A’s vs. Rays Game 1 Prediction
Will the A’s pull off the upset in Tampa when they take on the Rays at 2:10PM ET for Game 1 of a Saturday double-header?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the Rays are -125 money line favorites versus the A’s, who have odds of +105 to pull off the small upset. With Sonny Gray set to face Erasmo Ramirez in the pitching matchup, the over/under currently sits at 8.5 runs.
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From Rotoworld: Gray allowed three runs on four hits over seven innings while taking a no-decision in Sunday’s loss to the Nationals. Nice enough rebound outing for Gray, who was shellacked for seven runs by the Indians in his lass start. On Sunday, a two-run triple by Trea Turner and a sacrifice fly by Brian Goodwin spelled the damage on his line. He finished his afternoon’s work having struck out six and walked three. Gray will carry a 4.57 ERA and 1.21 WHIP into a road showdown with the Rays next time he takes to the mound.
Ramirez surrendered four runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings in Sunday’s loss to the Mariners. Ramirez struck out five and walked one on the afternoon. He ran into trouble almost immediately in the form a two-run homer by Nelson Cruz in the first inning. Mike Zunino would hit a two-run single off Ramirez in the fourth to polish off the scoring action on his line. He will bring a 4.09 ERA and 1.07 WHIP into a home start against the A’s in his next scheduled outing.
OUR PREDICTION: Ramirez has been great at home (3-0, 2.86 ERA in seven appearances – three starts – at home in 2017), but has struggled in each of his last two outings. He’s 0-7 with a 5.04 ERA in 13 games (eight starts) versus Oakland in his career. Gray, meanwhile, has completed at least six innings in five of his last seven starts and has given up just two home runs since surrendering three in his season debut. Here’s a great stat: The A’s are 4-1 in their last five games against the Rays when Gray faces Ramirez.
SATURDAY MLB PREDICTION: OAKLAND A’S +105