White Sox @ Rays

Who will WIN this matchup?

Chicago White Sox (43-51)

@ Tampa Bay Rays (56-44)

Starting Pitchers:

Giolito (CHW): 11-4; 3.23 ERA

Snell (TB) 8-5; 4.26 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Chicago White Sox: 2-8

Tampa Bay Rays: 5-5

Current odds:

Chicago White Sox: (+145)

Tampa Bay Rays: (-155)

• The Chicago White Sox’s post-All-Star Game swoon was no match for the one currently plaguing the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays will once again try to bust out of their slump and even the series at one win apiece when they host the White Sox in the second of a three-game series on Saturday. Tampa Bay had a chance to move up in the American League East standings this week with four games at the first-place New York Yankees but dropped the final three after winning the series opener and followed that up with a 9-2 setback at home to the White Sox on Friday. The Rays are struggling on both sides of the ball – getting outscored 28-8 during the four-game slide – and sit nine-games behind the Yankees and one game behind the Oakland Athletics for the second AL wild-card spot.

• The White Sox lost their first seven games after the All-Star break but had little trouble in the opener as Leury Garcia doubled three times among his four hits and Yoan Moncada drove in a pair on three hits. The Rays will try to stop the slide behind left-hander Ryan Yarbrough, while Chicago counters with All-Star righty Lucas Giolito on Saturday.

• Giolito owned a 2.22 ERA after improving to 10-1 with a win over the Yankees on June 14 but has since slumped to 1-3 with a 6.48 ERA over his last five outings. The 25-year-old was reached for three runs on seven hits and one walk over six innings to suffer a loss at Kansas City on Monday. Giolito was solid in his lone outing at Tampa Bay last season, permitting one run on two hits over seven innings without factoring in the decision on Aug. 3.

• Yarbrough is making only his fifth start but is fourth on the staff with 69 2/3 innings pitched thanks to his status as the long reliever that usually follows an opener. The 27-year-old nearly made history in that role as part of the first combined perfect game at Baltimore on Sunday when he followed two spotless innings from Ryne Stanek with six of his own before allowing two hits and a run in the ninth inning. Yarbrough has surrendered a total of three runs in 21 1/3 innings over his last five appearances.

• Moncada is 6-for-10 in the last two games after going 1-for-18 in the previous five contests.

• Rays 3B Matt Duffy (hamstring) is on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham and could make his season debut next week.

• Tampa Bay LHP Colin Poche has allowed a total of 10 runs and nine hits in four innings over his last three appearances.