crowded AL race. The contributions are coming from everywhere with center fielder Adam Eaton ending the week with an 11-game hitting streak and first baseman Jose Abreu on a 13-game run.
PROP TALK
Adam Eaton has been a major contributor to the White Sox offensive renaissance and recent win streak and was awarded with the AL Player of the Week award along with teammate Jose Abreu. Eaton hit .517 with 15 hits in 29 at-bats, collecting three doubles, a triple, a home run, four RBIs, 10 runs scored and three stolen bases through Sunday’s games. His numbers were representative of the White Sox turnaround offensively. Eaton entered Monday’s action with an 11-game hitting streak and had a scored a run in 10 straight games. Eaton has never faced Ramirez but has had plenty of success against the Rays with a .326 career average in 12 games.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
It’s easy to forget about the Tampa Bay Rays. They don’t have big name stars or outrageous contracts. They don’t get the national headlines or play in front of sold out crowds at the Trop. But they do win their share of ball games and are also in the middle of the wild card race with a better record than the White Sox. Chicago has picked up the pace lately and looks like the team many expected they’d be. And, although rookie Carlos Rodon has been inconsistent, he hasn’t had back-to-back terrible outings and the Rays don’t have the most potent offense.
Chicago 4, Tampa Bay 2
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Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! First pitch for the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, 2015, at 2:10 p.m. ET at U.S. Cellular Field. The game will be televised live on CSN.
