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Rays, White Sox Continue Key Series

Visiting Tampa Bay on Four-Game Streak

The Tampa Bay Rays try to extend their four-game winning streak when they face the host Chicago White Sox in the second of a three-game series between the top two teams in the American League on Tuesday night. The game is scheduled for an 8:10 p.m. ET first pitch at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.

Tampa Bay took the series opener on Monday night, winning 5-2 to improve to 43-24. The Rays are atop the AL East standings, leading the second-place Boston Red Sox by three games and the third-place Toronto Blue Jays by 8½ games.

Dallas Keuchel of the Chicago White Sox pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium
Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP

Chicago fell to 41-25 with the loss, which snapped a four-game winning streak. The White Sox lead the AL Central by 4½ games over the second-place Cleveland Indians and by 10½ games over the third-place Kansas City Royals.

If you want to bet on this game, the MLB odds have the White Sox with a moneyline of -109, while the Rays are listed at -101. The over/under for the contest has been set at eight runs.

Still Rolling

The Rays offense was clicking on Monday against White Sox ace Lance Lynn, handing him just his second loss. Tampa Bay hit four home runs in the game and got five shutout innings from its bullpen after starter Tyler Glasnow left early with right elbow inflammation.

“The bullpen has been just as hot as any bullpen in baseball,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said after Monday’s win. “Other than Glasnow, that’s the story of the game.”

The Rays’ bullpen had an AL-best 3.05 ERA coming into the game after tossing seven no-hit innings in a win over Baltimore on Sunday.

Left-hander Shane McClanahan will make his ninth start of the on Tuesday. The 24-year-old is 2-1 with a 4.54 ERA in his first season in the major leagues, striking out 42 and walking 12 in 33.2 innings.

McClanahan hasn’t been sharp in his last two starts, failing to get out of the fourth inning in either one. He faced Washington on Wednesday and went three innings, allowing three runs on five hits, including two home runs, while striking out four and walking three in a no-decision.

Randy Arozarena, Austin Meadows and Brandon Lowe each homered in Monday’s win. Meadows leads the team with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs (tied for second in the majors), while Lowe has 12 home runs and Arozarena nine.

Next Man Up

While Lynn can usually be counted on for a win, Tuesday’s starter, Dallas Keuchel, has been just as reliable. The left-hander is 5-1 with a 4.14 ERA, striking out 41 and walking 21 in 71.2 innings.

Keuchel has won his last four decisions, going without a loss since the end of April. He got the win in his last start against Toronto on Thursday, going six innings and allowing two runs on six hits while striking out eight and walking two.

The White Sox bats were fairly quiet on Monday night, managing just five hits in the loss. The heart of the order — Yermin Mercedes, Jose Abreu and Yasmani Grandal — went a combined 0-for-11 with five strikeouts.

Abreu leads the White Sox with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs while also hitting 12 doubles and scoring 31 runs. Mercedes is batting .285 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs.

Shortstop Tim Anderson went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored to raise his batting average to .302. He has five hits in nine at-bats over his last two games, including a pair of doubles and two RBIs.

White Sox Draw Even

Chicago has a better offense than it showed on Monday night and it should be able to get some runs across against McClanahan. Keuchel has been solid over the last month and a half and will keep the White Sox in it to allow the offense time to get in a groove.

When doing your MLB betting, take Chicago to win at home.

Pick: Chicago White Sox -109

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