What do the Oakland A’s and Tampa Bay Rays have in common? For one, easily the two worst stadiums in the major leagues and it’s not close. Yet, they remain competitive most every year because they have two of the best front offices in the game. They meet Monday in the first game of the night on the schedule. The Rays will be heavily favored on the MLB odds.
Athletics vs Rays MLB Spread & Expert Pick
- When: Monday, 7 PM ET
- Where: Tropicana Field
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Tanner Anderson/Charlie Morton
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: 95.3 WDAE
- MLB Spread: Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 (Total 9)
Why Bet on Oakland?
The A’s split four games in Texas over the weekend, winning Sunday 6-1. Khris Davis went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. Davis took Rangers starter Drew Smyly deep in the third inning for a two-run blast, his 13th homer of the year. The dinger broke a homerless drought dating back to May 13. It was actually his RBI single in the ninth inning, though, that turned out to be the difference in the game. Davis has 34 RBI in 53 games, batting .241/.306/.466 overall.
Blake Treinen allowed two runs — one earned — on three hits in an inning of work Sunday against the Rangers, holding on to earn his 14th save of the season. Treinen entered with a three-run lead and was within an out of a scoreless inning. He’s been shaky at points this year but remains locked in as the A’s closer, racking up 14 saves with a 3.34 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 32 1/3 innings of work.
This was to be Daniel Mengden’s spot in the rotation, but Mengden was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday. Mengden was sent back to the minors after struggling in a bulk-relief role last Wednesday against the Angels, allowing six runs on six hits and a walk over 2.1 innings. Ryan Dull was summoned from the minors in a corresponding move.
So it will be Tanner Anderson as he will be promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas to start. Unless he exceeds expectations and impresses in his first outing with the Athletics, Anderson will likely only be making a spot start. The team’s doubleheader earlier in the weekend against Texas coupled with an upcoming off-day Thursday will allow the Athletics to get by with a four-man pitching staff until June 18, at which point long reliever Aaron Brooks could be ready to rejoin the rotation. Anderson has a 6.26 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 37:26 K:BB in 54.2 innings at Triple-A.
After making six relief appearances for the Pirates in 2018, Anderson will be making his first career Major League start.
Team Stats
Offense
- Runs: 4.92
- Hits: 8.53
- Walks: 3.33
- Strike Outs: 7.91
Defense
- Runs: 4.59
- Hits: 8.41
- Walks: 3.48
- Strike Outs: 7.86
Why Bet on Tampa Bay?
The Rays won three of four in Boston on Sunday, taking the finale Sunday 6-1. Brandon Lowe went 3-for-5 with a pair of solo home runs, three total RBIs and three runs scored. Lowe has been seeing the ball well of late even beyond Sunday’s big showing, having now picked up multiple hits in three consecutive games and four of his last six contests. On the whole this season, Lowe is slashing a strong .288/.342/.544 with 13 home runs, 41 RBI and three steals over the course of 57 games played.
Yandy Diaz went 4-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Sunday’s win. Diaz hit a solo home run off Marcus Walden leading off the seventh inning, his 10th home run of the campaign. In addition, he is slashing .270/.353/.487 with 24 runs driven in across 49 games played. He has turned in multi-hit showings in three of his last five games.
Over the past two seasons, the Rays are 10-4 against the A’s and have won all four series, their longest series winning streak since Aug 23, 2007–Aug 14, 2008 (4). They went 5-2 against them last season (2-1 at home, 3-1 on the road), including 3-1 in 1-run games. Dating to July 22, 2016, at Oakland, 11 of the 17 games between the clubs have been decided by 1 run. All-time, the Rays are 73-105 (.410) against the A’s (43-47 at home).
It’s Cy Young candidate Charlie Morton for Tampa. Morton (7-0) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing five hits over seven scoreless innings while striking out eight as the Rays handed the Tigers a 4-0 defeat.
The right-hander hasn’t been on the losing end of a decision since last August when he was still a member of the Astros. Morton has now delivered three straight quality starts and seven on the season, and he’ll take a 2.30 ERA and 91:27 K:BB through 74.1 innings into this one.
Morton is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA (26-IP, 12-ER) in 5 starts against the Athletics. All five came over the last two seasons (2017-18) with the Astros.
Team Stats
Offense
- Runs: 4.75
- Hits: 9.14
- Walks: 3.52
- Strike Outs: 9.52
Defense
- Runs: 3.25
- Hits: 7.27
- Walks: 2.91
- Strike Outs: 9.62
Athletics vs Rays MLB Week 11 Betting Trends
- Athletics are 2-7 in their last 9 games vs. a right-handed starter
- Athletics are 10-3 SU in their last 13 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 7 of Oakland’s last 8 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
- Rays are 5-1 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record
- Rays are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay’s last 5 games this season
- Over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings in Tampa Bay
Expert Final Score Prediction for Athletics vs Rays
Oakland Athletics 2 – Tampa Bay Rays 6
