If not for bullpen meltdowns, the Chicago White Sox would be 6-0 against the Tampa Bay Rays this season. But that bullpen allowed a pinch-hit grand slam to blow a game earlier this year in Florida, and on Tuesday night closer Bobby Jenks blew a lead as the Rays rallied to win 3-2 in the ninth.
Jenks has struggled this month, allowing 10 hits and four walks in his last five outings. His ERA is over 9.00 in July. It’s unlikely he pitches tonight after appearing in the first two games with Tampa Bay; he saved the opener but loaded the bases in the ninth inning.
The White Sox are +120 underdogs on WagerWeb.com for tonight’s Game 3 of the series because they are starting an unknown pitcher.
Lefty John Danks, one of the best southpaws in the AL, was scheduled to start tonight. But manager Ozzie Guillen said Danks (8-6, 3.98) developed blister problems on his index finger in his July 10 start at Minnesota — when he walked the first four batters and five overall in 5 2/3 innings — that became circulation issues. Thus he was scratched.
Carlos Torres, who was 8-4 with a 2.20 ERA in Triple-A Charlotte, will make his major-league debut in place of Danks.
Rays manager Joe Maddon said he was planning to go with lefties against Danks, so his lineup won’t change because of the White Sox’s switch to a right-handed pitcher.
Tampa Bay, which has won eight of 11, starts James Shields. He is usually not the same pitcher on the road as he is at home, where Shields is dominant. He is 1-1 with a 4.94 ERA in four career starts against the White Sox. Shields is coming off a rough outing, allowing a season-high seven runs on 11 hits. He’s 0-1 with a 4.96 ERA in his last five starts.
He’ll have to deal with the hottest rookie in the AL in Gordon Beckham. The White Sox third baseman, after starting the season 0-for-13, is batting .304 and he has 14 hits in his last 25 at-bats. White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski is 10 for 20 against the Rays in 2009.
MLB Betting at WagerWeb.com
Bet on Sports at Bodog Sportsbook and cash in on your share of huge bonuses!
Popularity: 1% [?]
Related posts:
- Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox Betting Odds & Stats
- Monday MLB: Tampa Bay Rays (51-41) at Chicago White Sox (47-44)
- Wednesday MLB: Athletics (12-9) at Rays (15-5)
- Red Sox go for sweep of Rays on Wednesday
- Rays’ Crawford likely out of Wednesday’s game vs. Orioles (video)
Browse Timeline
- « Wednesday MLB: St. Louis Cardinals (51-45) at Houston Astros (48-46)
- » Wednesday MLB: Cincinnati Reds (44-49) at L.A. Dodgers (60-34)
