Oakland Athletics vs
Tampa Bay RaysPredictions & Preview

Athletics vs. Rays: Who Will Come Out on Top in Wednesday Afternoon Showdown?

This article provides a preview of the upcoming Wednesday afternoon game between the Athletics and Rays, concluding their three-game series. The Athletics secured a 6-4 victory in the first game of the series, and the outcome of the middle game on Tuesday night was pending at the time of publication. Mitch Spence is set to start for the Athletics, while Ryan Pepiot will start for the Rays. Tampa Bay is the current betting favorite at -218. Stay tuned to see which team will come out on top and leave with positive momentum.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Athletics +189 | Rays -218
• Spread: Athletics +1.5 (-108) | Rays -1.5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Tampa Bay will win straight-up is 69%.

Oakland vs Tampa Bay Stats

Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics secured a victory in the opening game of their series on Monday, marking their third win in nine games. With a current record of 35-52 and sitting at the bottom of the AL West, 16.5 games behind the Astros, the Athletics are facing a challenging season. In the game against Tampa Bay, they recorded nine hits, with Lawrence Butler, Jacob Wilson, and Brent Rooker each contributing runs and RBI. Shea Langeliers hit his 11th home run of the season. Jacob Lopez pitched 3.1 innings, allowing four runs, while Sean Newcomb and Mason Miller also contributed solid performances. Mitch Spence is set to start his 28th appearance of the season with a record of 2-3 and a 3.82 ERA. The Athletics are currently ranked 21st in offense, averaging 4.14 runs per game, and 29th in defense, allowing 5.75 runs per game, with an overall record of 36-52.

Tampa Bay Rays Analysis

The Tampa Bay Rays suffered a loss in the opening game of their recent series, marking their third loss in four games. Despite this setback, the Rays maintain a strong position in the AL East standings, currently holding second place and trailing the Yankees by 1.5 games. In their most recent game, the Rays had eight hits, with Jonathan Aranda recording two RBIs and Junior Caminero hitting his 21st home run of the season. Pitcher Drew Rasmussen had a mixed performance, allowing four runs in three innings but not factoring into the decision. The Rays will turn to Ryan Pepiot as their starting pitcher in the next game, where he will make his 18th start of the season. Pepiot has a 5-6 record with a 3.36 ERA and has been performing well in recent outings. The Rays currently have a power ranking of 5 and rank #7 in offense, averaging 4.79 runs per game. Additionally, they hold the #11 spot in defense, giving up an average of 3.98 runs per game. In head-to-head matchups, Oakland has recently struggled against Tampa Bay, losing all three of their previous meetings.

Athletics and Rays show pitching strengths and weaknesses in recent games

Spence has demonstrated effectiveness as a starting pitcher since transitioning into the rotation last month; however, the Oakland Athletics are currently in last place due to inconsistencies both in batting and pitching. Despite squandering a four-run lead in the first game of the series, the Athletics managed to secure a victory through a late-game rally. Conversely, Pepiot experienced an uncharacteristically poor outing in his last start, allowing more than three runs for the first time in 13 starts. The Tampa Bay Rays' pitching staff struggled in that particular game, resulting in a significant defeat. Overall, Pepiot has been a reliable asset for the Rays this season, maintaining an impressive strikeout rate. It is anticipated that the Rays will stage a strong comeback at their home ballpark and secure a victory in the opening game.

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