Rays vs White Sox series preview Archives

The New What Next: Rays vs White Sox part two — a series preview

August 3, 2018 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

The Rays completed a three-game sweep of the Angels on Thursday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox are set to start a three-game series at Tropicana Field, on Friday night. Tampa Bay completed a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, while the South Siders salvaged the series finale against the Kansas City Royals.

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

The Rays bounced back from a wretched series against the Orioles, returning home where they took three in-a-row from the Angels. They currently have the best home record in baseball since June 11, having lost just four games (and winning 20) under the big top. Tampa Bay enters the series 7-1/2 games out of the second spot in the AL Wildcard race, behind the Athletics and a slumping Mariners squad, having picked up 2-1/2 games since Tuesday.

The White Sox, frankly, are not a good team, having gone 3-7 in their last 10-games, and 5-8 since the All-Star Break.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Still Chicago, led by Jose Abreu, has some pop when it isn’t striking out or stranding runners on base. It will be incumbent upon the Rays pitching staff to keep the ChiSox in the park.

Doug Waechter (Fox Sports Sun) brought up a good point at the end of the telecast on Thursday: Tampa Bay was able to sweep a good Angels’ team, and there’s no reason the Rays cannot take two of three — in the very least least — from one of the worst teams in baseball. The Rays should be able to use the opposing hurlers for batting practice; Chocago’s pitching staff has performed to a 5.06 ERA overall, and it reached a further low over the past week, having given up 10 runs or more in four of the last eight games. Adding it all up, the combined team ERA has ballooned to 7.14 over the last 10 games.

If the Rays have postseason aspirations — remember, they are in the race until they are not — they must stay competitive with the Mariners and Athletics this weekend, which means they must win games.

We’re competitors and we want to win games, DH/1B C.J. Cron said. Until the last game of the season’s over with, that’s what we’re going to try to do. If we put together enough wins to creep us back in it, we’ll take that as well. So that’s our job right now.

After starting the season 1-8, Tampa Bay took two-of-three from the South Siders back in April.

Pitching Probables

Over the next three days, Kevin Cash will lean on Ryne Stanek (1-3, 2.36 ERA) — who will be followed by Yonny Chirinos (0-3, 4.21 ERA) — Blake Snell (12-5, 2.27 ERA), and a pitcher to be named before the series finale on Sunday. Rick Renteria will counter with Lucas Giolito (7-8, 6.26 ERA), Carlos Rodón (3-3, 3.24 ERA), and former Ray James Shields (4-12, 4.52 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Ryne Stanek worked around a leadoff and a two-out walk in a scoreless inning of work as the opener on Tuesday against the Angels. He struck out one. Stanek threw 12 of 18 pitches for strikes (67% strike rate) but was limited to one inning this time out, making way for Ryan Yarbrough. The right-hander has posted a strong 2.38 ERA and 1.06 WHIP this season.

Yonny Chirinos gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks over three innings against Baltimore on Sunday. He struck out three. Three of the runs he allowed came in the first inning, and he was ultimately pulled down by two after tossing 57 pitches (31 strikes, 54% strike rate) in his seventh start of the season. He’s allowed three runs in each of his last three appearances (11-2/3 innings).

Lucas Giolito surrendered five runs on nine hits and a walk over 4-1/3 innings on Saturday against the Jays. He struck out out three. It was a lackluster outing from Giolito, who needed 94 pitches (62 strikes, 66% strike rate) to record 13 outs. This season he has relied primarily on his 93 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in an 84 mph 12-6 slider, a 92 mph sinker, an 82 mph changeup with slight cut action, and a 79 mph curveball with sharp downward bite.

Blake Snell will return from the 10-day DL and take the hill against the White Sox. Snell threw a bullpen session Wednesday, which appeared to be his final obstacle before coming off the shelf. Across 20 starts (119 IP) this season, he’s performed to a 2.27 ERA/3.43 FIP and 1.07 WHIP with a 10.1 K/9, and a 2.85 K/BB. Snell was placed on the 10-day DL with left shoulder fatigue on July 23.

