The Chicago White Sox aren’t doing well. They’re in the midst of a three-game game losing streak and have dropped five of their last six.
The Tampa Bay Rays are coming off two straight four-game series, one against the Texas Rangers and the other against the New York Yankees. They split both.
Will the White Sox get back in the win column? Will the Rays take Game 1 at home with a significant starting pitching advantage?
Check out our MLB picks and predictions for the Chicago White Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, June 3 to find out.
White Sox vs Rays odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
Tampa Bay opened between -200 across most books. There has not been any line movement yet. The total has been set at an even 7 across all books.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until first pitch and be sure to check out the full MLB odds before placing your bets.
White Sox vs Rays predictions
Picks made on 6/3/2022 at 7:20 a.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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White Sox vs Rays game info
• Location: Tropicana Field, Tampa, FL
• Date: Friday, June 3, 2022
• First pitch: 7:10 p.m. ET
• TV: Bally Sports Sun, NBCS-Chicago
White Sox vs Rays betting preview
Starting pitchers
Vince Velasquez (2-3, 5.30 ERA): Velasquez finds himself as a veteran presence on the mound in Chicago. He spent several up and down years (mostly down) in Philadelphia to begin his career and threw 12 innings for San Diego a year ago. The peripherals are highly concerning. He possesses a 6.25 expected ERA, 5.11 FIP, and 4.49 expected FIP, while giving up a ton of hard contact, as his 9.6% barrel rate is the fifth-highest among pitchers with over 100 batted ball events.
Shane McClanahan (5-2, 2.01 ERA): The 25-year-old left-hander has been one of the best pitchers in the game. After a successful 123-inning debut a year ago, he’s looking like an ace to begin 2022. All of his numbers are fantastic. His 2.01 ERA is elite and his 2.45 xERA doesn’t lag far behind. His 2.60 FIP is great, but his 1.83 xFIP is even better. He’s striking out a whopping 12.5 batters per nine innings while issuing only 1.85 walks. He’s successfully limited hard contact with a 4% barrel rate.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
White Sox: Yoan Moncada 3B (Questionable), Tim Anderson SS (Out), Eloy Jimenez LF (Out), Joe Kelly RP (Out), Kendall Graveman RP (Out), Garrett Crochet RP (Out).
Rays: Wander Franco SS (Out), Brandon Lowe 2B (Out), Andre Kittredge RP (Out), JT Chargois RP (Out), Chris Mazza RP (Out), Peter Fairbanks RP (Out), Nick Anderson RP (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Rays are 42-15 in their last 57 home games vs. a right-handed starter. Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Rays
White Sox vs Rays picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Moneyline analysis
Both teams are a little banged up heading into this contest. The Rays will still be without their middle infield duo of Wander Franco and Brandon Lowe, while the White Sox are severely short-handed, absent the services of Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, and Eloy Jimenez. The Sox have more significant losses, and it’s reflected in their three-game losing skid.
The White Sox have not fared well in the role of road underdog, going just 12-40 in their last 52 such games. They’re just 16-46 in their last 62 games as the underdog overall.
This is a spot where the Rays take care of business. They’re 42-15 in their last 57 home games against a right-handed starting pitcher, and 63-29 in their last 92 home games overall. They usually take care of business against subpar competition, going 55-24 in their last 79 against a team with a losing record.
This is a game in which the Rays are the rightful favorite at home. They have a significant starting pitching edge as well. McClanahan has huge advantages over Velazquez in basically every category: 2.01 to 5.30 ERA, 2.60 to 5.11 FIP, and 4% to 9.6% barrel rate. McClanahan is an ace, while Velazquez is one of the most ineffective starting pitchers in the entirety of Major League Baseball.
One concern is that the White Sox do hit lefties well, ranking sixth with a .760 OPS against southpaws. That number does drop to 15th over the last 10 days, but an unlucky .167 BABIP is most likely to blame. The Rays have also been in a dreadful slump, ranking dead last in wOBA and wRC+ over the last 10 days.
The chasm in starting pitching is vast enough that I still like the Rays.
Prediction: Rays moneyline (-200 at BetMGM)
Over/Under analysis
You’ll be hard-pressed to find me playing any Unders when Vince Velazquez is on the mound. He’s giving up a ton of hard contact and all of his peripherals paint a dark picture. The Rays are in a slump, but facing a pitcher with a 9.6% barrel rate is the perfect recipe to get back on track.
McClanahan is fantastic as noted earlier, but Chicago does hit lefties well. They’re down a few big bats in the lineup, but I still like their ability to contribute at least a little bit to this Over.
The Over is 4-0 in Chicago’s last four overall and 5-2 in its last seven road games.
I don’t feel as strongly about the total as I do on the side, but I have a slight lean toward the Over.
Prediction: Over 7 (-118 at FanDuel)
Best bet
I’m targeting the Rays for my best bet this evening.
Velazquez has some of the ugliest numbers you’ll see from a starting pitcher in 2022, highlighted by a 6.25 xERA and a 9.6% barrel rate. The Rays have been slumping, but one would think this is a perfect get-right spot at home.
For as cold as the Rays have been at the plate, Chicago hasn’t been much better, ranking 25th in wOBA over the last 10 days.
McClanahan has been an ace this year and has a stellar 2.01 ERA and 1.83 xFIP. He gives the Rays a huge starting pitching advantage, the extent to which cannot be overstated.
Give me the Rays to cover the -1.5 run line.
Pick: Rays -1.5 (+106 at FanDuel)
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