When you have a season as long as the 162 games that each team plays in the MLB, it becomes almost impossible to pinpoint the moment when a season turns around or falls apart for each individual team. Sure, there are losing or winning streaks that you can point to, or perhaps an addition to the line-up that serves as a spark, but the reality is that the shifts in fortunes are very often subtle during that incredibly long season.
You get the sense that the Oakland A’s have yet to see that defining moment arrive, while the Tampa Bay Rays may well look back at their most recent series as being a major turning point in their season and their bid to win the AL East. These two will hook up for a weekend series in Oakland, with both looking to maintain their bids for a postseason spot. The Athletics have a slight edge in previous meetings with the Rays this season, but they are still in as a 1 ½ run underdog for this one. The run total for the Thursday game has been set at 7 ½.
Rays vs Athletics MLB Odds, Game Info & Pick
- When: Thursday, June 20 at 10:07 PM EST
- Where: Alameda Coliseum, Oakland
- Starting Pitchers: Morton vs. Montas
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Radio: 95.7 The Game
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- MLB Odds: Tampa Bay Rays -110 (Total 7.5)
Astros vs Yankees MLB Week 12 Betting Odds & Prediction
Why bet on the Tampa Bay Rays?
The Tampa Bay Rays have been one of the pleasant surprises of the first half of the season, challenging the Yankees for the top spot in the AL East. They started their series with the Yankees just a half game back, but a 3-game sweep has left them reeling and now 3 ½ games back of the lead.There is the possibility that the sweep could prove to be a defining moment in their season, but they can wipe that out and get back to good baseball by going on the road and getting the win in a tough series versus the A’s. Getting those wins is going to be dependent on getting the offense going again, as the Rays managed just 4 total runs in Yankees series. The Rays are 23-13 SU and 22-14 ATS in road games this season. They will have Charlie Morton (8-1, 2.37 ERA) on the mound for this one.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 4.59
- Hits: 8.93
- Walks: 3.36
- Strike Outs: 9.45
Defense
- Runs: 3.51
- Hits: 7.36
- Walks: 2.95
- Strike Outs: 9.47
Why bet on the Oakland A’s?
With the Astros setting a rather torrid pace in the AL West this season, it is very easy to write off the chasing pack, at least in terms of winning the division. Even if they are unable to catch up, there is still the business of the Wild Card to be dealt with. The Oakland A’s are very much in that picture right now and are in a very good run of form.
They are coming off a 3-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles to go to 7-3 in their last 10 games. That run has taken them to 39-36 on the season, and while that is well off the pace being set by the Astros, it is good enough to have the A’s within a game and a half of the final Wild Card spot in the AL. The A’s are 22-17 SU at home, although just 17-20 ATS. They will have Frankie Montas (9-2, 2.85 ERA) on the mound here.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.07
- Hits: 8.56
- Walks: 3.29
- Strike Outs: 7.79
Defense
- Runs: 4.51
- Hits: 8.21
- Walks: 3.39
- Strike Outs: 7.93
Rays vs Athletics MLB Betting Trends
- Rays are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games
- The total has gone Under in 4 of Tampa Bay’s last 5 games on the road
- Athletics are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home
- The total has gone Under in 8 of Oakland’s last 10 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
- Athletics are 54-52 against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons
- Rays are 133-103 against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons
- Morton is 2-1 when starting against Oakland with an ERA of 3.55 and a WHIP of 1.182
- Athletics are 2-1 against Tampa Bay this season
- 3 of 3 games in this series have gone Under the Total this season
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Rays vs Athletics
This is a fabulous pitching match-up that we have going on Thursday night, which makes the UNDER seem very tempting. I am taking the Rays to win a close one here.Score: Tampa Bay Rays 4 – Oakland Athletics 3
