Tampa Bay (43-31) at Oakland (39-36)
When: Thursday, June 20th, 2019
Where: Oakland Coliseum,
Oakland, CA
Time: 10:07 ET | TV: FS Sun,
NBCS California
Opening Odds: Tampa Bay -105/8.5
The Tampa Bay Rays 10-game road trip couldn’t have started any worse and now they have to fly across the country to continue the trek with the first of four against the Oakland A’s. The Rays began the week just a half-game behind the Yankees in the AL East, but went into New York and laid an egg, scoring four runs total in getting swept to put them 3.5 out. Ace Blake Snell didn’t even get out of the first inning in Wednesday’s 12-1 shellacking and Tampa Bay ended up using eight relievers behind him. Tampa Bay was outscored 21-4 in the series and have dropped seven of its last nine games, including two of three at home versus Oakland last week. Outfielder Tommy Pham continues to swing a hot bat, collecting multiple hits in six of his last eight games. The Athletics are making a run towards a wild card in the American League after completing a three-game sweep of the lowly Baltimore Orioles, including a 16-2 thrashing that featured six homers on Wednesday. Catcher Josh Phegley had a three-run homer in the route and has a modest four-game hitting streak while outfielder Ramon Laureano has seven RBI during a five-game hitting streak. The A’s are just one game back of the second wild card spot pending the rest of Wednesday night’s action.
Pitchers: Rays – Charlie Morton (8-1, 2.37 ERA) | Athletics – Frankie Montas (9-2, 2.85)
Charlie Morton followed up four consecutive solid performances with his first setback of 2019 on Saturday when he surrendered a pair of early home runs and allowed four runs and five hits over six innings against the Los Angeles Angels. He had allowed a combined three runs and 14 hits over 27 innings in his previous four outings. Morton pitched seven scoreless innings allowing two hits in a 6-2 win versus the A’s 10 days ago in St. Petersburg.
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
The A’s are 10-4 this season when Frankie Montas takes the mound including his latest effort against Seattle on Saturday when he allowed two runs and six hits while striking out nine. Montas, who has permitted three runs or fewer in 13 of his 14 appearances, has just one appearance against the Rays – a scoreless inning in relief last September.
Morton has been Tampa’s best pitcher this season, but that’s not the Rays’ problem right now. Their offense has hit a wall and now they take the long trek to California to play an A’s team that is gathering momentum. Montas could very well land himself on the All-Star team next month and should be able to keep the Rays at bay.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Thursday. He is 80-53 +1908 units on the season after a 30-15 run!
Pick: A’s +102
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BETTING TRENDS:
Rays are 5-1 in their last 6 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Rays are 4-1 in their last 5 Thursday games.
Rays are 17-6 in their last 23 vs. American League West.
Rays are 5-2 in their last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Rays are 16-7 in their last 23 during game 1 of a series.
Rays are 36-16 in their last 52 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Rays are 2-5 in their last 7 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 road games.
Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 overall.
Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 games on grass.
Rays are 5-0 in Morton’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Rays are 4-0 in Morton’s last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
Rays are 5-0 in Morton’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Rays are 4-0 in Morton’s last 4 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Rays are 7-1 in Morton’s last 8 road starts.
Rays are 6-1 in Morton’s last 7 starts on grass.
Rays are 6-1 in Morton’s last 7 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Rays are 4-1 in Morton’s last 5 starts.
Athletics are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. American League East.
Athletics are 6-1 in their last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Athletics are 5-1 in their last 6 Thursday games.
Athletics are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Athletics are 4-1 in their last 5 overall.
Athletics are 4-1 in their last 5 games on grass.
Athletics are 4-1 in their last 5 home games.
Athletics are 10-4 in their last 14 during game 1 of a series.
Athletics are 12-5 in their last 17 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Athletics are 7-3 in their last 10 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Athletics are 13-6 in their last 19 games following a win.
Athletics are 3-10 in their last 13 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Athletics are 1-5 in their last 6 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Athletics are 0-4 in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Athletics are 5-0 in Montas’ last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Athletics are 4-0 in Montas’ last 4 starts with 4 days of rest.
Athletics are 7-1 in Montas’ last 8 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Athletics are 6-1 in Montas’ last 7 starts.
Athletics are 6-1 in Montas’ last 7 starts on grass.
Athletics are 5-1 in Montas’ last 6 home starts.
Athletics are 4-1 in Montas’ last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Athletics are 8-3 in Montas’ last 11 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Athletics are 5-2 in Montas’ last 7 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Rays last 4 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 4-1 in Rays last 5 Thursday games.
Under is 8-2-1 in Rays last 11 vs. American League West.
Under is 4-1 in Rays last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 10-3 in Rays last 13 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 20-7 in Rays last 27 road games.
Under is 20-7 in Rays last 27 on grass.
Under is 11-4-1 in Rays last 16 overall.
Under is 5-2 in Rays last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 10-4 in Rays last 14 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 36-17-2 in Rays last 55 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 40-19-4 in Rays last 63 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-0 in Morton’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Morton’s last 4 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Morton’s last 6 starts on grass.
Under is 5-1 in Morton’s last 6 road starts.
Under is 4-1 in Morton’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Morton’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 7-2-1 in Morton’s last 10 starts overall.
Under is 4-0 in Athletics last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 5-1 in Athletics last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-1 in Athletics last 6 during game 1 of a series.
Over is 4-1 in Athletics last 5 Thursday games.
Under is 4-1 in Athletics last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 5-2 in Athletics last 7 on grass.
Over is 5-2 in Athletics last 7 home games.
Under is 7-3 in Athletics last 10 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 5-1 in Montas’ last 6 starts during game 1 of a series.
Under is 6-2 in Montas’ last 8 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 9-4 in Montas’ last 13 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in Oakland.
Rays are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Oakland.
Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
