- What: MLB Regular Season Game
- When: Monday, August 19
- Who: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Oakland Athletics
- Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
- Where: Oakland Coliseum (Oakland, CA)
The Tampa Bay Rays recently snapped a losing streak with a three-game home sweep, bringing their record to just above .500 for the season.
They are currently in fourth place in the AL East, 10 games behind the division leaders, and 6.5 games out of the final AL Wild Card spot.
Meanwhile, despite winning six of their last 10 games, the Oakland A’s are tied for the second-fewest wins in the AL and are out of playoff contention.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays recently completed a three-game home sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks, outscoring them 19-12.
In the series finale, the Rays pulled off an 8-7 win in 12 innings, overcoming a six-run deficit. Brandon Lowe hit a crucial two-run homer, Jose Caballero added two RBIs, and Dylan Carlson drove in the game-winning run.
The Rays rank 13th in the Majors in team ERA but have struggled offensively, sitting 28th in runs scored. Despite trading two key hitters before the deadline, the lineup showed signs of improvement in the series.
DYL DOES IT pic.twitter.com/gKqvtSFtS8
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 18, 2024
Key players include Brandon Lowe and Yandy Diaz, who lead the team in batting average and RBIs. Diaz, however, left the last game with an injury and is currently day-to-day. The Rays have a road record of 28-27 this season.
With a 6-7 record and 3.49 ERA, Taj Bradley will start Game 1 and aims to rebound from a tough outing against the Houston Astros.
The team ranks 12th in power rankings, averaging 3.89 runs per game while allowing 4.30 runs. Overall, the Rays hold a 62-61 record this season.
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics recently lost to the San Francisco Giants in a 4-2 loss that lasted 10 innings. The team surrendered two solo home runs in the final frame.
Offensively, the A’s struggled, managing just two runs on eight hits, with Miguel Andujar driving in their only RBI.
Oakland currently ranks 22nd in the Majors for team ERA and 25th in runs scored this season.
New week, new series. pic.twitter.com/iRB0xfgIZi
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) August 19, 2024
Brent Rooker has been the standout performer, leading the team in batting average, home runs, and RBIs, while Shea Langeliers has faced challenges in recent games.
The A’s hold a 30-31 record at home, and Joe Boyle is set to start in the upcoming series opener.
The team is ranked 14th in power rankings, 25th in offense, 22nd in defense, and has an overall record of 53-71. In their last three matchups against Tampa Bay, Oakland posted a 1-2 record.
Rays-A’s Best Bet
The Tampa Bay Rays are riding high after a recent series sweep, while the Oakland Athletics are coming off a loss following two straight wins.
Although Tampa Bay’s offense has been inconsistent this season, it showed signs of improvement by scoring 19 runs in its last three games.
Facing Joe Boyle, who has struggled in recent starts by giving up four runs in short outings, the Rays are poised for a strong offensive showing in the series opener.
In contrast, Oakland has had trouble generating offense, scoring just two runs in each of their last two games.
They’ll be up against Taj Bradley, who has allowed 15 runs over his last three starts.
Despite the potential for a close contest, the Rays are expected to win with timely hitting. I’d take the Rays on the moneyline in this one.
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