The Oakland Athletics will take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The game gets underway 1:10 p.m. ET and NBC Sports – California will broadcast this AL matchup.
Oakland Athletics at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
The Rays are 81-66 straight up (SU) and 82-64 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 21.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 19.9 units (ATS). The Athletics have gone 90-59 SU this year and are 80-68 ATS. In total, the team’s accumulated 37.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 11.0 units ATS.
Rays games have an over/under record of 63-78-5 in 2018. Oakland has an over/under record of 68-71-9.
Mike Fiers will get the nod for the visiting Athletics. The right-handed Fiers is 12-6 with a 3.29 ERA and 129 strikeouts. He has yet to face Tampa Bay this year, but he did make two starts against the Rays in 2017, posting a 0-1 record against them with a 7.15 ERA and seven strikeouts.
The Rays will send Diego Castillo (3-2, 3.31 ERA) to the mound. Castillo has 53 punchouts and 18 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.00. Castillo is 0-0 with four strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA in one start against Oakland this year.
Oakland’s pitching staff allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.15 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 6.58 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 3.24, along with a WHIP of 1.24 and a K/9 of 8.98.
The Athletics offense has slashed .251/.325/.437 on its way to 4.8 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.5 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Oakland’s hitters have been paced by shortstop Marcus Semien and second baseman Jed Lowrie, who collectively have belted 33 home runs. Semien is hitting .259/.325/.384 with 12 home runs, 56 RBIs, 84 runs and 14 steals, while Lowrie is hitting .270 with 21 homers, 91 RBIs and 69 runs scored.
For the home team, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 3.9 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starters have a 3.66 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.64 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.3 K/9.
The Tampa Bay offense is putting up 4.3 runs per outing, including 5.6 per game over its last 10 games and 3.4 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .212/.313/.385 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Third baseman Matt Duffy and outfielder Mallex Smith have led the Rays’ hitters this year. Duffy is slashing .297/.360/.369 with four home runs, 42 RBIs and 52 runs scored, while Smith’s line is .303/.371/.416 with 128 hits, 36 RBIs, 55 runs and 33 steals.
The Rays have gained 10.8 units and are 57-48 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 49 of those games, as opposed to 53 that’ve hit the under against righties.
Oakland Athletics vs. Tampa Bay Rays Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has hit in four of Oakland’s last seven contests.
- Oakland has recorded 23.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 23.4 over its last five.
- Both teams have hit 13 home runs over their last 10 games.