Carlos Rodón fired 7-2/3 innings on Sunday, yielding two runs on five hits and a walk. He struck out six and allowed a home run. Another strong start helped Rodón lower his season ERA from 4.55 to 3.24 in July. The 25 year-old southpaw held the Blue Jays in check for most of the afternoon. He also improved to a 2.33 K/BB after Sunday’s contest. Rodón has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his nine starts this season. He has relied primarily on a 94 mph four-seam fastball and a whiffy 86 mph slider with short glove-side cut, while also mixing in a 94 mph sinker and a firm 85 mph changeup with natural sink. The left-hander is 0-0 with a 5.19 ERA in two career starts against the Rays

We will update this piece when the Rays name a starter in the series finale.

James Shields allowed four runs on five hits across seven innings on Tuesday. He struck out eight and walked three. Shields tossed four scoreless innings before giving up a couple two-run homers, one in the fifth inning and the other in the seventh. Shields now has the second-most losses in the big league (trailing another former Ray Alex Cobb, who has 14), yet his 1.29 WHIP and .237 batting average against are both respectable figures. The right-hander has been susceptible to the long ball — giving up 20 on the season — while sporting a run-of-the-mill 2 K/BB over 144 innings. Still, the workhorse is 3-0 with a pristine 1.37 ERA in four career starts against his former team. Key Matchups: Carlos Gomez (5-11, BB), Kevin Kiermaier (2-4, BB), Tommy Pham (1-3, HR, RBI)

Noteworthiness

— Party like it’s 2008! Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) detailed the Rays 2008 team reunion on Saturday:

Team MVP Jason Bartlett, Akinori Iwamura, Scott Kazmir, James Shields, B.J. Upton headline a group of 20 players from the 2008 team at the Trop this weekend for a 10-year celebration. Alums will greet fans at Gate 1 Friday night (5:10 opening) and Saturday (4:10) and sign autographs at the 20th anniversary exhibit. Saturday is the main event, with pregame introductions, Iwamura throwing the first pitch to Bartlett, and all fans getting an Iwamura bobblehead with the radio call of the final out of that year’s ALCS.

The New What Next: Rays vs ChiSox — a series preview

April 9, 2018 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

Centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier retrieves a fly ball that Mallex Smith missed for a go-ahead double by Andrew Benintendi. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

It’s deja vu all over again for the Tampa Bay Rays. Allow me take you back to the 2011 season — the miracle campaign that gave birth to Game 162, arguably the single greatest day in baseball history. The Rays got off to an 0-6 start that season, having been out scored by the Orioles, Angels and White Sox a combined 27-8.

In the second game of the aforementioned series on the south side of Chicago, Tampa Bay’s offense finally sparked to life, putting nine runs on the board against the tandem of John Danks and Matt Thornton. Even though they dropped the next two games ugly fashion, and subsequently the four-game set against the ChiSox, the Rays followed with a 14-4 tear to finish out the month of April with a 15-12 record, three games over .500. Enter the current squad that has gotten off to an equally bad, if not possibly worse, start to the 2018 campaign.

On the heals of a three-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox — one in which Tampa Bay should have walked away with its first series win of the season — the Rays, ironically enough, will walk into Guaranteed Rate Field on the south side of Chicago for a three-game series against the White Sox, starting Monday.

Far be it from me to say that this is where the Rays next miracle run begins. However, this series does present the slumping team with an opportunity to get off the schneid, after all the ChiSox aren’t nearly the same caliber ball club that Tampa Bay has faced already three times this season.

(Stats credit: FanGraphs)

Two of Tampa Bay’s last three losses have come by one run. The Rays current eight-game losing streak is worse than any stretch of 2017, when the team never lost more than five games in a row. Meanwhile, Chicago was doomed by its own weekend sweep by the Detroit Tigers. The White Sox managed just one run over the last two contests, including a shutout loss on Sunday.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

The two teams won three games apiece against each other last season. The White Sox finished with a narrow 22-21 advantage in runs, while both teams won two of three games on their home turf.

