No Rays of sunshine for White Sox in four-game skid (Apr 09, 2018)
The Chicago White Sox will try to stop a four-game losing streak when they host the Tampa Bay Rays in the second meeting of a three-game series Tuesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Chicago (3-6) has been outscored 21-12 during its early season skid. The White Sox are 0-4 at home this season as wet, cold weather has frustrated hitters and pitchers alike. It is the club's first 0-4 start at home since 1987.
"We've had a couple over this homestand actually where we haven't been able to get that big hit," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said to The Athletic. "We're in the mindset sometimes of a hitter, they start thinking about the hit as opposed to the pitch and just getting something that you can handle."
Tampa Bay (2-8) held on for a 5-4 win in Monday's series opener, which snapped an eight-game losing streak. The game marked the Rays' first road victory of the season after dropping their first five away from home.
Rays outfielder Mallex Smith will try to stay hot at the plate after matching a career high with four hits to go along with two stolen bases Monday. The performance boosted Smith's batting average to .350 (7-for-20).
The last time Smith had four hits also was in the Windy City, but on the North Side against the Chicago Cubs.
"I don't know (what it is about Chicago)," Smith said with a big grin during an interview with Fox Sports Florida. "I think this cold air and wind just really lights up my spirits. It's a nice city here in Chicago."
White Sox right-hander Carson Fulmer (0-0, 5.40 ERA) will make his second start of the season. The 24-year-old showed promising flashes in his season debut as he allowed three runs in five innings to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Fulmer has faced the Rays once in his brief career -- a two-inning relief appearance in which he gave up one run. He picked up the win out of the bullpen over Tampa Bay, which is about 80 miles from where he stood out as a prep athlete in Winter Haven, Fla.
For Tampa Bay, left-hander Blake Snell (0-1, 5.00 ERA) will try to bounce back after the New York Yankees roughed him up for five runs in 3 1/3 innings his last time out on April 4. Snell gave up home runs to Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez in that game, during which he threw 90 pitches while getting only 10 outs.
Snell, 25, has been far more effective against the White Sox during his two-plus seasons in the majors. The suburban Seattle native is 1-0 with a perfect 0.00 ERA in two career starts against Chicago. He has not allowed a run in 9 1/3 innings, including a 6 2/3-inning effort last year and a rain-shortened 2 2/3-inning outing in 2016.
White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia will look to reboot his bat after going 0-for-5 in the series opener. Garcia entered the day with a three-game hitting streak and five multi-hit performances this season to lead the team.
