The Chicago White Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays meet in MLB action from Tropicana Field on Friday.
Odds
Tampa Bay is listed as a -165 home favorite while the White Sox are +140 road underdogs. The total for this game is set at 8.5 runs.
Starting Pitching Matchup
Michael Kopech will start for the White Sox here and is 0-2 with a 6.32 ERA and 14 strikeouts this season. Tampa Bay will send Calvin Faucher for the start and he’s 0-0 with a 4.15 ERA and 6 strikeouts this season.
Matchup History
Chicago’s 6-5 win back on June 5th, 2022, made it back-to-back wins for the White Sox in this head-to-head matchup.
Trends
Chicago is 2-6 in their last 8 games overall and 1-4 in their last 5 games against a team with a winning record while the under is 3-0-1 in their last 4 road games. Tampa Bay is 39-15 in their last 54 home games and 16-5 in their last 21 games overall while the over is 5-0-1 in their last 6 games against a team with a winning percentage below .400.
Pick
I’m rolling with the Rays here, as I just don’t trust Michael Kopech. He’s tied for the major league lead in home runs allowed and I just feel like he could be in line to get roughed up here against a Rays team that’s clubbing the ball left and right to start the year. The White Sox bullpen has also been brutal this season too, so give me the Rays here.