Chicago White Sox at Tampa Bay Rays odds, picks and predictions

The Chicago White Sox (7-12) and Tampa Bay Rays (16-3) open a 3-game series Friday. First pitch from Tropicana Field is set for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the White Sox vs. Raysodds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: first meeting; the White Sox won the 2022 series 4-2.

Chicago lost 5-2 vs. the Philadelphia Phillies as a +104 home underdog Wednesday. The White Sox split a doubleheader on Tuesday en route to losing that series 2-1 and finishing a 6-game homestand with just 2 wins. Chicago leads the league with 190 strikeouts.

Tampa has been the hottest team in the MLB to start the season, including a 13-0 start that tied a modern-1900 record. The Rays won 8-0 as -252 home favorites Wednesday vs. the Cincinnati Reds. They also held the Reds off the board in a 10-0 victory Tuesday and won the series 2-1.

Tampa Bay ranks 1st in the league in batting average (.288), wins (16), home runs (42), ERA (2.57) and RBIs (130).