Tampa Bay Rays vs
Oakland AthleticsPredictions & Preview

Playoff Hopefuls Rays and Athletics Set to Face Off in Crucial American League Matchup

On Tuesday, August 12th, the Tampa Bay Rays will face off against the Athletics in an American League matchup. The Rays, currently in fourth place in the AL East, are aiming to reach a .500 record. The Athletics, on the other hand, are in last place in the AL West and are far from playoff contention. Shane Baz will take the mound for the Rays, while Jacob Lopez will start for the Athletics. The game is scheduled to begin at 10:05 P.M. EST. Stay tuned for our prediction on this game and more!

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Rays -104 | Athletics -109
• Spread: Rays +1.5 (-195) | Athletics -1.5 (+170)
• Total: Over/Under 9.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Oakland will win straight-up is 52%.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays currently sit in fourth place in the American League East division, trailing the first place Blue Jays by a double-digit number of games. The team has struggled on the road, posting a below .500 record away from home. Additionally, they are at least five games back of a wild card spot. The Rays have lost 13 of their last 17 games, including being swept by the Mariners in their most recent series. Shane Baz will be starting for the Rays on Tuesday night, with an 8-8 record and a 4.92 ERA in 23 starts this season. Despite a 13-10 record in games Baz has started, the team has lost six of his last seven starts. The Rays are hitting .250 this season, ranking 13th in the league for batting average. They rank 13th in runs scored and 11th in hits. Additionally, they rank 16th in home runs but lead the league in stolen bases. The team has a .243 batting average on the road and a .216 average in the second half of the season. Tampa Bay is hitting .235 against American League West clubs.

Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics currently find themselves in last place in the American League West, trailing the division-leading Astros by at least 14 games. Their performance at home this season has been disappointing, with a well below .500 record. With the second-worst record in the American League, just ahead of the White Sox, the Athletics have won four of their last six games. Left-handed pitcher Jacob Lopez will start on Tuesday, boasting a 5-6 record and a 3.59 ERA in 14 starts and four relief appearances. Lopez has been in good form, with a recent standout performance of zero runs allowed in 7.2 innings against the Nationals. The Athletics have won nine of Lopez's last 11 outings, showing strong support for the pitcher. The team's hitting performance has been solid, with a .254 average ranking sixth best in the league. While they have scored the 12th most runs, they excel in hits and home runs. Their averages when playing at home and against American League East clubs are also noteworthy.

Exciting Matchup Ahead as Athletics and Rays Face Off with Playoff Implications

In an upcoming game between two teams aiming to achieve a .500 record and secure a playoff position, the starting pitchers will play a crucial role. Jacob Lopez, with a 3.13 ERA at home, is expected to guide the Athletics to victory based on his impressive track record. The team has won nine of his last 11 starts, indicating their strong performance when he is on the mound. On the other hand, Shane Baz of the Rays has struggled this season with a 4.92 ERA, resulting in six losses in his last seven starts. The statistics also favor the Athletics, who have a higher .277 batting average compared to Tampa Bay's .216 since the All-Star break. Considering these factors, it is advisable to place your bet on the Athletics to cover in the upcoming game.

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