Oakland Athletics vs
Tampa Bay RaysPredictions & Preview

Tampa Bay Rays Favored to Extend Winning Streak Against Athletics in Monday Night Matchup

The Athletics will be looking to take the series lead as they visit George M. Steinbrenner Field to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the first game of their three-game series on Monday night. Jacob Lopez with a 3.56 ERA will take the mound for the Athletics, while Drew Rasmussen with a 2.45 ERA will pitch for the Rays. Tampa Bay, with a record of 47-36, is favored to win the game as they have a 6-4 record in their last 10 games against the Athletics. Please note that this preview was written before Sunday's game was played.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Athletics +158 | Rays -175
• Spread: Athletics +1.5 (-140) | Rays -1.5 (+120)
• Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 64%.

Oakland vs Tampa Bay Stats

Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics recently ended a two-game losing streak by defeating the Yankees in their weekend series. Currently placed at the bottom of the AL West standings, they are eight games behind fourth place and will aim to close the gap with a victory on Monday. The team averages 4.11 runs per game, ranking 24th in the league, with a batting average of .249 (12th), on-base percentage of .316 (18th), and slugging percentage of .407 (10th). Jacob Wilson leads the team with a .340 batting average, Brent Rooker has hit 17 home runs, and Tyler Soderstrom leads with 46 RBI. On the defensive side, the Athletics give up 5.69 runs per game (29th), with opponents batting .270 against them (28th), and a 5.34 ERA and 1.48 WHIP (both ranking 29th). In their latest game, Lopez pitched seven scoreless innings in a 3-0 win over Detroit. Overall, Oakland is currently ranked 25th in the power rankings, 24th in offense, 29th in defense, and has a record of 34-51 this season.

Tampa Bay Rays Analysis

The Tampa Bay Rays have been performing well in recent games, winning four out of their last five. Currently, they are second in the AL East standings, trailing the Yankees by half a game. With a strong offensive performance, the Rays average 4.84 runs per game, ranking sixth in the league, with a .260 batting average, ranking second. Leading the team in batting average is Jonathan Aranda with .330, and in home runs and RBI is Junior Caminero with 20 home runs and 51 RBI. On the defensive side, the Rays are giving up an average of 3.94 runs per game, ranking eighth in the league. In his last start, Rasmussen had a dominating performance, giving up no runs in five innings. Overall, the Rays have a power ranking of 1 and are currently 47-36. Their next challenge will be to take the lead in the AL East with a win on Monday against the Athletics, who have won two out of their last three matchups against Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay Rays Favored Against Athletics due to Recent Victories and Pitching Matchups

The Tampa Bay Rays have recently secured victories in four out of their last five games, positioning them favorably against the Athletics. Their proficiency against left-handed pitchers, combined with Lopez's inconsistent performance on the road (allowing seven runs in his last three road starts), further strengthens their advantage in the upcoming matchup. On the other hand, the Athletics face challenges with the second-weakest bullpen in the league, making it difficult for them to impede the Rays' offense.

Moreover, the Athletics may struggle offensively against Rasmussen, who has demonstrated resilience on the mound, particularly at home where he yielded just four runs in his last five starts. His track record against the Athletics, conceding only one run in three games, suggests that he will effectively stifle their offensive efforts. Therefore, a favorable option would be to support Tampa Bay on the money line.

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