Rays at White Sox
The Tampa Bay Rays look to continue their momentum on the road and take advantage of the American League-worst Chicago White Sox when they open a three-game series on Friday night. The Rays sit four games behind Minnesota in the race for the AL’s second wild card after winning seven of the last 10 contests and taking two of three in the first two stops on their nine-game trip.
“Win series,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told reporters after Wednesday’s 5-3 victory at Kansas City. “If we win series, we’re going to put ourselves at the end of this thing in a pretty good spot.” Logan Morrison hopes to keep his power surge going after belting four homers and knocking in eight in his last five games for the Rays, who send rejuvenated left-hander Blake Snell to the mound for the opener against Reynaldo Lopez. Slugger Jose Abreu (elbow) and Tim Anderson (hamstring), who boasts a five-game hitting streak, both sat out Chicago’s 5-4 loss at Minnesota on Thursday but could be back in the lineup for the series opener. The White Sox, who won five of eight on their last homestand, coughed up a ninth-inning lead in Thursday’s loss to suffer a three-game sweep against the Twins.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Sun (Tampa Bay), CSN Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Blake Snell (2-6, 4.29 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (0-1, 6.97)
Snell is unbeaten in his last six starts with two wins after completing seven innings in each of the last two while allowing two runs and six hits combined with 15 strikeouts. The 24-year-old Seattle native has given up three or fewer runs in eight of his last nine outings, posting a 3.31 ERA during that stretch. Snell yielded one hit and one walk while pitching 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball against the White Sox in his last start of 2016.
Lopez is expected to make his third start of the season after spending a little over two weeks on the disabled list with a back strain. The 23-year-old Dominican permitted two runs over six innings against Kansas City on Aug. 11 and six across 4 1/3 frames six days later while giving up three homers and seven walks with 12 strikeouts combined. Lopez, who went 5-3 with a 4.91 ERA with Washington in 2016, faces the Rays for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay RHP Steve Cishek has not allowed a run and just six hits total in 15 games (15 innings) since being acquired from Seattle.
2. Chicago OF Avisail Garcia is 12-for-28 during an eight-game hitting streak that has improved his average to .324, second-best in the AL.
3. The Rays will recall RHP Ryne Stanek, LHP Adam Kolarek and C Curt Casali when the rosters can expand on Friday.