Rays at White Sox
Two teams coming off demoralizing series sweeps try to turn things in a positive direction when the Tampa Bay Rays visit the Chicago White Sox on Monday afternoon for the opener a three-game set. Tampa Bay coughed up a five-run lead in the eighth inning Sunday to lose its eighth straight game - 8-7 at Boston - while the White Sox were losing 1-0 against Detroit, their fifth setback in six contests.
The Rays, who also squandered a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning of the series opener on Thursday, had rolled to a 7-2 lead while collecting 11 hits in the finale - prompting center fielder Kevin Kiermaier to tell the Tampa Bay Times, “That’s about as deflating of a loss as you can have right there.” Chicago gave up 15 runs in the first two games of the series against the Tigers before managing just three hits against five Detroit pitchers in frigid conditions in the finale. Avisail Garcia went 5-for-13 in the series to push his season average to .343 for the White Sox while slugger Jose Abreu slumped to 1-for-13 in the last three contests. Veteran Miguel Gonzalez will try to end the slide for Chicago when he heads to the mound to face Chris Archer, a two-time All-Star who goes after his first victory in his third start of the season for the Rays.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Chris Archer (0-0, 6.55 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Miguel Gonzalez (0-1, 9.00)
Archer did not post a decision or a quality start in his first two outings of the season, allowing eight runs on 12 hits and four walks with 14 strikeouts over 11 innings. The 29-year-old North Carolina native registered a 4.97 ERA on the road as opposed to 3.26 at home in 2017 and lost both starts against Chicago. Yolmer Sanchez is 5-for-14 with three homers and Garcia 4-for-11 with a blast against Archer, who is 3-2 with a 4.29 ERA in eight career appearances (seven starts) versus the White Sox.
Gonzalez, who was re-signed after being traded to Texas late last season, struggled in his 2017 debut by yielding six runs - five earned - on eight hits and two walks over five innings in a loss to Toronto. The 33-year-old Mexican went 7-10 with a 4.31 ERA in 22 starts with the White Sox last year before finishing the season 1-3 in five turns with the Rangers. Carlos Gomez is 1-for-3 with a home run against Gonzalez, who is 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA in 16 career outings against the Rays - none last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago recalled RHP Bruce Rondon on Sunday, and he struck out all four batters he faced in his White Sox debut.
2. Tampa Bay 1B Brad Miller (groin) was placed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday and RHP Ryan Weber was recalled from Triple-A Durham.
3. The teams split six games last season, but the White Sox took two of three at home to open September.