The Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays meet Monday in MLB action at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Here’s a Athletics vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction. This article will include a Athletics vs Tampa Bay Rays Pick.

Athletics Betting Preview

The Athletics are 34-52 on the year and play the Giants, Braves, and Blue Jays next. The Athletics are batting .248 on the season, have a .316 OBP, and a .406 slugging percentage. The Athletics pitching staff has a 5.42 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Jacob Wilson leads the Athletics with 106 hits and 40 RBI, while Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler have combined for 171 hits and 76 RBI. 

Jacob Lopez gets the ball for the Athletics, and he is 2-4 with a 3.56 ERA and 55 strikeouts this season. This will be Lopez’s first career game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview

The Tampa Bay Rays are 47-37 on the year and play the Twins, Tigers, and Red Sox next. The Tampa Bay Rays are batting .259 on the season, have a .324 OBP, and a .409 slugging percentage. The Tampa Bay Rays pitching staff has a 3.71 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Yandy Diaz leads the Tampa Bay Rays with 92 hits and 47 RBI while Jonathan Aranda and Brandon Lowe have combined for 169 hits and 93 RBI.

Drew Rasmussen gets the ball for the Tampa Bay Rays, and he is 7-5 with a 2.45 ERA and 72 strikeouts this season. Rasmussen is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA and 14 strikeouts in his career against the Athletics.

Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win

The Rays have won each of their last six home games following a loss.
The Athletics have lost each of their last six night games against AL East opponents following a loss.
The Rays have covered the run line in each of their last six games following a loss.
The Athletics have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six night games against AL East opponents following a loss.
The Rays have led after 5 innings in six of their last eight games against AL West opponents.
The Athletics have trailed after 3 innings in eight of their last nine Monday games.

Why the Athletics will win

The Rays have lost seven of their last eight Monday night games as favorites against AL West opponents.
The Athletics have won three of their last four games as road underdogs against American League opponents following a road loss.
The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 10 Monday night games against AL West opponents.
The underdogs have covered the run line in seven of the last eight games between the Athletics and Rays.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

Drew Rasmussen has recorded a win in four of his last five appearances with the Rays as favorites against AL opponents.
Drew Rasmussen has recorded eight or more strikeouts in three of his last four appearances against AL West opponents that held a losing record.
Brandon Lowe has recorded at least one hit in each of the Rays’ last 19 home games against AL opponents.
Brandon Lowe has recorded a Double in three of the Rays’ last four games as home favorites against AL West opponents.
Brandon Lowe has hit a home run in three of the Rays’ last four games against AL opponents.
Jonathan Aranda ranks 3rd amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.325) this season.

Athletics Player Prop Facts

Brent Rooker has recorded at least one hit in each of the Athletics’ last nine road games against AL East opponents.
JJ Bleday has hit a home run in two of his last three appearances against the Rays after playing the previous day.
Shea Langeliers has recorded a Double in each of his last three appearances with the Athletics as underdogs against AL opponents.

Athletics vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction

Lopez is having a fabulous June, where he’s allowed 19 hits and six earned runs in 27.1 innings. However, the Athletics are coming off a rough week and Lopez’s numbers fall off on the road, where he has a 4.50 ERA and .275 allowed batting average in 20 innings. The Rays continue to win and remain a valuable team, given their prices usually aren’t inflated. Rasmussen has a 2.45 ERA and 0.96 WHIP, and the Rays have won seven of his last eight starts. In 58.2 home innings, Rasmussen has a 2.16 ERA and .195 allowed batting average. There’s no reason to shy away from the Rays. Give me the home team.

Randy Chambers's Pick: Tampa Bay Rays