Tampa Bay Rays at Oakland Athletics Free Preview 05/31/18

The Oakland Athletics will try to avoid dropping their fourth in a row as they play host to the Tampa Bay Rays at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. MLB Network will be showing this AL matchup. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:35 p.m. ET.

Tampa Bay Rays at Oakland Athletics Odds

Oakland (-135) is favored over Tampa Bay (+125) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this day game at 8.5 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total sit at -120 for the under and +100 for the over. The game’s current runline odds stand at -170 for taking the Rays +1.5 runs and +150 for the Athletics -1.5 runs.

The Rays have gone 28-26 SU this year and are 27-26 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 1.4 units for moneyline bettors and 0.7 units ATS. Tampa Bay’s covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Athletics, on the other hand, are 28-28 SU and 26-29 ATS. The team has gained 3.0 units for moneyline bettors while earning 5.3 units ATS. Oakland has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven outings and the under has hit in six of those seven.

Neither squad has positioned itself as an obvious over/under play this year. Athletics games have a 25-27-3 over/under record so far in 2018. Tampa Bay has an over/under record of 25-26-2.

Right-hander Ryne Stanek is projected to start for the visiting Rays. Stanek is 1-0 with a 3.24 ERA and 11 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA against Oakland this year.

The Athletics will put the ball in the right hand of Daniel Mengden (5-4, 2.85 ERA), who has 43 strikeouts and six walks as well as a 0.96 WHIP. Mengden has yet to face the Rays this year and did not record a start against them in 2017.

Oakland’s pitchers have given up 4.4 runs per game overall this season as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.27, a WHIP of 1.18 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.0. The bullpen has a 3.56 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 8.2 K/9.

The Oakland hitters have put up 4.2 runs per outing, including 2.4 per game over its last 10 games and 1.6 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .152/.223/.268 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that span.

The Athletics’ hitters have been led by second baseman Jed Lowrie and shortstop Marcus Semien. Lowrie is slashing .306/.369/.505 with nine home runs, 39 RBIs and 20 runs scored, while Semien is batting .268 with five homers, 24 RBIs and 35 runs.

For the visitors, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 4.2 runs per game and its starters own a 3.97 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 8.43 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.87, along with a K/9 of 8.37.

The Rays offense has slashed .262/.336/.405 on its way to 4.3 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.5 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (5-0 SU).

Tampa Bay’s offensive production been powered by first baseman C.J. Cron and catcher Wilson Ramos, who’ve collectively belted 19 home runs. Cron is hitting .269/.332/.486 with 12 home runs, 32 RBIs and 31 runs scored, while Ramos (.313/.356/.479) has produced seven homers, 26 RBIs and 17 runs scored.

Cron seemed to take a step back when hitting right-handed pitchers on the road last year, putting up a slash line of .213/.244/.339 across 135 such plate appearances (compared to his overall season line of .248/.305/.437).

The Rays have lost 0.8 units and are 16-19 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 18 of those games, compared to 16 that’ve hit the under against righty starters. 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’s hit in 18 of those games, compared to 16 which went under the total.

Tampa Bay Rays at Oakland Athletics Free MLB Pick

Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – OVER

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