Pitching Matchups

Over the next three games, Kevin Cash will lean on Chris Archer (0-0, 6.55 ERA), Blake Snell (0-1, 5.00 ERA) and the bullpen (1-4, 3.86 ERA). Rick Renteria will counter with Miguel Gonzalez (0-1, 9.00 ERA), Carson Fulmer (0-0, 5.40 ERA) and James Shields (1-0, 5.73 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Chris Archer is looking to shape up after giving up four earned runs apiece against the Red Sox and the York Yankees. He has 14 strikeouts in 11 innings this season, but he has allowed a fair share of baserunners with 12 hits and four walks during that span. In eight career games against the ChiSox, Archer is 3-2 with a 4.29 ERA. He went 0-2 against Chicago last season and is looking for his first victory over the team since Sept. 29, 2016.

Miguel Gonzalez looks to bounce back from a disappointing season debut against the Blue Jays. The 33-year-old gave up five runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four. Gonzalez has been very good against the Rays over his career, culling a 7-4 record with a 2.76 ERA in 16 starts. That includes a pristine 8-1/3 shutout outing with five strikeouts in his most recent appearance last season. Key matchups: CJ Cron (2-6, BB), Carlos Gomez (1-3, HR, 2 RBI), Adeiny Hechavarria (2-5, RBI), Wilson Ramos (1-2, BB)

Blake Snell was tagged with a loss after he allowed five runs on four hits and three walks over 3-1/3 innings Wednesday. He struck out five. Snell allowed a leadoff single to Brett Gardner, then served up a mammoth two-run homer to Giancarlo Stanton two batters later. The southpaw allowed another two-run shot in the third inning — this time to Gary Sanchez — before he was chased after recording just 10 outs on 90 pitches.

Carson Fulmer was impressive in his season debut last Wednesday, giving up three runs in five innings while walking just one. He struck out five. Fulmer has above-average arm speed and relies primarily on a 91 mph fastball with modest arm-side run and late life, a big breaking 11-5 curveball with significant depth, an 87 mph cutter with average movement and average control, and a show me changeup that he throws to lefties. He does have occasional inconsistency at release, and sometimes over-throws. This will be Fulmers first start against Tampa Bay.

The Rays will close out the series with a bullpen day.

James Shields, former friends of the Rays, struggled over his first two starts of his 2018 campaign. He has given up seven runs over 11 innings, while walking two and striking out just one. He, however, has been very good against his former team, coasting to a 3-0 record with a 1.35 ERA over three starts. He has fanned 23 along the way. The Rays have not faced Shields since 2016. Key matchups: Carlos Gomez (4-9), Adeiny Hechavarria (3-10), Kevin Kiermaier (1-2, 2B), Brad Miller (4-10, 2B, HR, RBI, BB), Wilson Ramos (1-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB)

Noteworthiness

— Following the series finale with Boston on Sunday, the Rays placed INF Brad Miller on the 10-day DL with a left groin strain. He has replaced by RHP Ryan Weber (a 10th pitcher tin the ‘pen) at least temporarily. With Miller out, C.J. Cron will play more first base, while lefty OF/DH Denard Span is likely to be in the lineup more against southpaw starters.

Miller said he tweaked something while running the bases on a fifth-inning single.

I tried for a couple innings to shake it off or whatever, but I knew it wasn’t going to be smart to stay in there, he said.

However, as Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) opined, the injury to Miller is more concerning since he had surgery in October after dealing with similar issues last season. He missed time during spring training for what he said were “lower body” issues related to his gait after first breaking a toe.

Meanwhile, Ryan Weber, 27, is a St. Petersburg native who signed as a minor-league free agent last winter. He is only the fourth Burger to play on the Rays, joining Bobby Wilson, Casey Kotchman, and Doug Waechter.

Weber has big-league experience with the Braves and Mariners, and will join the crew of multi-inning relievers working in support of what is currently a three-man rotation.

The New What Next: Rays vs ChiSox — a series preview; Jacob Faria promoted

June 6, 2017 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

At least Corey Dickerson continues to produce. Vote Corey! (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays will begin a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night. The struggling Rays dropped three straight on the road in Seattle, while the ChiSox have lost five in a row after getting swept over the weekend at Detroit.

(Stats: ESPN)

Both teams are looking to turn their fortunes around after rough weekends.

The Rays were outscored 31-7 in Seattle, ending their recent nine-game road trip with a 4-5 record after starting the +6,000 mile westward trek 4-2. Tampa Bay gave up 38 hits combined to the Mariners, dropping below .500 (29-30) after winning 10 of the previous 15.

