Tampa Bay @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 27, 2012 ) Tampa Bay 3, Chi. White Sox 2

The Tampa Bay Rays attempt to stretch their season-best winning streak to nine games when they visit the slumping Chicago White Sox in Friday’s second contest of a four-game set. Tampa Bay won the opener on Evan Longoria’s ninth-inning homer to move two games behind the Oakland Athletics in the American League wild-card chase. Chicago has lost eight of nine games to slip two games behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central.

Chicago’s late-season collapse has placed the White Sox in jeopardy of missing the playoffs after leading the division for more than two months. The White Sox have scored just 22 runs in their last nine games. Tampa Bay has picked a great time to put together the club’s longest winning streak since notching a franchise-record 12-game victory stretch in June 2004. Thursday’s victory was Tampa Bay’s first in four meetings with Chicago this season.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), WCIU (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jeremy Hellickson (9-10, 3.20 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Gavin Floyd (10-11, 4.56)

Hellickson pitched 5 2/3 innings of five-hit ball against the Toronto Blue Jays last Sunday to snap a five-start winless streak. He has given up five or fewer hits in each of his past five outings but lasted less than six innings in three of them. Hellickson has not previously faced the White Sox.

Floyd is pitching against Tampa Bay for the first time this season but has a 4-1 mark and 2.57 ERA in five career outings against the Rays. He has limited Tampa Bay hitters to a collective .192 average. Floyd lost to the Los Angeles Angels in his last start when he gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rays closer Fernando Rodney set a club record with his 46th save in the opener. The previous record of 45 was set by Rafael Soriano in 2010.

2. White Sox DH Adam Dunn was hitless in three at-bats Thursday and is 1-for-14 with nine strikeouts against the Rays this season. He has a .148 average in 61 career at-bats against Tampa Bay.

3. Tampa Bay C Jose Molina (quadriceps) missed his second straight game and is unlikely to play Friday.