Chicago White Sox (7-9) AT Tampa Bay Rays (7-9)
April 19, 2011 at 6:40 PM EST
Opening Moneyline:  CWS -115, TAM -105
Current Moneyline:  CWS -105, TAMP -102
Opening Total:  8
Current Total:  8

SP:  CWS- John Danks, TAM- James Shields

Many casual baseball fans find themselves asking the same question, “Who is Sam Fuld?” The Rays’ leading hitter has a .396 average and hit 4 for 4 with a double and a run scored when the Rays beat the White Sox 5-0.  The Rays are 6-1 after a 1-8 start, and when Evan Longoria returns, he’ll return to a team that is productive even without his big bat.

Over the last 7 games, the Rays have averaged 5.6 runs and Fuld is hitting over .500 for that stretch (16 for 31).  The Rays were without slugger DH Johnny Damon on Monday.  He sat with a bruised finger and is expected to play later in the week.  The Rays were also without their centerfielder B.J. Upton and starting first baseman Dan Johnson.  Upton was merely getting rest, but Johnson has a sore left wrist.

Monday, Tampa Bay’s SP David Price gave up only 4 hits in 8 innings and Rays hitters Felippe Lopez and Ben Zobrist both hit home runs.  He also recorded 11 Ks.  Price’s PECOTA projection for the year is for a 12-8 record with a 3.46 ERA.  Last year Price was 19-6 with a 2.72 ERA.

The White Sox are frustrated, but Ozzie Guillen has taken a patient approach to the situation.  “We know we’re going to hit,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I don’t worry about that.”

Rays’ pitcher James Sheilds has not pitched well.  Over his last 9 starts he has recorded an 0-5 record and has an ERA of 6.19.  Shields had a strong second start after struggling in his opener.  Against the Twins, he gave up only 2 runs and 9 hits in 7 innings and it was enough for a 4-3 victory for the Rays. In his 16 starts against the Red Sox, Shields is 5-9 with a 5.17 ERA in 16 starts.  Alexei Ramirez is a career 6 of 15 against Shields while Mark Teahen is hitting .385 against Shields with 2 homers, in 26 ABs.  James Shields PECOTA projections predict a 13-10 record with a 4.02 ERA.

The White Sox will send John Danks to the mound.  Danks is 0-1 with a 3.15 ERA.  He should be 2-1, but the White Sox’ bullpen blew both saves.  Ozzie Guillen already admitted earlier this season that “We don’t have a closer,” and he was certainly right.  Wednesday night, Danks allowed only 1 run and 5 hits in eight innings, and somehow the Sox still went on to lose 7-4 in 10 innings.  John Danks is 4-1 at Tropicana Field and has a 2.25 ERA in his last four games there.
Danks’ PECOTA projections are for a 11-9 season with a 4.01 ERA.

Some betting trends:

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of the White Sox’ last 9 games and they are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games.  The total has gone OVER in 4 of their last 6 on the road and the White Sox are 7-3 SU in their last 10 on the road.  The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the last 5 against Tampa Bay and the White Sox are 4-2 SU in their last 6 against the Rays.  The total has gone UNDER in 17 of the last 24 games on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The total has gone UNDER in all 5 of Tampa Bay’s last 5 games and they are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games.  They are 4-10 SU in their last 14 at home and 4-1 SU in their last 5 at home.  The total has gone UNDER in all 5 of their last 5 home games and the total has gone UNDER in 4 of the last 5 games against the White Sox.  Tampa Bay is 2-4 SU in their last 6 games against the Chicago White Sox and the total has gone UNDER in 17 of the last 24 home games against the Sox.

Tonight’s game should be an interesting matchup between two good pitchers against two relatively hot teams.  The potential for a low scoring game is there, and the UNDER seems like an interesting proposition.