The Oakland Athletics are playing host to the Tampa Bay Rays at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. NBC Sports – California will be showing this AL matchup and the game gets underway at 10:05 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Oakland Athletics Odds
Oakland (-170) is hosting this game as the favorite over Tampa Bay (+160) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this night game at 8 runs. Odds for betting on the game’s total stand at -120 for the over and +100 for the under. The game’s current runline odds sit at -135 for betting the Rays +1.5 runs and +115 for the Athletics -1.5.
The Rays are 27-26 SU and have gone 27-25 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 0.4 units for moneyline gamblers and 1.7 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Athletics, on the other hand, are 28-27 SU and 25-29 ATS. They’ve gained 4.0 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 6.3 units ATS. Oakland has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the under has cashed in six of those seven.
Neither side has been an obvious over/under play this year. Oakland games have an over/under record of 25-26-3 thus far in 2018. Tampa Bay has an over/under record of 25-25-2.
The right-handed Nathan Eovaldi is getting the nod for the visiting Rays. Eovaldi is 0-0 with an ERA. He has yet to face the Athletics this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Athletics will turn to lefty Sean Manaea (5-5, 3.34 ERA), who has 53 punchouts and 13 walks as well as a WHIP of 0.96. Manaea only made one start against the Rays in 2017 (1-0, 2.57 ERA and five strikeouts across seven innings).
As a unit, Oakland’s pitchers have allowed 4.4 runs per game overall this season. Its starters have an ERA of 4.22, a WHIP of 1.18 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.1. The bullpen has a 3.54 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 8.2 K/9.
Oakland’s hitters have put up 4.3 runs per contest, including 2.9 per game over its last 10 games and 1.8 per game over their last five. The team has hit .173/.240/.310 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Jed Lowrie and shortstop Marcus Semien have led the Athletics’ hitters this year. Lowrie is slashing .307/.371/.509 with nine home runs, 39 RBIs and 20 runs scored, while Semien is batting .268 with five homers, 24 RBIs and 35 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 4.3 runs per game and its starters own a 4.06 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 8.48 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.92, along with a WHIP of 1.21 and a K/9 of 8.36.
Rays hitters have slashed .262/.336/.403 on their way to 4.2 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.4 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Tampa Bay’s offense has been powered by first baseman C.J. Cron and catcher Wilson Ramos, who collectively have blasted 19 home runs. Cron is slashing .268/.326/.483 with 12 home runs, 31 RBIs and 30 runs scored, while Ramos (.308/.349/.478) has produced seven homers, 26 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
Cron seemed to enjoy hitting lefties on the road last season. Across 46 such plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .244/.261/.600 (compared to his overall season line of .248/.305/.437).
The Rays have gained 2.1 units and are 11-7 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in seven of those games, as opposed to 10 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Athletics have netted 5.5 units and are 16-19 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 18 of those games, as opposed to 16 that’ve gone under.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Oakland Athletics Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Rays have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
Tampa Bay has recorded 19.0 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 contests and 21.6 over its last five.
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