The Tampa Bay Rays (48-20) and Oakland Athletics (17-50) open a 4-game set Monday at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. First pitch is scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rays vs. Athletics odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Rays lead 3-0
The Rays won 7-3 as -181 home favorites vs. the Texas Rangers Sunday. Tampa Bay has won 8 of 9 and leads the AL East by 5.5 games.
The Athletics won 8-6 as +176 underdogs at the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday. Oakland completed its 1st series sweep of the season, but still owns the worst record in MLB.
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Rays at Athletics projected starters
RHP Zach Eflin vs. RHP James Kaprielian
Eflin (8-1, 2.97 ERA) makes his 12th start. He has a 0.96 WHIP, 1.2 BB/9 and 8.9 K/9 in 66 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 6 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 9 K in a 7-0 win vs. Minnesota Twins Tuesday
- Career vs. Athletics: 1-0, 2.70 ERA (10 IP, 3 ER), 11 H, 1 HR, 2 BB, 10 K in 2 starts
Kaprielian (1-6, 7.21 ERA) makes his 9th start and 12th appearance. He has a 1.76 WHIP, 5.6 BB/9 and 8.0 K/9 in 43 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 5 BB, 1 K in an 11-2 win at Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday
- Only career start vs. Rays: Loss, 4 2/3 IP, 7 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 6 K in an 11-0 road loss April 9
Rays at Athletics odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:40 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rays -275 (bet $275 to win $100) | Athletics +220 (bet $100 to win $220)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays -2.5 (-105) | Athletics +2.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Rays at Athletics picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 6, Athletics 3
Moneyline
PASS.
Tampa Bay (-275) should win as a huge road favorite, but there is no need to pay the higher price on the moneyline when the Rays should win by margin. Bet the run line and/or the total instead.
Run line/Against the spread
BET RAYS -2.5 (-105).
Tampa Bay has won 6 straight games vs. Oakland and all have been by 3 or more runs. Five of the Rays’ last 7 wins this season have also been by 3+ runs and the Athletics should start to come back down to Earth after winning their 5th straight game as underdogs last time out.
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Over/Under
BET OVER 8.5 (-115).
The Over is 7-1 in Tampa Bay’s last 8 road games and 5-1 in Oakland’s last 6 at home after a road trip of 7 or more days.
The Over has gone 5-1-1 in the last 7 meetings between these teams and should hit again Monday as Kaprielian struggles to contain this Rays team that is 2nd in runs per game.
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