Chicago White Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, 8/20/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Chicago White Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Friday, August 20, 2021

Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

TV: Bally Sports Sun

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-141) Tampa Bay (+110)

Michael Wacha and the Tampa Bay Rays (74-47, 1st in AL East) play the Chicago White Sox (71-50, 1st in AL Central) at Tropicana Field on Friday. The odds on this game have the White Sox priced at -141 and the Rays are at +110. The O/U opens at 8. The pitchers taking the mound will be Lucas Giolito and Michael Wacha.

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The White Sox have recorded 197 doubles as a team and have smacked 143 balls out of the park. Chicago owns a slugging percentage of .420 and have been rung up 1,062 times, while being walked on 446 occasions. As a unit, the Chicago White Sox are compiling 5.0 runs per contest, which ranks them 6th in the league. They have accounted for 571 RBI's and 997 hits this year, and their team batting average comes in at .252. They have a total of 602 runs scored and hold an on-base percentage of .333.

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The White Sox have a team earned run average of 3.59 so far this season (4th in the league), and the staff has rung up 1,207 hitters. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.30 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.19. White Sox pitchers have given up 145 home runs in addition to 463 total runs (4th in the league). They have walked 366 opposing batters and their FIP comes in at 3.83 as a squad for the season.

The White Sox have sent 363 relief pitchers to the mound on the year. The relief pitchers have inherited 157 base runners on the campaign and 31.8% of them crossed the plate. They have recorded 31 saves this year and have blown 21 of their 52 save chances. The White Sox relievers have recorded a save percentage of 59.6% and has come into the game in 122 save situations. The bullpen have earned 67 holds for the year (8th in MLB). White Sox relief pitchers have come into the game with runners on base 100 times as well as having 115 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Chicago White Sox have accounted for 3,145 putouts thus far, in addition to 886 assists and 75 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .982 which is 28th in MLB, and they have twisted 817 double plays. The White Sox have converted 70.0% of balls hit into play into outs in their 9,435 innings on the field, which has them sitting 11th in MLB.

Giolito has taken the ball for 630 innings and has accumulated 656 K's during his pro baseball career. His ERA is 4.30 (301 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.206. He has surrendered 519 base knocks (7.4 hits per 9 innings) and has 241 free passes. Giolito (40-38 record in his career) is the owner of a FIP of 4.40 and he has faced 2,618 opposing batters during his time in the major leagues.

The Rays hold a slugging % of .422 and they are scoring 5.25 runs per game (2nd in baseball). They have 213 two-baggers, while walking 449 times and earning 635 runs. Tampa Bay has a total of 167 home runs so far this year to go along with 601 runs batted in. They have struck out on 1,196 occasions (2nd in baseball) and have recorded 980 hits. The Tampa Bay Rays have accounted for a team on-base percentage of .319 in addition to a batting average of .238 on the season.

The Rays hold a team WHIP of 1.179 in addition to having a FIP of 3.77 as a pitching staff so far this season. They are currently ranked 11th in baseball as a staff in total hits surrendered with 940. The Tampa Bay pitching staff have surrendered 501 runs for the season while having an ERA of 3.73 (451 earned runs yielded). Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 3.31 (1,131 strikeouts vs 342 walks). They have allowed 135 dingers and they surrender 4.15 runs per 9 innings (9th in baseball).

With 112 save situations, the Rays have compiled 67 holds and also 13 blown saves. Tampa Bay has had relief pitchers step onto the mound in 43 save chances and they have walked away with 30 saves. Their relievers have taken the field 138 times in high leverage situations in addition to 96 occasions with runners on base. Tampa Bay relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 30.0% out of their 120 inherited runners. They sit at 3rd in MLB with a save rate of 69.8%, and they have sent 385 relievers onto the diamond for the year.

The Tampa Bay Rays have twisted 99 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .986 (7th in MLB). The Rays have accrued 1,030 assists, 61 errors and have accumulated 3,262 putouts so far this year. Out of their 9,786 innings on the diamond, the Rays have a efficiency on defense of 70.2% (8th in baseball).

So far in his pro baseball career, Wacha has surrendered 999 base knocks and he has 872 K's in 987 innings pitched. Wacha (62-47 mark in his career) is the owner of a 4.18 earned run average while allowing 9.1 hits per nine innings. He has given up a total of 458 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.349 and having a FIP of 4.1. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.63 and he has faced 4,223 hitters in his pro baseball career.

Who will win tonight's baseball game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Chicago (-141)

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