The Chicago White Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays will both be trying to pick up a win on Thursday when they battle at Tropicana Field in Game 1 of their ALDS.
The White Sox will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander Javier Vazquez in this game. Vazquez has a 12-16 record and a 4.67 ERA this season.
It'll be James Shields toeing the rubber for the Rays in this contest. Righthander Shields is 14-8 with a 3.56 ERA so far this season.
Oddsmakers currently have the Rays listed as 185-moneyline favorites versus the White Sox, while the game's total is sitting at 8½.
John Danks tossed eight shutout innings on Tuesday night to lead the White Sox past the Twins 1-0 and into the playoffs.
The White Sox got the victory as -143 home favorites in that contest, while the combined score fell well UNDER the night's posted total (9).
Ben Zobrist homered in the 11th inning on Sunday afternoon to give the Rays an 8-7 win over the Tigers.
The Rays had been listed at EVEN on the road in that season-ending contest, while the combined score went OVER the day's posted total (9).
Team records:
Chicago: 88-74 SU
Tampa Bay: 97-65 SU
Chicago most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 3-7
Before playing Tampa Bay are 4-6
After playing Minnesota are 4-6
After a win are 4-6<\/p>\n
Tampa Bay most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing Chi White Sox are 7-3
After playing Detroit are 5-5
After a win are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chi White Sox's last 5 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Chi White Sox's last 15 games when playing Tampa Bay
Chi White Sox are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
Chi White Sox are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing at home against Chi White Sox
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Tampa Bay's last 13 games at home
Tampa Bay is 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing Chi White Sox
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games
Next up:
Tampa Bay home to Chi White Sox, Friday, October 3<\/p>\n