Oakland Athletics vs Tampa Bay Rays Picks and Predictions August 19th 2024

After emotional games for each, A’s face Rays to start 4-game series

At 9:40 PM ET, the Rays and Athletics face off in an AL matchup. This one is being played at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, and the Athletics are the slight money line favorites at +114. The Rays have won three straight and their record of 62-61 has them 4th in the AL East, while the Athletics are 4th in the AL West with a record of 53-71.

The over/under line for Monday’s game is currently 7.5 runs, and the forecast in Oakland calls for clear skies and temperatures in the low 70s. NSPCA is carrying this one on TV, and the Rays are starting Taj Bradley, while Joe Boyle is on the mound for the Athletics.

Tampa Bay vs. Oakland Key Information

• Teams: Rays at Athletics
• Where: Oakland Coliseum Oakland
• Date: Monday, August 19th
• Betting Odds TB -134 | OAK +114 O/U 7.5

The Rays Can Win If…

Taj Bradley gets the start for the Rays today as he faces the Athletics on the road. He has made 17 starts this season and has a record of 6-7 with a 3.49 ERA. Bradley’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.14, and opponents are batting .214 off the right-hander this year. In his last outing, Bradley took the loss, going 4 1/3 innings and giving up six earned runs on eight hits. Before that, he had given up at least four earned runs in three straight starts. Bradley’s ERA on the road is 6.01 compared to 3.11 at home.

For the season, the Rays are averaging just 3.9 runs per game, which is 28th in the league. They have been even worse at home, averaging just 3.7 runs per game. As a team, they are batting just .233 and have the 23rd ranked slugging percentage in the league.

Yandy Diaz has been the Rays’ top run producer this season, with 54 RBIs and is also 2nd on the team with 10 homers. He is batting .273 for the season. Tampa Bay will need Brandon Lowe to pick things up at the plate, as he is just 5/21 in his last five games and is batting .256 for the season.

• The Rays are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Rays are 5-0 vs. the run line.
• Tampa Bay has an over/under record of 4-5-1 in their last ten games.
• The Rays have an average of 4.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Rays are 5-5
• Looking back across the Rays last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Tampa Bay has gone 3-0 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Rays have averaged 4.1 runs per game on offense

The Athletics Can Win If…

Right-hander Joe Boyle gets the start for the Athletics today as he faces off against the Rays. He has made eight starts this year and has a record of 2-5 with a 7.39 ERA. Boyle’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.83. In his last outing, he finished with a no-decision, giving up four earned runs in four innings of work. Looking back, he has allowed at least one homer in three straight starts. Boyle’s ERA at home is 15.81 compared to 6.38 on the road.

So far this season, the Athletics are averaging 4 runs per game, which is just 25th in the league. They have been a little better at home, averaging 4.3 runs per game. As a team, they are batting just .232, and their on-base percentage of .305 is also below average. However, they do have the 7th most home runs in the league.

Heading into the game, Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers have been swinging the bat well for the Athletics. Rooker is batting .292 for the season and has gone deep 29 times. Langeliers is hitting just .225 overall but has 22 homers and has gone 7/19 in his last five games. Langeliers also has a homer in this stretch. Seth Brown comes into the game with a four-game hitting streak.

• The Athletics are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Athletics are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Oakland has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Athletics have an average of 4.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Athletics are 6-4
• Looking back across the Athletics last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Oakland has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Athletics have averaged 4.1 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Today’s Rays and Athletics matchup should be a low-scoring game, but with the line sitting at 7.5 runs, we are still leaning towards taking the over. As for how we would play the money line in this one, we are leaning towards the Athletics to come out on top. Oakland starter Joe Boyle has the 6th best strikeout projection among today’s starters.

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The Oakland Athletics (A’s) and Tampa Bay Rays are set to collide in a pivotal four-game series starting Monday night in Oakland. Both teams enter the matchup from opposite ends of emotional spectrums, with the Rays riding the high of recent victories while the A’s are looking to rebound after a tough loss.

Rays Revive Playoff Hopes with Thrilling Wins

The Tampa Bay Rays kept their American League wild-card hopes alive with a dramatic three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The series featured two walk-off victories, underscoring the Rays’ determination as they fight for a postseason spot. Dylan Carlson’s walk-off RBI single in the 12th inning on Sunday capped an intense 8-7 win, injecting new life into the team as they embark on a crucial 10-game road trip.

With these victories, the Rays find themselves 6 1/2 games behind the final AL playoff spot. They face a daunting stretch ahead, including games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle Mariners, making this series against the A’s a critical starting point.

Manager Kevin Cash reflected on the team’s recent success, saying, “It was nice to bounce back with some tight games, big wins. We do feel good getting ready to get on a flight to go out west.”

Athletics Seek to Regroup After Painful Loss

In contrast, the Oakland Athletics are coming off a heart-wrenching 4-2 loss in 10 innings to the San Francisco Giants, the final game of the annual Bay Bridge Series. The defeat was particularly tough to swallow for the A’s, who have shown signs of improvement over the past month.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay was ejected during the game after arguing a critical strike call in the seventh inning, a moment that could have altered the game’s outcome. “Biggest pitch of the game. I probably got emotional in that situation,” Kotsay admitted. His frustration mirrors the challenges the A’s have faced this season, as they look to channel that emotion into a strong showing against the Rays.

Key Pitching Matchups

The series opener will feature Tampa Bay’s right-hander Taj Bradley (6-7, 3.49 ERA) against Oakland’s Joe Boyle (2-5, 7.39 ERA).

• Taj Bradley: Bradley is looking to bounce back after struggling in his last three starts, where he allowed 15 runs over 14 innings. Despite these recent challenges, Bradley’s previous outing against the A’s last June was promising, with 11 strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. The Rays are counting on Bradley to deliver a strong performance to set the tone for the series.
• Joe Boyle: Boyle, on the other hand, is still finding his footing after being promoted from Triple-A. He’s coming off a shaky start against the New York Mets, where he gave up four runs and seven hits in just four innings. This will be Boyle’s first career start against the Rays, adding another layer of uncertainty for the A’s as they look to him to stabilize their rotation.

Implications for the Playoff Race

This series carries significant weight for both teams. For the Rays, every game is crucial as they chase the final AL playoff spot. The Seattle Mariners, one of the teams they are competing with, currently hold a one-game lead over Tampa Bay. The Rays need to capitalize on this series before facing tougher opponents later in their road trip.

The A’s, although out of playoff contention, have been playing better baseball recently. They’ve already proven to be a tough challenge for the Rays earlier this season in Florida, where two of Tampa Bay’s victories required walk-off hits. The A’s would love nothing more than to play spoiler to the Rays’ playoff aspirations.

What to Expect

Fans can expect a series filled with intensity and high stakes. The Rays will be motivated to maintain their momentum, while the A’s will be eager to shake off their recent disappointment and continue their improved play. The contrasting emotions and storylines of these two teams make this a must-watch series as the regular season winds down.