In this article, we will formulate a Rays vs Athletics Prediction for this MLB game on Wednesday, August 13th at the Sutter Health Park in the third game of this series, with both teams being tied 1-1 wins. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Athletics Preview
The Athletics have a 54-68 record this season and are sitting on the last place of the AL West. The Athletics have a 24-35 home record and are 60-56 in over/under. They are coming off a 6-0 home victory over the Rays, and are 3-1 in their last 4 games. Under is 8-3-1 in their last 12 games and are playing the Angels and the Twins next.
The Athletics have a .254 batting average this season, .319 OBP and .432 Slugging percentage. Athletics’ pitching staff has a 4.88 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. Brent Rooker leads the Athletics with 130 hits, adding a team-high 24 home runs. Jacob Wilson is the team’s best hitter with a .312 batting average, while Tyler Soderstrom leads the team in RBI, with 71.
J.T. Ginn (R) is the projected starter for the Athletics, and he has a 2-4 record, 4.39 ERA and 1.24 WHIP.
Tampa Bay Rays Preview
The Tampa Bay Rays have a 58-63 record this season and are sitting on the 4th place of the AL East. The Rays have a 26-33 road record and are 48-66 in over/under. They are coming off a 0-6 road defeat by the Athletics, and are 1-4 in their last 5 games. Over is 4-2-1 in their last 7 games and are playing the Giants and the Athletics next.
The Rays have a .251 batting average this season, .314 OBP and .400 slugging percentage. Tampa’s pitching staff has a 3.92 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. Yandy Diaz leads the Rays with 126 hits, while Jonathan Aranda is the team’s best hitter with .316 batting average. Junior Caminero leads the team in RBI, with 81 and in home runs, with 33.
Drew Rasmussen (R) is the projected starting pitcher for the Rays, and he has a 9-5 record, 2.66 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.
Why the Athletics will win
- The Athletics have won nine of their last 12 games as underdogs.
- The Rays have lost three of their last five games as road favorites against American League opponents.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in 12 of their last 13 games as favorites after playing the previous day.
- The Athletics have covered the run line in 10 of their last 11 games against AL East opponents.
- The Athletics have led after 5 innings in seven of their last eight Wednesday night games against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
- The Athletics have led after 3 innings in five of their last six home night games.
Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win
- The Athletics have lost eight of their last nine night games against AL East opponents following a home win.
- The favorites have won each of the Rays’ last six games.
- The Rays have covered the run line in seven of their last eight night games against American League opponents following a road loss.
- The Athletics have failed to cover the run line in each of their last five Wednesday night home games against AL East opponents.
- The Athletics have trailed after 5 innings in three of their last four home games.
Total Runs Facts
- Six of the Athletics’ last seven home games against American League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Three of the Rays’ last four road games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in nine of the Athletics’ last 10 home games against American League opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in eight of the Rays’ last 10 games as road favorites.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Athletics rank T2nd in the league for hits this season (1057).
- The Athletics rank T29th in the league for home runs allowed this season (173).
- The Rays rank 1st in the league for steals this season (151).
- The Rays rank T5th in the league for walks allowed this season (348).
Rays vs Athletics Prediction
The Athletics are 4-2 in their last 6 meetings against the Rays, but the Rays are 3-1 in their last road meetings against the A’s. Under is 6-3 in their last 9 meetings.
In this Rays vs Athletics Prediction, the Rays are coming as -130 road favorites. Ginn has been weaker at home for the A’s, with a 5.54 home ERA, and he is facing the best Rays pitcher in Drew Rasmussen, who has been as good on the road, and he is in excellent form, coming off back-to-back shutout starts against the Dodgers and the Mariners. On top of that, the Rays have a superior bullpen and are better against right-handed pitching, so I expect them to bounce back and win on the road in this one.