Rays vs. Athletics Prediction
The Tampa Bay Rays were humbled in a three-game series at the New York Yankees. Can they bounce back tonight when they open a West Coast swing at the Oakland Athletics?
Game Snapshot
921 Tampa Bay Rays at 922 Oakland Athletics
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Oakland Coliseum at 10:07PM ET
TV: NBCSCA
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Athletics are a -113 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Rays are a +103 underdog, while the total is set at 7.5 runs. As of Thursday afternoon, 51 percent of public bets are siding with visiting Tampa Bay. Check out our MLB Public Betting Page for up-to-date information.
Rays shellacked at Yanks
Tampa Bay lost all three games of its series at New York including Wednesday’s 12-1 drubbing to drop to 43-31 overall and 23-13 on the road. Tommy Pham paced the Rays offense as he finished 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. Willy Adames went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. Ji-Man Choi finished 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. Blake Snell suffered the loss as he surrendered six earned runs on two hits with no strikeouts and four walks over one-third of an inning. Charlie Morton starts tonight as he enters with an 8-1 record, 2.37 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 107 strikeouts over 87 1/3 innings.
A’s sweep O’s
Oakland completed its home sweep over Baltimore Wednesday with an 8-3 victory to improve to 39-36 overall and 22-17 at home. Josh Phegley helped lead the Athletics offense as he ended the game 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, two runs and three RBIs. Stephen Piscotty was 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI. Matt Chapman was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, a run and an RBI. Chris Bassitt picked up the win as he gave up two earned runs on two hits with six strikeouts and three walks over 5 2/3 innings. Frankie Montas will start tonight for Oakland as he enters with a 9-2 record, 2.85 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 88 strikeouts over 82 innings.
MLB Betting Trends
Tampa Bay
The Rays are 7-1 in the last seven Morton road starts. Tampa Bay is 1-4 in its last five road games.
Oakland
The A’s are 2-5 in their last seven home meetings with the Rays. Oakland is 6-1 in the last seven Montas starts.
Prediction:
The difference for me here is the travel. While Tampa Bay played a day game yesterday, it had to head west afterward and is now adjusting to the time change. There has to be some mental fatigue too after the poor series at New York. The A’s get to remain at home and have a solid pitcher on the mound in Montas. Morton will almost certainly keep the Rays in the game, but I think the hosts find a way to the win in the end.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: OAKLAND ATHLETICS -113