The offense is mainly to blame for Chicago’s struggles. The Sox haven't led in their last 51 innings, and they went 21 innings without consecutive hits until the fifth inning of Thursday’ 4-1 loss to the Rays. The White Sox have scored a total of 13 runs during their losing streak. For the first nine games this season, the White Sox offense produced a .307 average, a .367 on-base percentage, 11 home runs and 23 doubles, while scoring 62 runs. During the past nine games, the White Sox are hitting .193. Adam Dunn, for example, is now in a 3-for-26 slump with 15 strikeouts. Third baseman Brent Morel is in a 1-for-16 slide. The current 7-11 record for the White Sox is the same mark they had after 18 games in 2010.

The Rays started the season terribly (1-8) but are now up to .500 at 9-9. They seem to have taken off once Manny Ramirez quit on the team. The Rays have won five of six since that happened. Tampa Bay starts Jeff Niemann tonight. He is 0-2 with a staff-high 6.32 ERA. Niemann did pitch seven innings last time out for only the second time in his past 10 starts. Left-handers are hitting .406 against him. The White Sox turn to Gavin Floyd. Floyd (1-1, 4.29) tossed eight scoreless innings with eight strikeouts on April 10 against the Rays. He is 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA career vs. Tampa Bay.

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