The Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox will play Thursday at Guaranteed Rate Field. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay (20-4 SU and 17-7 RL) is the hottest team in baseball after nearly a month of games. The Rays will look to continue their torrid pace tomorrow in Chicago with their starting pitcher TBD.
Chicago (7-17 SU and 9-15 RL) has to find a way to climb back into the AL Central race after a disappointing start to the 2023 season. The White Sox hope to rebound with right-hander Dylan Cease (2-0 with a 2.73 ERA and 1.18 WHIP) on the mound.
Catcher Yasmani Grandal (back spasms) is questionable to play. The Southsiders are already playing without third baseman Yoán Moncada, who is on the IL with lower back soreness, shortstop Tim Anderson, who is on t he IL with a knee sprain, and infielder Hanser Alberto, who is out indefinitely with a quad strain.
The Rays are -145 moneyline favorites and the game total is 7.
Tampa Bay has been the class of the American League in 2023, winning 13 straight to start the season and 7 of the following 11 games. It's been long enough to give this team the credit it deserves. The question is, how will the Rays respond after a losing streak?
Tampa averages 6.54 runs per game (2nd) and hits .282 (1st) with a .879 OPS (1st). It's leading the big leagues in home runs (48) and is 13th in stolen bases (18). LF Randy Arozarena leads the ballclub in hits (31), batting average (.348), OBP (.412), and RBI (24), while 1B Yandy Diaz paces the team in home runs (six). The TB pitching staff has posted a 2.82 ERA (1st) and a 1.06 WHIP (1st) with nine quality starts.
Dawg's not afraid to get a little dirty ?? pic.twitter.com/LMhcnTTJ2B
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 25, 2023
The Rays have not determined who they will start in the series opener. They will likely have a bullpen day, and, given the strength of their pen (2.66 ERA and 1.05 WHIP), that isn't such a bad plan. Tampa Bay called up right-hand pitcher Zack Burdi on Wednesday, indicating the 28-year-old could be in line for some work tomorrow.