It’s unfortunate, we didn’t really give ourselves a chance in this series, Evan Longoria said following Sunday’s 7-1 loss. We potentially ran out of gas after some good wins.

The White Sox actually fared worse, surrendering 49 runs while losing five in a row, including 32 in their most recent set in Detroit. The Southsider’s welcomed the respite Monday after the series finale this past Sunday, dropping them to a season-low seven games below .500 at 24-31.

When you’re playing baseball you get into a flow, and the only way to get out of a little rut is to keep playing, manager Rick Renteria explained. But in terms of freeing our mind a little, maybe (this day off) will help us.

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Rays manager Kevin Cash will lean on Chris Archer (4-3, 3.74 ERA, 2.74 FIP), Jacob Faria (6-1, 3.07 ERA, 3.22 FIP), and Jake Odorizzi (3-3, 3.53 ERA, 5.23 FIP) over the next three days. Renteria will counter with Jose Quintana (2-7, 5.60 ERA, 4.30 FIP), Mike Pelfrey (2-4, 3.86 ERA, 4.67 FIP), and Derek Holland (4-5, 3.43 ERA, 5.04 FIP).

(Stats: FanGraphs)

Pitching Matchups

Archer gave up four runs on seven hits over seven innings in his last start. He fanned seven and walked two. He has collected double-digit strikeouts in four of his last six starts. Texas steadily chipped away at the Rays’ ace, scoring exactly one run against Archer in four separate innings. He’s stumbled on a few different occasions, but Archer’s impressive strikeout ratio has helped him collect his sub four ERA, sub three FIP, and 1.18 WHIP.

Quintana, who finished 1-3 with a 5.91 ERA over six starts in May, must be happy it’s June. Then again at 2-7 with a 5.60 ERA/4.30 FIP overall, the season hasn’t been kind to the left-hander, who has allowed 15 runs on 18 hits over his last seven frames. Don Cooper (White Sox pitching coach) noticed that Quintana has had problems keeping his fastball down in the zone, while fastballs away to right-handers are leaking back over the plate. Let’s hope he doesn’t rebound in the series opener, eh? Key matchups: Corey Dickerson (1-3), Kevin Kiermaier (5-11, 2 2B), Evan Longoria (4-14), Michael Martinez (2-3), Logan Morrison (4-12), Rickie Weeks (1-3)

Per Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), the Rays have promoted Jacob Faria in an effort to rest an overtaxed rotation. Calling up Faria for a spot start on Wednesday allows the Rays to get an extra day of rest for Alex Cobb, Jake Odorizzi and Erasmo Ramirez. Faria has been successful in the minors because of the downward plane his length and mechanics create on his fastball, paired with strong velocity (averaging 93-94 mph) and some movement. His changeup boasts diving action that causes hitters to whiff over the top of it, and it plays up because of the deception created by his delivery and mechanics. His curveball is more of a show-me pitch, but he is able to throw it for strikes, and when he throws it down in the zone, it can generate ground balls.

Pelfrey left his last start with a five inning two-hitter, and a one-run lead, yet finished with a no-decision because the White Sox’s bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. This season he has relied upon his 93 mph sinker with arm side run, an 83 mph splitter which dives out of the zone, a whiffy 71 mph curveball, and an 84 mph slider with 12-6 movement. Pelfrey has a 3.86 ERA/4.67 FIP in eight starts, and is 0-1 with a 4.43 ERA in four starts against Tampa Bay. Key matchups: Corey Dickerson (1-3, 2B), Evan Longoria (4-11, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Michael Martinez (3-7, HR, 4 RBI), Colby Rasmus (4-12, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB)

Odorizzi allowed eight runs (three earned) in 2-1/3 innings on Friday. He gave up two homers, including a grand slam, and threw 77 pitches. The right-hander has given up at least one homer in seven consecutive starts, leading a to a career-worst 1.9 HR/9, while his 5.38 FIP/4.49 xFIP belie his pristine 3.75 ERA. He hopes to rebound against a White Sox squad that ranks 29th in wOBA against right-handed pitchers (.291) Wednesday night.

