Pablo Sandoval strikes out against Brad Boxberger, who retired Boston's third baseman, on three pitches during the ninth inning on August 2, 2015 in Boston. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Pablo Sandoval strikes out against Brad Boxberger, who retired Boston’s third baseman, on three pitches during the ninth inning on August 2, 2015 in Boston. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Tampa Bay Rays were able to make a graceful exit from Boston on Sunday, after the team salvaged the final game of their three-game set against the Red Sox in come-from-behind fashion, winning by a 4-3 margin. The Rays will go from one Sox to another, when they head to the south side of Chicago to face another fringe contender over the next three days, the White Sox.

This series, like the one against the Tigers, is important because it could have playoff implications. Tampa Bay starts the day just three games out in the wildcard race, yet the White Sox sit just a half game behind the Rays. A series win by either team would put some space between the two. That doesn’t mean it will be easy.

While the ChiSox have lost six of their last seven at home, they’ve also gone 7-3 over their last 10 games. On the other hand, Tampa Bay has gone 4-6 over a 10 game stretch and looks to win back-to-back road games for the first time since a four-game streak spanning June 17-20.

To their credit, the Rays offense has been better of late. The team has averaged 4.2 runs per game extending back to July 22, and 5.3 runs in the last six games. However, the offense wasn’t the problem in the Red Sox series, rather it was the sloppy defensive work in the field which greatly effected pitching staff’s ability to hold Boston in its tracks.

Nathan Karns, Chris Archer, and Erasmo Ramirez (along with the bullpen) will be tasked with keeping Melky Cabrera (.500 BA with 16 RBI in his last 11 games and an RBI in 12 of his last 13), Jose Abreu (13 game hitting streak), Adam Eaton (11 game hitting streak), and Alexei Ramirez (homered in three of his last five games) in check. Karns (6-5, 3.37) has allowed just two runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts, a stretch that began when he gave up one run while striking out against the White Sox on June 14. Archer (9-8, 2.54) fanned 11 and allowed a pair of unearned runs on three hits over seven innings in a losing effort Wednesday. Ramirez (8-4, 3.61 ERA) allowed just one earned run on five hits, while walking two and striking out six over six innings on Friday, yet came away with a no-decision after the team lost a heartbreaker by a 7-5 score.

Rays and White Sox series starters over the last 14 days.
Rays and White Sox series starters over the last 14 days.
Rays and White Sox offensive production over the last 14 days.
Rays and White Sox offensive production over the last 14 days.
Rays and White Sox by the numbers.
Rays and White Sox by the numbers.

Jose Quintana: Quintana (6-9, 3.52 ERA) has allowed two runs or fewer in 13 of 21 starts, however, his teammates have supported him with average of just 2.63 runs through his first 19. He’s gotten some help of late though, hurling his first career shutout in a 6-0 win over Cleveland on July 24 before giving up two runs in 6-1-3 innings of Wednesday’s 9-2 victory over Boston. Quintana primarily relies upon a 92 mph swing and miss four seam Fastball and an 81 mph 12-6 curve. He also mixes in a 92 mph sinker and 86 mph worm-killer of a change-up. He rarely throws a 91 mph cutter. Key matchups: Logan Forsythe (2-3, 2B, HR, 3 RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (2-3), James Loney (1-3).

Chris Sale: Sale (9-6, 3.20 ERA) struggled Thursday, allowing seven runs on 12 hits, a walk and two hit batsmen in just five innings, though he still struck out seven. And while the Rays beat the left-handed Chris Archer on June 14th, Sale has held Tampa Bay to an ugly combined .173 BA/.244 OBP/.296 SLG/.541 OPS slash line. Key matchups: Asdrubal Cabrera (9-35, 4 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB), Brandon Guyer (1-2, BB).

Carlos Rodon: Rodon (4-4, 4.84 ERA) lasted just three innings on Friday, relinquishing eight runs on eight hits and four walks in a loss to the Yankees. He struck out four in the effort. The Rays have never faced the 22 year-old left handed hurler. Rodon relies primarily on his 94 mph four seam Fastball, a hard 87 mph slider that generates a lot of ground balls, and a 94 mph sinker. He will also mix in an 85 mph change-up that generates a high number of swings and misses, and rarely throws a 93 mph cutter.

Noteworthiness

— Asdrubal Cabrera is batting .400 with a 1.238 OPS in his last seven games.

As I wrote on Sunday, Richie Shaffer is expected to be called up on Monday. Shaffer will take the place of Matt Moore, who was optioned to Triple-A Durham, on the roster.

— Just sit back and relive Brad Boxberger’s three strikeout ninth in the series finale, on Sunday:

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