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White Sox-Rays Preview

May 27, 2010 - 5:12 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (19-26) at Tampa Bay (32-14), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Tampa Bay Rays' poor hitting at Tropicana Field has lasted for nearly a month now. Jeff Niemann, in particular, is deserving of much more run support there.

Following a terrible performance against an AL East rival, the Rays look to avoid losing a season-high fourth straight game as they send Niemann to the mound against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.

Tampa Bay (32-15) has the majors' best record, but it was swept in a three-game series with Boston, tightening the AL East race. The Rays, who lost 11-3 to the Red Sox on Wednesday night, lead the Yankees by 3 1/2 games and Boston by 5 1/2.

Overall, Tampa Bay has been strong at the plate, but another unproductive series from its hitters at home is troubling. The Rays have been held to three or fewer runs in nine of 11 games at Tropicana Field, and went 2 for 25 with runners in scoring position versus Boston.

"There are certain things we've been doing well that we did not do well," manager Joe Maddon said.

Center fielder B.J. Upton, batting .146 in his last 23 games, is expected back in the lineup after getting a night off. Upton is hitting .353 in 11 home games versus the White Sox (20-26), and another big performance against them in the opener of this four-game series would certainly be welcome by Niemann (4-0, 2.54 ERA).

Niemann is still seeking his first win at Tropicana Field this season despite a 2.95 ERA in four starts there. Tampa Bay's poor hitting is clearly the culprit, with Niemann getting a total of five runs to work in those contests.

He won his last outing, giving up two runs in seven innings of a 4-2 victory over Houston on Saturday night. The right-hander hasn't given up more than three runs in any of his nine starts.

Niemann is 1-2 with a 4.67 ERA in three starts versus the White Sox.

Chicago will give the ball to Gavin Floyd (2-4, 6.31), who was sharp in his last start, yielding one run and striking out seven in 6 1-3 innings to earn a win in Chicago's 4-1 victory over Florida on Saturday. Floyd gave up five or more runs in each of his previous three outings.

"He is not a kid any more, he's not a guy we need to teach or be careful what he is going to do, how many pitches he's going to throw," manager Ozzie Guillen said. He has stuff to win 20 games, it's about making him believe that."

Floyd has posted a 3.21 ERA in winning his two starts against the Rays, striking out 14 in 14 innings.

Guillen and White Sox starter Mark Buehrle were ejected for protesting a pair of balks in the first three innings before Chicago beat Cleveland 5-4 on Wednesday. Guillen was ejected for the 22nd time in his career.

Still, the White Sox regrouped to win their first road series of the season.

Mark Kotsay is suddenly hot at the plate for Chicago, going 5 for 12 (.417) with a homer, three doubles and four RBIs in his last three games. The veteran, though, is 0 for 11 in his last three games at Tampa Bay.

The Rays won two of three games at Chicago from April 20-22.