White Sox vs Rays Prediction, Pick and Preview, August 22: MLB

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Preview

The White Sox are in Tampa Bay Sunday afternoon for the final game of a three-game series vs the Rays.  The White Sox took the first game 7-5 in 11 innings, and the Rays took the second game 8-4, as Luis Patino kept the Reds in check with 5 hits.  The win allowed the Rays to maintain a four-game lead in the AL East. 

The White Sox continue to hit well as they are scoring five runs per game since the Field of Dreams game back on August 12, but haven't been able to win as much with poor pitching. 

The Rays bats have been on fire lately and now average 7.8 runs in their last six games.  They have not scored less than four runs since being shut out in Minnesota on August 14. 

Pitching matchup

White Sox

Reynaldo Lopez (2-0, 1.08 ERA) will be making just his fourth start of the season here.  He is coming off a win over the Oakland Athletics where he threw five one-hit shutout innings with a pair of walks and four strikeouts. He's been practically unhittable on the road this season as in six games (one start) he is 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA.  He doesn't have to pitch as well as he did last time out with this offense backing him but he has shown the ability to shut down a playoff-caliber lineup. 

Rays

Chris Archer (0-1, 6.23 ERA) takes the mound for the Rays.  This will be his first time back on the big-league field since April 10 as he suffered an elbow injury that has kept him out.  It will definitely be interesting to see how long he is able to pitch in this game as Kevin Cash isn't going to push him more than Archer can deal with and will be keeping a close eye on him.  He has not seen the White Sox since 2018 and the lineup went 6-for-23 (.261) off him with a home run and four runs scored with three walks and eight strikeouts. 

Prediction

The White Sox need to figure out how to beat the better teams in baseball as they are just 20-23 in games against teams with a winning record this season.  This could be the time they make a statement and having a questionable Chris Archer opposing you gives me the hope that the White Sox can hit off him and put a crooked number on the scoreboard.  Archer only has thrown 4.1 innings this season and did not pitch in 2020 so expecting anything out of him could be a stretch in itself. 

PICK: White Sox money line (+105)

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