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With a 3-2 win on Thursday night, the Rays kept themselves right in the thick of the playoff hunt with just six games remaining for every team. Two games behind the Oakland A's for the second wild card spot, three games behind the Orioles for the first wild card spot and four games behind the Yankees for the AL East lead, the Rays need every win they can get to stay in the hunt.
They can start with another win over the White Sox in game two of a four game series on Friday night. Chicago is in the midst of a close playoff race themselves, as their only option for the postseason is to make up two games on the Detroit Tigers for the AL Central title.
On Friday, Jeremy Hellickson is set to take the mound for the Rays, as he'll look to earn back-to-back victories for the first time since late July. In his last start he shut out the Blue Jays through just under six innings, striking out six, to improve his record to 9-10.
He's set to face Gavin Floyd of the White Sox who is also looking to even his season up as he carries a 10-11 record into the Friday matchup. In his last start, he allowed four runs in six innings to the Angels, but received just one run in support and earned a loss.
The first pitch on Friday is scheduled to be thrown at 8:10 p.m. ET at U.S. Cellular Field and will be televised on Sun Sports.