Tommy Pham and the Tampa Bay Rays will be taking the field versus the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in a Saturday showdown. This AL matchup will begin at 4:07 p.m. ET and fans hoping to watch it can tune in to NBC Sports – California.
Tampa Bay Rays at Oakland Athletics Odds
The Athletics are 40-37 straight up (SU) and 36-40 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 0.5 units for moneyline bettors and 5.2 units ATS. The Rays have gone 44-32 SU this year and are 41-34 against the spread. In total, the club has lost 2.5 units for gamblers taking the moneyline, but have gained 4.2 units ATS.
Athletics games have an over/under record of 38-35-3 so far in 2019. The Rays have been a decent under bet with a total record of 30-40-5.
Right-hander Yonny Chirinos is the projected starter for the visiting Rays. Chirinos (7-3, 3.00 ERA) has recorded 68 punchouts in 80 innings so far. He’s 0-0 with seven strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA against Oakland this year.
The Athletics will deploy righty Mike Fiers (7-3, 4.38 ERA) to the mound. Fiers has 60 strikeouts and 26 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.12. Fiers is 1-0 with four strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA in one start against Tampa Bay this year.
Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 3.5 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 2.88 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10.05 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.63, along with a K/9 of 8.77.
The Rays offense has slashed .257/.331/.429 on its way to 4.6 runs scored per game in 2019, including 3.6 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Outfielders Tommy Pham and Avisail Garcia continue to lead Tampa Bay’s offense. Pham is slashing .299/.404/.485 with 11 home runs, 33 RBIs, 34 runs and seven stolen bases. Garcia has a .289 average with 11 homers, 34 RBIs, 36 runs and seven stolen bases.
In the home-team dugout, Oakland’s pitchers have allowed 4.5 runs per game overall this year. The club’s starting pitching staff has a 4.06 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 7.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.39 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 8.9 K/9.
Oakland’s offense has put up 5.0 runs per outing, including 6.1 per game over its last 10 games and 7.0 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .281/.356/.585 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Athletics’ batters have been led by shortstop Marcus Semien and third baseman Matt Chapman. Semien is hitting .277/.361/.439 with 10 home runs, 38 RBIs and 52 runs scored, while Chapman’s line is .265/.351/.519 with 17 homers, 41 RBIs and 49 runs.
The Rays have lost 1.4 units and are 25-23 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 22 of those games, compared to 22 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Athletics have lost 6.7 units and are 25-30 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 26 of those games, compared to 27 that went under the total.
Rays vs. Athletics Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- The under has cashed in only two of Oakland’s last seven games.
- Oakland has recorded 24.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 26.2 over its last five.
- The Rays have hit six home runs in their last 10 games. The Athletics have hit 18 over their last 10.
- The Rays have a total OPS of .760 this season and an OPS of .778 when facing right-handed pitchers. The Athletics’ OPS sits at .762 overall and .734 against righties.