Holland was touched for eight runs on eight hits over 58 pitches and 2-1/3 innings Friday night. He allowed three home runs. Holland has been good otherwise, allowing at most three runs just twice this season, and averaging just under six innings per start. The Dutch Oven is 4-3 in 11 starts against the Rays, although he’s cultivated a rather meaty 4.66 ERA in that span. This season Holland has relied upon his 92 mph worm killer four-seam fastball, and a 79 mph 12-6 knuckle curveball with little depth. He’s also mixed in an 81 mph slider with 12-6 movement, a 92 mph sinker with arm-side run, and an 84 mph fly ball inducing changeup. Key matchups: Evan Longoria (9-28, 4 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 3 BB), Derek Norris (4-13, RBI, BB), Colby Rasmus (3-12, 2B, HR, RBI), Jesus Sucre (3-5, 3 2B)

Noteworthiness

— Topkin noted the moves necessary to add Faria to the roster:

For Wednesday: Add Faria, send down a reliever (Ryan Garton?)
For Thursday: Send down Faria, add a reliever. (Jumbo Diaz off DL or callup such as Chih-Wei Hu)
For Saturday: Add reliever as 26th man, start Ramirez in 1st game, activate Andriese off DL for second game, send down reliever

— A trio of players appeared in a rehab game Monday. Brad Boxberger struck out all three batters he faced, slashing 1 IP/0 H/0 R/0 BB/3 K.

Rehab day in Clearwater! @RaysBaseball catcher Wilson Ramos is batting second for the Stone Crabs tonight! ⚾️ #RespectTheClaw pic.twitter.com/4EESbez7vS

— Charlotte StoneCrabs (@StoneCrabs) June 5, 2017

Wilson Ramos caught and went 0-for-1 with a walk in his debut with Tampa Bay, while Peter Bourjos went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

— Matt Duffy isn’t likely to return until the end of June, or even the All-Star Break, as he continues his lengthy recovery from Achilles tendon surgery last September.

The New What Next: Rays vs ChiSox — a series preview

September 26, 2016 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

The Rays tied the game in the eighth, yet lost in the 10th of Sunday’s home season finale against the Red Sox. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays take to the show on the road to cap the season; first stop Chicago, where they’ll face the White Sox over the next four days. If they can win just one game over the final seven days, they will earn Kevin Cash a better record in his second full year as manager, than Joe Maddon in his sophomore season.

Tampa Bay was swept in three games over the weekend by the Boston Red Sox, losing by a combined four runs to finish their home schedule. The Rays, who struck out 23 times in the home finale, held the Red Sox to 11 total runs, yet plated just seven for an average of 2.33 runs per game.

The White Sox knocked off the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians over the last two contests — capped by a 3-0 shutout on Sunday.

Cash will lean on Drew Smyly (7-11, 4.86 ERA), Alex Cobb (1-1, 6.16 ERA), Blake Snell (6-8, 3.65 ERA), and Chris Archer (8-19, 4.02 ERA) over the next four days. Robin Ventura will counter with James Shields (5-18, 5.98 ERA), Chris Sale (16-9, 3.19 ERA), Miguel González (4-8, 3.98 ERA), and José Quintana (13-11, 3.21 ERA).

Rays Series Starters

Smyly hurled six innings of one run ball on Tuesday, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out three. The lefty turned in an 87 pitch outing, and could have worked his way through the seventh. Instead, the Rays skipper turned the game over to Brad Boxberger, who razed the potential win into a loss for the team. Still, Tuesday’s performance earned the southpaw his first quality start in his last four outings, lowing his ERA to 4.86 — its lowest mark since August 26.

Cobb was roughed up Wednesday, lasting just 1-1/3 innings and giving up seven runs on nine hits and a walk. The righty had been pitching well in his return from Tommy John surgery, maintaining a 3.06 ERA over three starts before Wednesday. The outing more than doubled Cobb’s ERA to an unsightly 6.16.

Snell shut down the Yankees over five frames on Thursday, working around five hits and three walks while fanning six. The outing was representative of Snell’s season — the lefty has allowed a lot of baserunners, but has effectively limited the damage, allowing him to post a 3.65 ERA. His 94 strikeouts in 86-1/3 innings speak to his ace potential, however, he needs to cut down on his walks and become more efficient in order to sustain this success over the long haul.

