Tampa Bay is set to start its final home series of the 2014 season, a three game set against the Chicago White Sox, starting Friday. The Rays’ meager three-game winning streak was snapped in the 3-2 loss against the Yankees, Wednesday. And while they won’t play the role of spoilers against Chicago, the Rays still need to win at least eight games to end the season with a plus .500 record.
At 1-3 with a -10 run differential, one thing is crystal clear: Tampa Bay hasn’t fared well against the ChiSox this season. However, the White Sox haven’t really been barn burners over the last month or so. Since August 12 they’ve posted a 13-20 record while dropping 10 of 12 on the road and three of four overall.
For the White Sox, the return of Paul Konerko from the DL is expected sometime this weekend. Konerko — who is retiring at the end of the season — is the franchise’s leader with 4,008 total bases, and ranks second in games played, home runs and runs batted in. He’s appeared in 74 games in this, his 18th season, and hasn’t played since September 2 because of the injury. The other narrative surrounding the White Sox is Jose Abreu’s push toward Rookie of the Year honors.
With 35 home runs under his belt, Abreu is tied for a White Sox rookie record. Even so, he’s been mired in a homer slump over the last 23 games, having hit only two.
Chicago was swept in three games in its latest visit to Tampa Bay in July 2013.
Jose Quintana: Quintana (8-10, 3.30) allowed one run and three hits in seven-plus innings, while striking out a career-high 13 in his last start. The LHP is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA, 23 strikeouts and four walks over 20 innings in his last three starts. However, he is 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA in two lifetime starts against Tampa Bay (both in 2012). Key matchups: Yunel Escobar (2-6, RBI).
Hector Noesi: Noesi (8-10, 4.77 ERA) is a right handed fastball/curveball/slider/changeup pitcher that has been hurt by the Rays in previous years. Tampa Bay has tagged him with an 0-2 record and a 4.67 ERA — extending back to 2011. He did put up 1-1/3 scoreless innings in relief of John Danks earlier this season, in what would go down as a 4-0 Rays victory. Key matchups: David DeJesus (4-5, 2B), Yunel Escobar (1-3), James Loney (1-1), Evan Longoria (3-7, 2B, 2 BB), Wil Myers (1-2), Ben Zobrist (1-4, 2 BB).
John Danks: The Rays only faced Danks (9-11, 4.88 ERA), once this season in the above mentioned game. Tampa Bay was able to knock the RHP out of the game after 5-2/3 innings, after Danks yielded four runs on seven hits and four walks. Danks hasn’t gotten a win in his last eight starts, though three of his last four starts were hard luck losses of two runs or fewer. While he was predicted to be a potential strikeout surger by Fangraphs, his K% is down slightly over his previous year and his BB% has doubled, screaming command issues. Key matchups: David DeJesus (9-25, 3 3B, 5 RBI, 2 BB), Yunel Escobar (6-12, RBI), Nick Franklin (1-3), Ryan Hanigan (2-3, 2 BB, RBI), James Loney (3-12, HR, 3 RBI), Sean Rodriguez (6-14, 2B, 2 3B, 4 RBI, BB).
Noteworthiness
- The Rays have held the lead in 12 consecutive games but are only 7-5 during that span. In four of those games, Tampa Bay blew leads of 4-0, 4-0, 4-0 and 3-0.
- The Sox have lost 40 games after holding a lead, second most in the majors to the Rangers (43).
- The White Sox hold a 72-55 lead against the Rays, and they’re 34-30 at the Trop.
