Tuesday, September 27, 2016

U.S. Cellular Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Alex Cobb vs. Chris Sale

The Tampa Bay Rays visit U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday to play the Chicago White Sox. The probable starters are Alex Cobb for the Rays and Chris Sale for the White Sox. The opening line for this matchup has Tampa Bay at +154 and Chicago at -164. The over/under was set at 8. The Rays have a 76-71-8 over/under record and a 73-82-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 47% of the time. The White Sox are 79-76-0 against the run line and have a 75-73-7 over/under record. They cover the spread 51% of the time.

The Rays head into this matchup with a 65-90 record, including 29-45 on the road. Starting pitcher Alex Cobb has a 1-1 record with an earned run average of 6.16 and a WHIP of 1.53. He has 14 strikeouts over his 19 innings pitched and he has given up 24 hits so far this season. He has allowed 11.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.5. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 4.13 and they have given up 467 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .252 against the bullpen while being struck out 439 times and walking 189 times this season. As a team, Tampa Bay has allowed 8.78 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.51 batters per nine. They are 16th in the league in team earned run average at 4.18. The Rays pitchers have collectively given up 1,333 base hits and 635 earned runs. They have allowed 199 home runs this season and they allow 1.3 homers per nine innings as a staff. Tampa Bay as a pitching staff has walked 472 batters and struck out 1,292. 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 batting .244, good for 26th in the league while putting together a .254 average away from home. The Rays hold a .429 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .309 which is good for 27th in baseball. They rank 26th in baseball with 8.25 hits per game. Logan Forsythe comes into this game hitting .273 and his on-base percentage is at .343. He has 132 hits this season along with 76 runs scored and 52 runs batted in. He's struck out 120 times and has walked 45 times. Evan Longoria is hitting .278 and he has an on-base percentage of .323. He has totaled 169 hits so far while scoring 80 runs and he's driven in 95. He has walked 40 times and has struck out 140 times. The Rays have 1,278 hits, including 268 doubles and 213 home runs. They've stolen 57 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 36 times. Tampa Bay has walked 435 times this season and they've struck out 1,427 times as a unit. They've left 1,011 men on base and have a team OPS of .738. They score 4.19 runs per contest and have scored a total of 649 runs so far this year.

Chicago comes into this matchup with a 41-33 home record and a 74-81 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.19, Chris Sale has a 16-9 record and a 1.03 WHIP. He has 220 strikeouts over the 214.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 176 hits. He has allowed 7.4 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.38. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.68 and they have given up 426 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .246 against the White Sox bullpen while being struck out 419 times and walking 213 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 8.9 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.85 batters per nine. They are 14th in the league in team earned run average at 4.13. The White Sox pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,368 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 501 hitters and struck out 1,207. They give up a walk 3.3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.9 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.35 while their FIP as a staff is 4.30.

As a team, they are batting .257, good for 12th in the league while putting together a .261 average at home. The White Sox hold a .408 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .317 which is good for 21st in baseball. They rank 11th in baseball with 8.83 hits per contest. Jose Abreu comes into this matchup batting .297 and he has an OBP of .351. 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 .296 and he has an OBP of .345. 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 1,368 base hits, including 263 doubles and 159 homers. They have 74 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 35 times. Chicago as a team has walked 435 times this year and they have struck out 1,228 times. They've had 1,060 men left on base and have an OPS of .725. They score 4.21 runs per game and have totaled 652 runs so far this season.

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

The Tampa Bay Rays are 76-71-8 against the over/under so far this season

The Tampa Bay Rays are 73-82-0 against the run line so far this season

Chicago White Sox Betting Trends

The Chicago White Sox are 75-73-7 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago White Sox are 79-76-0 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

09/25/16 SS Tyler Saladino Back "?" Monday vs. Tampa Bay Rays
09/25/16 RF Adam Eaton Head "?" Monday vs. Tampa Bay Rays
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)

Josh's Pick: Take the Rays

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