The Oakland Athletics will head east to play the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. This AL matchup will begin at 7:10 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to Fox Sports Sun to catch the game.
Oakland Athletics vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Both teams have made bettors happy this year. The Rays are 80-65 straight up (SU) and 82-63 against the spread (ATS). The team’s gained 22.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 20.9 units (ATS). Tampa Bay has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven. On the other hand, the Athletics have gone 89-58 SU this year and are 79-67 ATS. In total, the team’s gained 37.7 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 11.2 units ATS. Oakland has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.
Tampa Bay games have had an over/under record of 63-77-5 in 2018. Athletics games have gone under 69 times, gone over 68 times and pushed on nine occasions.
Edwin Jackson will get the start for the visiting Athletics. The right-handed Jackson (5-3, 3.26 ERA) has racked up 56 strikeouts in 77.1 innings so far. He has yet to face the Rays this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Rays will put the ball in the hands of Diego Castillo (3-2, 3.45 ERA, 1.04 WHIP), who has 49 strikeouts and 18 walks. Castillo did not pitch in the majors in 2017.
As a unit, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has yielded 3.9 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 3.68 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.63 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.3 K/9.
The Tampa Bay offense is putting up 4.3 runs per outing, including 6.1 per game over its last 10 games and 5.4 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .279/.350/.473 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that span.
The Rays’ hitters have been led by third baseman Matt Duffy and second baseman Joey Wendle. Duffy is hitting .297/.359/.370 with four home runs, 42 RBIs and 52 runs scored, and Wendle’s line is .293/.339/.424 with seven homers, 51 RBIs, 52 runs and 13 stolen bases.
For the visitors, Oakland’s pitchers have allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.17 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 6.58 K/9. The bullpen has logged a solid ERA of just 3.20, along with a WHIP of 1.24.
Athletics hitters have slashed .251/.326/.438 on their way to 4.9 runs scored per game this year, including 6.2 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 6.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Oakland’s offensive production has been powered by shortstop Marcus Semien and second baseman Jed Lowrie, who collectively have swatted 33 home runs. Semien is slashing .259/.323/.384 with 12 home runs, 56 RBIs, 83 runs and 14 stolen bases, while Lowrie (.272/.359/.459) is up to 21 homers, 90 RBIs and 69 runs scored.
The Rays have gained 12.0 units and are 57-47 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 49 of those games, compared to 52 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers.
Oakland Athletics vs. Tampa Bay Rays MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – OVER
