Venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL
First Pitch: 7:35 PM ET
Watch Live: FDSSUN, CHSN, MLB.TV
Tampa Bay is looking to rebound after a loss to Baltimore, while the White Sox arrive in Florida riding a three-game road win streak, fresh off a sweep of the Pirates — their first road sweep in over three years.
This is the first meeting of the season between the two clubs. Tampa Bay remains in the thick of the AL Wild Card race, while Chicago continues to build on incremental improvements after a historically poor 2024 campaign.
Starting Pitchers – July 21, 2025
| Team | Pitcher | Record | ERA | WHIP | K/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rays | Shane Baz (RHP) | 8–5 | 4.17 | 1.26 | 8.8 |
| White Sox | Sean Burke (RHP) | 4–8 | 4.36 | 1.25 | 7.4 |
- Shane Baz has pitched five or more innings in 12 straight starts, including a 6.1 IP gem vs. Boston where he allowed just one earned run.
- Sean Burke has quietly improved, posting five quality starts and striking out 80 batters in 97.2 IP. He’s held opponents to a .251 AVG and has pitched five or more innings in six straight outings.
Players to Watch
Chicago White Sox
- Miguel Vargas: .222 AVG, 25 doubles, 11 HR, 38 RBI; leads team in power production
- Luis Robert Jr.: 10-for-29 with 2 HR over last 10 games; approaching 100 career home runs
- Andrew Benintendi: 11 HR, .238 AVG; consistent veteran bat
- Lenyn Sosa: .270 AVG; team leader in batting average
Tampa Bay Rays
- Yandy Díaz: .294 AVG, 15 HR, 57 RBI; batting .500 over last five games
- Junior Caminero: 25 HR, 65 RBI; ranks 8th in MLB in HR and 13th in RBI
- Brandon Lowe: .269 AVG, 19 HR; day-to-day with foot injury
- Jonathan Aranda: .316 AVG; team leader in batting average
Team Comparison – Key Stats
| Category | White Sox | Rays |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Avg | .223 (29th MLB) | .258 (2nd MLB) |
| Slugging % | .351 (28th MLB) | .406 (13th MLB) |
| Home Runs | 80 (28th MLB) | 110 (14th MLB) |
| Runs/Game | 3.6 | 4.7 |
| Team ERA | 4.36 | 4.17 |
| Last 10 Games | 5–5 | 3–7 |
Tampa Bay holds the edge in nearly every offensive category, while Chicago’s pitching has shown flashes of improvement. The Rays have struggled to close out series lately, going 3–7 in their last 10 games, while the White Sox have won five of their last 10, including three straight on the road.
Game Odds
Chicago White Sox 9
Tampa Bay Rays – 205
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Sunday, July 20, 2025