Archer relinquished a pair of earned runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings on Friday, striking out seven. The Rays ace once again posted a quality start, yet collected another tally in the loss column. Archer notched 14 whiffs and collected 20-of-27 first-pitch strikes, but he was doomed by a lack of run support. He’s lowered his ERA by 64 points (4.66 ERA to 4.02 ERA) since the All-Star Break.

White Sox Series Starters

Shields allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and three walks while fanning four over 5-1/3 innings on Tuesday. The former Ray turned in a dud against the Phillies, one of the worst offenses in baseball. Still Shields is 2-0 with a 2.09 ERA in two starts against his former team. Key matchups: Kevin Kiermaier (1-2, 2B), Brad Miller (3-7, HR, RBI, BB), Alexei Ramirez (23-68, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB)

Sale suffered an embarrassing loss against the Phillies on Wednesday, allowing six runs on seven hits while striking out five over four innings. Wednesday marked the Southpaw’s second-shortest outing, and most humiliating performance, of 2016. Sale pitched at least eight innings in each of his previous five starts, owning a 1.50 ERA while striking out 50 over 42 innings. The southpaw is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in two starts against the Rays. Key matchup: Mikie Mahtook (HR, RBI)

Gonzalez allowed three runs on six hits while fanning two over seven innings on Saturday. The 32-year-old journeyman has now thrown nine consecutive quality (extending back to July 1), not including a mid-August outing in which he left after the first inning due to a groin injury. His second-half ERA now is 2.96, thanks to improved command and control resulting in a decreased walk rate from (9.0% to 4.2%). Key matchups: Curt Casali (1-3, HR, RBI), Logan Forsythe (3-12, 2B, BB), Alexei Ramirez (2-7, 2B, BB)

Quintana hurled six innings of one run ball on Saturday, walking three and striking out two. The southpaw settled in for his second win against Cleveland in the past 11 days, as he pitched out of a pair of early jams — relinquishing just one run — while throwing an inefficient 53 pitches, and loading the bases twice. Quintana is on track to post his lowest ERA in his career, as it currently sits at 3.21 over 202 total innings of work. He allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits in a loss to the Rays on April 17th. Key matchups: Logan Forsythe (5-8, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (3-8, 2B), Evan Longoria (4-11)

Noteworthiness

— Evan Longoria has 169 hits on the season, needing just one more to set a career high. He also is five away from his first 100-RBI season since 2010.

— The Rays are 7-2 against the White Sox since the start of the 2015 season after taking two of three at home in April.

— Kevin Kiermaier suffered a bruised left wrist when he was hit by a pitch on Sunday. He is listed as day-to-day.

— Todd Frazier needs one homer and four RBI to become the sixth Chicago player to put up a 40-homer/100-RBI season. He is 14-34 with three homes and six RBI during a nine-game hitting streak.

The New What Next: Rays vs. White Sox ― a series preview

April 15, 2016 By Schmitty Leave a Comment

Jake Odorizzi will take the mound for the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday in the series opener against the White Sox. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Chicago White Sox look to extend their winning streak when they visit the Trop on Friday to begin a three-game set on Friday to begin a three-game set, while the Tampa Bay Rays ― mired in an offensive slump ― look to end their two-game skid.

The Rays have dropped four of their last five games while managing just 10 runs in that span (an average of two-runs per game). Tampa Bay is coming off its second consecutive series loss, this time at the hands of Cleveland, who held them to just one run over the past two games. Logan Morrison’s batting average dipped to .069 while Brad Miller’s is .077 ― the two are a combined 4-for-55. To that end, Kevin Kiermaier, who started the season 4-for-7, has gone 0-for-his-last-18 since, while the team is batting .210 after consecutive five-hit efforts.

I actually liked the fact today it looked like guys were frustrated,” Rays Manager Kevin Cash told reporters. “That’s okay to be frustrated. We all should be a little frustrated after just the way we performed the last couple of nights, especially today. Today was just not good. Hopefully we’ll turn the frustration into a positive and get on the board early (Friday night).

He continued,

We didn’t do too many things well, or anything well for that matter today (as it relates to Thursday’s series finale). Let’s bounce back. We’ve got a night off. Let the guys go out and have a nice dinner, and come back ready to play a new series.

