Chicago White Sox (7-10) AT Tampa Bay Rays (8-9)
April 20, 2011 at 6:40 PM EST
Opening Moneyline: TAM -130, CWS +110
Current Moneyline: TAM -130, CWS +120
Opening Total: 8.5
Current Total: 8.5
SP: CWS: P. Humber; TAM: W. Davis
The Rays hope to continue their hot pitching tonight as they send Wade Davis to the mound tonight, in game 3 of the 4 game home set against the White Sox. Tampa won both the first two matchups. Shields threw a complete game Tuesday night, allowing only 4 hits while striking out 9. Ben Zobrist scored the go ahead run as the Rays won 5-0.
“It was really fun to watch,” manager Joe Maddon said regarding Shields’ complete game. “He kept his tempo. He kept his pace. The quality of the locations was severe. On the money all night long. I could tell he was on right from jump street.”
The Rays have a 2.10 ERA over their last 8 games, 7 of which they have won, to pull themselves within 1 game of a .500 record.
On the other side of the coin are the Chicago White Sox, who have lost 6 straight after starting out 6-3 and they have totaled only 5 runs in their last 4 games, while batting .195 in their last 8. They started the season with a .307 average in their first 9 games.
Ozzie Guillen said he might slide Adam Dunn down in the rotation since he is struggling coming off an emergency apprendectomy. Other Sox players are hitting very poorly too; Paul Konerko is 4 for his last 28 and Gordon Beckham is 1 for his last 29. Guillen was not so quick to give all the credit to Sheilds. “We’re struggling right now at the plate, big time,” Guillen commented.
Wade Davis is 1-2 with a 3.26 ERA. He’ll look to capitalize on the struggling Sox, and improve his ERA to under 3. He gave up only 1 run and 4 hits over 7 innings against the Twins on Friday and then pitched six innings against the White Sox on April 9th, giving up only 2 runs again. Davis’ PECOTA projection predits a 11-9 record with a 4.12 ERA.
Phil Humber also has a respectable 3.46 ERA and a 1-1 record. He didn’t do well in his last start, as he allowed 4 runs and 6 hits in 5 innings, as the White Sox lost 4-3 to the Angels. Humber’s PECOTA projection predicts a 7-8 record with a 4.81 ERA.
The White Sox may also be without Johnny Damon and Dan Johnson. Both are day to day.
Some betting trends:
The Chicago White Sox are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games and the total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 5 games. The White Sox are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road and the total ahs gone UNDER in 5 of the White Sox’ last 6 games against Tampa Bay. The White SOx are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games against the Rays and the total has gone UNDER In 18 of Chicago’s last 26 games on the road in Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay is 7-1 SU in their last 8 games and the total has gone UNDER in all 5 of their last 5 games. The total has also gone UNDER in all 5 of their last 5 home games. Tampa Bay is 5-10 SU in their last 15 home games and they are 5-1 SU in their last 6 at home. The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay’s last 6 games against the White SOx and the total has gone UNDER in 18 of the last 25 home games against the White Sox. Tampa Bay is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games against the White Sox.
Tampa is favored mainly because they are sending the better pitcher to the mound and the White Sox are struggling. All signs point to Tampa since they are hot from the plate and allowing few runs.
