Tampa Bay @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 26, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 4, Chi. White Sox 5

The Chicago White Sox have solved the Tampa Bay Rays’ pitching staff en route to wins in the first two of a four-game set. They will try to become the first team this season to figure out Matt Moore when they host the Rays again on Saturday. The White Sox have even gotten some production out of Adam Dunn in the first two games and got some help in unlikely places in Friday’s 5-4 triumph with homers from Tyler Greene and Hector Gimenez.

The Rays had put together a string of six straight quality starts from the rotation before coming to Chicago, where the White Sox have knocked around Jeremy Hellickson and Roberto Hernandez. Dunn entered the series batting .100 but delivered a solo homer in Thursday’s 5-2 victory and had his first multi-hit game since April 3 with a pair of hits and an RBI in Friday’s contest. Chicago was missing infielder Jeff Keppinger and gave regular catcher Tyler Flowers the day off on Friday, allowing Greene and Gimenez to step in produce.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida (Tampa Bay), Comcast SportsNet (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Matt Moore (4-0, 1.04 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Gavin Floyd (0-3, 4.98)

Moore has been dominating in all four of his starts this season and might be coming off the best one, when he held the New York Yankees to a run on two hits while striking out nine in eight innings. The 23-year-old left-hander has 29 strikeouts in 26 total innings while surrendering 10 hits. Moore has made two career starts against the White Sox, going 1-1 with a 1.46 ERA. He allowed one hit in 5 1/3 scoreless innings at Chicago on Sept. 29, 2012.

Floyd has gotten a total of nine runs of support from the White Sox offense in four starts and had his best effort in a no-decision his last time out. The right-hander allowed one run and three hits in six innings against Minnesota but Chicago lost 5-3. Floyd has had some success against the Rays in the past, owning a 5-1 record with a 2.48 ERA in six career starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Moore is bidding to become the first pitcher in franchise history to win five games in April.

2. Keppinger (back) and Chicago OF Dewayne Wise (neck) are both day-to-day.

3. Tampa Bay SS Yunel Escobar (hamstring) has missed the first two games of the series but is planning to return on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Rays 3, White Sox 1