Chicago White Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, 8/22/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Chicago White Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Sunday, August 22, 2021

Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

TV: Bally Sports Sun

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (+105) Tampa Bay (-132)

Reynaldo Lopez and the Chicago White Sox (72-52, 1st in AL Central) go to Tropicana Field on Sunday where they'll take on the Tampa Bay Rays (76-48, 1st in AL East). The Rays open this game at -132 while the White Sox are priced at +105. The total has been set at 9. The expected starting pitchers are Reynaldo Lopez and Josh Fleming.

The White Sox have earned 199 two-baggers as a team and have knocked 146 baseballs out of the stadium. Chicago has a slugging rate of .419 and have been rung up 1,081 times, while being walked on 452 occasions. As a unit, the Chicago White Sox are scoring 5.0 runs per contest, which puts them at 7th in the league. They have amassed 581 RBI's in addition to 1,016 hits so far this season, while their average at the plate is .251. They have earned 613 runs while holding a team OBP of .332.

Get all of our MLB Expert Picks

The White Sox have compiled a team earned run average of 3.61 this season (4th in baseball), and their staff has struck out 1,229 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 377 opposing hitters and their FIP is 3.85 as a squad over the course of the season. They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 3.26 and the pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.19. White Sox pitchers have surrendered 149 home runs and also 473 total runs (4th in MLB).

White Sox pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 103 times in addition to having 121 appearances in high leverage situations. The relievers have notched 68 holds this year (8th in MLB). The White Sox relief pitchers have a save percentage of 59.3% and has stepped onto the mound in 125 save situations. They have recorded 32 saves on the year and have not converted 22 out of their 54 save chances. The relief pitchers have inherited 158 base runners on the campaign and 32.3% of them crossed home plate. The White Sox have sent 371 relief pitchers to the hill on the year.

The Chicago White Sox have notched a total of 3,205 putouts on the year, in addition to 908 assists and 75 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .982 which puts them in 27th in MLB, and have 832 double plays. The White Sox have turned 70.3% of balls hit into play into outs out of 9,615 innings on the field, which has them sitting 8th in the majors.

Lopez has taken the ball for 515 frames and has earned 442 K's during his career. His earned run average is 4.59 (263 ER's allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.359. He has conceded 503 hits (8.8 hits per 9 innings) and has had 198 walks. Lopez (28-34 career win-loss record) sits with a FIP of 4.83 while going up against 2,227 hitters during his time in the majors.

The Rays have a slugging percentage of .420 and they are scoring 5.26 runs per game (2nd in MLB). They have notched 214 doubles, while getting a free base 459 times as well as scoring 647 runs. Tampa Bay has knocked in 169 HRs for the season and 612 RBIs. They have been called out on strikes on 1,220 occasions (1st in baseball) and have a total of 992 hits. The Tampa Bay Rays have an OBP of .318 as well as a batting average of .237 on the year.

The Rays hold a team WHIP of 1.177 and have a FIP of 3.75 as a pitching staff on the season. They currently have a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.38 (1,161 strikeouts against 344 bases on balls). They come in at 11th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 959. They have surrendered 138 home runs and they give up 4.15 runs per 9 innings (9th in MLB). The Tampa Bay pitching staff have given up 510 runs on the season while having an ERA of 3.72 (457 earned runs yielded).

Tampa Bay has had relief pitchers enter the game in 44 save chances and they have walked away with 30 saves. They sit at 3rd in the league with a save percentage of 68.2%, and they have dispatched 391 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond this season. Their bullpen pitchers have come in 140 times in high leverage situations and on 97 occasions with runners on base. Tampa Bay relievers hold an inherited score rate of 30.0% out of 120 inherited runners. Sitting with 113 save situations, the Rays have 67 holds and 14 blown saves.

In 9,966 innings played, the Rays are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 70.1% (10th in pro baseball). The Tampa Bay Rays have twisted 99 double plays and have a fielding rate of .986 (9th in baseball). The Rays have recorded 1,046 assists, 64 errors and have amassed 3,322 putouts during this campaign.

During his MLB career, Fleming has conceded 126 base hits while totaling 87 punch outs in 128 innings. He has given up a total of 62 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.259 and having a FIP of 4.3. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.42 and he has gone up against 541 opposing hitters in his career. Fleming (15-6 win-loss record in his career) has earned a 4.34 earned run average while allowing 8.8 hits per nine innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Chicago (+105)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here