The Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays will take the field on Saturday. First pitch at Tropicana Field is at 4:05 p.m. ET. The Rays are large moneyline favorites and the game total is nine.
Chicago (7-12 SU and 7-12 RL) has dropped five straight series since splitting its series-opening series with Houston. The White Sox will turn to right-hander Dylan Cease (2-0 with a 2.01 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP) on Saturday.
Tampa Bay (16-3 SU and 15-4 RL) has cooled off a bit since starting the season 13-0, splitting its last six overall. The Rays are starting left-hander Shane McClanahan (4-0 with a 1.57 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP).
The White Sox can't seem to generate any momentum, dropping two of three games over and over again. Is Chicago ever going to get out of its own way? A series win over Tampa Bay, while unlikely on paper, would be a catalyst.
Chicago scores 4.37 runs per game (20th) and hits .251 (10th) with a .705 OPS (18th). They've hit 19 home runs (19th) and stolen 14 bases (15th). The White Sox pitching staff has posted a 5.44 ERA (27th) and a 1.57 WHIP (28th) with seven quality starts.
Dylan Cease, Wicked 86mph Slider. ?? pic.twitter.com/ay9MnwCWVk
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 16, 2023
The Southsiders will turn to their ace for a statement win on Saturday. Cease has been nearly unhittable at times this season, giving up just ten hits in four starts (22.1 innings). However, he's coming off his worst outing of the year against Baltimore, when he surrendered four runs (two earned) on six hits and five walks. Will he bounce back tomorrow?