The Oakland Athletics are set to take on the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Wild Card Elimination Game. The first pitch is scheduled be thrown at 8:09 p.m. ET and this loser-goes-home matchup will be nationally televised on ESPN.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Oakland Athletics Odds
Sportsbooks have Oakland (-130) as the favorite over Tampa Bay (+120). If you’re thinking the game’s total is going to go below 8 runs scored, then bookmakers are putting up -110 odds to play the under. Playing the over can return -110 odds. This game currently has a runline of Rays +1.5 (-175) and Athletics -1.5 (+155).
In the regular season, the Athletics are 97-65 straight up (SU) and 89-73 against the spread (ATS). The team’s gained 22.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 12.3 units ATS. Oakland has covered the spread only once in its last seven games and the under has hit in six of those seven. The Rays, on the other hand, have gone 96-66 SU this year and are 82-80 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 0.5 units for moneyline gamblers and 8.8 units ATS. Tampa Bay is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Oakland games have an over/under record of 72-85-5 in 2019. The Rays have an over/under record of 79-75-8.
Right-hander Charlie Morton will get the start for the visiting Rays. Morton is 16-6 with a 3.05 ERA and 240 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with 13 strikeouts and a 0.68 ERA against Oakland this year (two starts).
The Athletics are handing the ball to lefty Sean Manaea (4-0, 1.21 ERA), who’s got 30 strikeouts and seven walks as well as a 0.78 WHIP. Manaea hasn’t faced the Rays yet this year and only made one start against them in 2018 (0-1, 7.20 ERA and three strikeouts across five innings).
Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starters own a 3.64 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 10.20 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.71, along with a WHIP of 1.13.
The Rays offense has slashed .254/.327/.431 on its way to 4.7 runs scored per game this year, including 4.5 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Tommy Pham and Austin Meadows continue to lead Tampa Bay’s offense. Pham is slashing .273/.369/.450 with 21 home runs, 68 RBIs, 77 runs and 25 steals, while Meadows is hitting .291 with 33 homers, 89 RBIs and 83 runs scored.
For the home team, Oakland’s pitching staff has given up 4.2 runs per game overall in 2019. The club’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.02, a WHIP of 1.24 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.1. The bullpen has a 3.89 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 9.4 K/9.
The Oakland hitters have put up 5.2 runs per contest, including 3.7 per game over its last 10 games and 2.2 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .207/.309/.348 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that span.
The Athletics’ batters have been led by shortstop Marcus Semien and third baseman Matt Chapman. Semien is hitting .285/.369/.522 with 33 home runs, 92 RBIs and 123 runs scored, and Chapman’s line is .249/.342/.506 with 36 homers, 91 RBIs and 102 runs.
The Rays have lost 4.7 units and are 30-27 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in 25 of those games, compared to 29 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Athletics have netted 3.6 units and are 59-54 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in 51 of those games, compared to 59 that’ve gone under.
Rays vs. Athletics MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Tampa Bay has logged 15 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Oakland has 11 XBH over its last five.
- Oakland has recorded 19.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 15.8 over its last five.
- The Rays have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games. The Athletics have hit 11 over their last 10.
- The Rays have an OPS of .758 this season and an OPS of .754 against left-handed pitchers. The Athletics’ OPS sits at .777 overall and .815 against lefties.