On the other hand the White Sox, carried by solid pitching, finished off the slumping Minnesota Twins with a 3-1 victory on Thursday ― the fourth consecutive for Chicago. They have allowed just six runs in their last five victories, and at 7-2 they are off to their best start since going 11-2 in 1957. The ChiSox are five games over .500 for the first time since the end of 2012. The pitching staff has a 2.25 ERA with a 2.75 mark from the starting rotation.

Chicago will send a trio of lefties to the mound; Chris Sale, John Danks and Jose Quintana. Cash will counter with Jake Odorizzi, Erasmo Ramirez (tentative) and Matt Moore.

Despite allowing no runs in five of the six innings he pitched on Sunday against the Orioles, Odorizzi got pegged with his first loss of the season thanks to a four-run second inning.

Ramirez, who worked two relief innings during Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to Cleveland, remains the likely candidate to draw a spot start Saturday. The 25 year-old righty threw 33 pitches over his two frames Wednesday and allowed two hits, including an unfortunate eighth-inning homer to Jason Kipnis. He fanned four, giving him six strikeouts in six innings of work to date in 2016.

Moore hurled seven innings of one-run ball in a no-decision against the Indians on Tuesday, matching his longest start from a season ago. The lefty has thrown over 100 pitches in both starts this season, after doing so once in 12 starts in 2015.

Key Matchups

Chris Sale: Sale has gotten enough offensive support to win his first two starts while allowing three runs in each with 13 hits given up in 14 total innings. He’s had a bit of trouble with the long ball, although he’s otherwise been sharp. His whiff rate is a bit down, however, that’s a dip from the typical elite-level rate he’s set as a standard. That is, he’s still very good. Boding well for the good guys, the lefty has struggled in his career against Tampa Bay, going 2-4 with a 4.62 ERA in eight appearances (six starts). Key Matchups: Brandon Guyer (1-3, 2 BB), Kevin Kiermaier (2-3, RBI), Logan Morrison (1-3), Steve Pearce (3-9, 2B, RBI, BB)

John Danks: Danks was originally scheduled to throw Friday, but the team wants to keep Chris Sale on regular rest after a rain-out on Sunday. To put it bluntly, Danks has been the weakest link in Chicago’s rotation, and the Rays will look to pounce on any of his mistakes. In 30 starts last season, the left-hander went 7-15 with a 4.71 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, yet that was an improvement from 2014, when his 6.3 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 left a lot to be desired. He tends to give up his fair share of homers. Key Matchups: Brandon Guyer (2-6, 2B, RBI), Desmond Jennings (2-6, 2B, RBI), Logan Morrison (2-5, 2B), Steve Pearce (1-3), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3)

Jose Quintana: Quintana (1-0) held the Twins to one run on four hits in his first win of the season on Monday. The lefty fanned five and walked three. Through two starts, he has collected a 2.31 ERA and 12 strikeouts. Quintana relies primarily upon his 92 mph four seam fastball, a 78 mph curve which he uses to coax grounders, and a 92 mph sinker. He also mixes in an 86 mph changeup which is an extreme fly-ball pitch. Key Matchups: Logan Forsythe (4-5, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI), Desmond Jennings (2-3, 3B), Kevin Kiermaier (2-6), Evan Longoria (3-8), Logan Morrison (4-9), Steve Pearce (3-6, 2B, HR, RBI)

Noteworthiness

― The Rays won five of six games against the White Sox last season, including a three-game sweep at Tropicana Field.

― Evan Longoria has hit safely in seven of nine games this season with two homers and five RBI.

― Per Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) 15 Homers have been allowed by the Rays in the first nine games; second most in franchise history — 16 in 2003, 2006.

― Also per Topkin, there have now been 44 Consecutive successful base stealers against Rays C Hank Conger, seven this season, 37 last year with Houston.

― Adam Eaton has set the table well for Chicago with 13 hits in eight games (.394 average, five multi-hit games).

― Melky Cabrera has four consecutive two-hit efforts.

― Jose Abreu is batting .354 with five homers, 18 RBI, 17 hits and seven walks in 13 career games against Tampa Bay.