It’s a battle of American League teams on the diamond as they open up a weekend series down in the Sunshine State. The Chicago White Sox are on the road as they kick off a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays Friday evening. Chicago dropped the rubber game of their three-game interleague set with the Phillies at home as they fell 5-2 Wednesday afternoon. Tampa Bay rolled to an 8-0 win over Cincinnati on the road in the rubber game of their three-game series Wednesday afternoon. Last season, the White Sox won the season series by a 5-1 margin, including taking two of three at Tropicana Field in the most recent series between the teams June 3-5, 2022.
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Chicago dropped two of three to the Phillies at home as they were unable to get much going offensively in the series finale Wednesday afternoon. The White Sox entered Thursday 7-12 on the season and stood fourth in the AL Central, 4.5 games behind the Twins for the top spot in the division. On Wednesday, Chicago finished with six hits in the game with Andrew Vaughn (run, two RBI) the lone player with two in the contest. Vaughn hit his first homer of the season in the opening inning to give the White Sox a 2-1 lead only to go scoreless the rest of the way. Mike Clevinger (2-1) took the loss on the mound as he allowed three runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout over three innings of work.
Michael Kopech is on the mound for the White Sox as he makes his fourth start of the season in this contest. He comes in 0-2 with a 6.32 ERA, a 1.66 WHIP, 10 walks and 14 strikeouts while allowing a league -high seven homers in 15.2 innings of work this season. Kopech didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came against the Orioles at home Saturday. He threw five innings, allowing three runs on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts in a game the White Sox rallied to win 7-6 in 10 innings. Kopech didn’t factor in the decision in his lone career start against the Rays, which came at home on April 16, 2022. He threw five innings, allowing one run (none earned) on one hit with two walks and five strikeouts in a game Chicago won 3-2. In his 77th career major league appearance and 37th start, Kopech pitches at Tropicana Field for the first time here.