Free Pick | MLB | Friday | April 28

Don’t miss a 7* top play from Nelly’s tonight – our first of the season in the American League!

Free Pick Friday: #920 Chicago White Sox (Giolito) +140 over Tampa Bay Rays (Eflin) 6:10 PM CT

Tampa Bay crushed Chicago 14-5 last night to move to 21-5 on the season to pace MLB. The White Sox had 11 hits last night and 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position for an encouraging sign and Chicago is a much better hitting team vs. right-handers this season. Zach Eflin has pitched well in his first season with the Rays after seven seasons in Philadelphia, but he has made just three starts, all vs. three of the lesser teams in the AL. That does include five innings vs. Chicago last week with one run allowed and four strikeouts but facing Eflin for a second time in as many weeks could be an advantage. Eflin has a career 7.6 K/9 with a 4.32 FIP as it is unlikely the Rays have been able suddenly transform him into an upper tier starter. There aren’t many faults in the profile for the Rays, but Tampa Bay has been less productive vs. right-handers by a significant margin, scoring fewer than half as many runs per nine over the past 10 games. Tampa Bay was shut out in back-to-back games earlier this week and has been held to four or fewer runs in four of the past six games. The Rays won 4-1 hosting Chicago last week in this pitching pairing, but the Rays had only five hits as Lucas Giolitto pitched well but allowed two early home runs. Giolito has a much stronger career track record than Eflin and much more potential to create strikeouts with a 9.0 K/9 in 28 innings this season. On an eight-game slide the White Sox will take some courage to support, but the price is right for the underdog in what could be a tight game with Chicago having the stronger starter and good recent bullpen results.