Monday, September 26, 2016

U.S. Cellular Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Drew Smyly vs. James Shields

The Tampa Bay Rays head to U.S. Cellular Field on Monday to take on the Chicago White Sox. The probable pitchers are Drew Smyly for the Rays and James Shields for the White Sox. The Rays have a 76-70-8 over/under mark and a 72-82-0 run line record, meaning they cover 47% of the time. The White Sox are 78-76-0 against the run line and have a 75-72-7 over/under record. They cover the spread 51% of the time.

The Rays head into this game with a 65-89 record, and they are 29-45 on the road. Starting pitcher Drew Smyly has a 7-11 record with an ERA of 4.86 and a WHIP of 1.26. He has 162 strikeouts during his 170.1 innings pitched and he has given up 167 hits so far this year. He has surrendered 8.8 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.56. The bullpen this season has an earned run average of 4.19 and they have allowed 463 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .253 against the pen while they've been struck out 434 times and walked 186 times this year. As a unit, Tampa Bay has given up 8.79 base hits per nine innings while striking out 8.52 hitters per nine. They are 18th in the Majors in team earned run average at 4.20. The Rays pitchers have collectively given up 1,325 base hits and 633 earned runs. They have allowed 198 home runs this season and they allow 1.3 homers per nine innings as a staff. Tampa Bay as a pitching staff has walked 466 batters and struck out 1,284. They walk 3.1 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.5 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.32 and their FIP as a unit is 4.24.

As a team, Tampa Bay is hitting .244, good for 26th in the league while putting together a .254 average on the road. The Rays have a .430 team slugging percentage and an OBP of .309 which is good for 27th in the league. They rank 26th in baseball with 8.25 hits per contest. Logan Forsythe comes into this game hitting .274 and his on-base percentage is at .344. He has 131 hits this season along with 75 runs scored and 52 runs batted in. He's struck out 117 times and has walked 45 times. Evan Longoria is hitting .276 and he has an on-base percentage of .321. He has totaled 167 hits so far while scoring 80 runs and he's driven in 95. He has walked 39 times and has struck out 138 times. The Rays have 1,271 hits, including 267 doubles and 213 home runs. They've stolen 57 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 36 times. Tampa Bay has walked 432 times this season and they've struck out 1,404 times as a unit. They've left 1,003 men on base and have a team OPS of .739. They score 4.2 runs per contest and have scored a total of 647 runs so far this year.

Chicago comes into this game with a 41-33 home mark and a 73-81 overall record. With an ERA of 5.98, James Shields has a 5-18 record and a 1.63 WHIP. He has 122 strikeouts over the 168.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 197 hits. He has allowed 10.5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 6.11. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.69 and they have given up 426 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .246 against the White Sox bullpen while being struck out 416 times and walking 213 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 8.95 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.81 batters per nine. They are 15th in the league in team earned run average at 4.16. The White Sox pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,366 base knocks and 634 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 179 home runs this year and they give up 1.2 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a staff has walked 498 hitters and struck out 1,193. They give up a walk 3.3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.8 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.36 while their FIP as a staff is 4.32.

As a team, they are batting .258, good for 12th in the league while putting together a .261 average at home. The White Sox hold a .409 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .318 which is good for 20th in baseball. They rank 11th in baseball with 8.84 hits per contest. Jose Abreu comes into this matchup batting .299 and he has an OBP of .353. He has 179 hits this year along with 65 runs scored and 97 RBI. He's struck out 120 times and has walked on 41 occasions. Melky Cabrera is hitting .298 and he has an OBP of .348. He has collected 167 hits so far while he's scored 66 runs and drove in 80. He has earned a walk 45 times and has punched out 66 times. The White Sox as a unit have 1,362 base hits, including 263 doubles and 159 homers. They have 72 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 35 times. Chicago as a team has walked 433 times this year and they have struck out 1,225 times. They've had 1,054 men left on base and have an OPS of .727. They score 4.21 runs per game and have totaled 649 runs so far this season.

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

The Tampa Bay Rays are 76-70-8 against the over/under so far this season

The Tampa Bay Rays are 72-82-0 against the run line so far this season

Chicago White Sox Betting Trends

The Chicago White Sox are 75-72-7 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago White Sox are 78-76-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Tampa Bay Rays

09/23/16 RF Steven Souza Hip 60-day DL (9/22); out for season
09/17/16 1B Logan Morrison Wrist 60-day DL (9/16)
09/07/16 SS Matt Duffy Heel out for season
08/07/16 LF Desmond Jennings Knee 15-day DL (8/3); out for season
08/07/16 P Enny Romero Back 15-day DL (8/4)

Chicago White Sox

09/24/16 SS Tyler Saladino Back expected to miss Sunday vs. Cleveland Indians
09/24/16 RF Adam Eaton Head "?" Sunday vs. Cleveland Indians
08/03/16 CF Charlie Tilson Hamstring 15-day DL (8/3)
07/27/16 2B Brett Lawrie Hamstring 15-day DL (7/22)
07/01/16 3B Matt Davidson Foot 60-day DL (6/30)
06/21/16 P Zach Putnam Elbow 15-day DL (6/21)
06/10/16 CF Austin Jackson Knee 15-day DL (6/10)
05/06/16 P Jacob Petricka Hip 60-day DL (5/2)

Tony's Pick: Take the White Sox

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