MLB Predictions: Rays vs White Sox Lines
The Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays will face off in the fourth game of a four-game set at U.S. Cellular Field on Monday. The White Sox won game three in the series on Sunday by a score of 9-2, leaving the Rays looking for a win to salvage a split in the series.
Tampa Bay Rays (11-14) at Chicago White Sox (13-13)
Date: Monday, April 28, 2014
Time: 8:10 PM ET
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
City: Chicago, Illinois
O/U Odds: 9
Money Line: Tampa Bay -112, Chicago +102
Pitching Matchup: RH Jake Odorizzi (1-2, 6.52 ERA) at RH Andre Rienzo (1-0, 4.91 ERA)
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The Rays will trot out Jake Odorizzi in this contest. Odorizzi is among the franchise’s stable of solid young arms at only 24-years-old, but he certainly hasn’t looked the part thus far this season. After a strong opener, in which he threw six strong innings against the Rangers, surrendering just three hits while striking out four, Odorizzi has thrown three consecutive poor outings, each resulting in a loss for the Rays.
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Odorizzi’s troubles began with an outing in Kansas City in which he gave up seven runs on 10 hits in just five innings of work. He then lost his next start in Baltimore, giving up three runs over five innings of work.
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He would return home for his next start, which many hoped would get Odorizzi back on the right track, but that wasn’t the case. While he did come away from his next start with a no decision, it was the worst of the bunch, and resulted in a Rays loss. Against the Twins, Odorizzi lasted just 3 1/3 innings, surrendering four runs on five hits while walking three.
Through four starts, Odorizzi’s walked 10 batters in 19 1/3 innings of work, posting a trouble strikeout-walk ratio of 18-10. Now he’ll face a good White Sox team that hasn’t had trouble scoring runs, particularly at home.
The White Sox counter with Andre Rienzo. He showed some promise for the White Sox in his first five starts, going 1-0 with a 3.56 ERA. Things have fallen off for him since then, as he’s posted a 2-3 record with a 6.00 ERA over his last six starts.
Credit his inability to get outs at hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular Field for his downward spiral. In four home starts, Rienzo is 0-2 at home with a 6.75 ERA, while allowing opposing batters to hit for a .314 average.
Neither starting pitcher inspires much confidence, and it’s hard not to notice the uptick in offensive production both sides have gotten of late. The oddsmakers did a good job of setting this line, but we could still see some fireworks in a hitter-friendly ballpark. Don’t be surprised if hitters on both sides use this game as a springboard to boost their numbers.
The over is 10-2 in the White Sox’s last 12 home games versus a right-handed starter, and 19-6-1 in the team’s last 26 games versus a right-handed starter overall.
The play: Over 9
