Rays vs Athletics Series Preview: A’s Showing Signs of Life, Tough Series Against Rays

Our Rays vs Athletics betting odds series preview starts with a look at the overall series price and the number for game one. It’s not a surprise that the series price opened with Tampa a massive -350 road favorite. The buyback on the Athletics is +250.

Tampa opens game one as a -275 favorite with Zach Eflin (8-1, 2.97) on the mound against Oakland’s James Kaprielian (1-6, 7.21). The total on the game is 8.5 (-115 over). Let’s continue our Rays vs Athletics betting odds preview with a look at both MLB teams.

13 of Rays’ 20 Losses Have Come On The Road

To give you an idea of how much of a difference there is between the Rays and Athletics, this is the largest difference in win percentage between opponents since July 3rd, 1962 (60-game minimum). The two teams are separated by 452 percentage points.

Tampa Bay brings in the second-best offense in baseball, averaging 5.75 runs per game. Only the Texas Rangers are better at 6.25 runs per game. This past weekend, the two best squared off with Tampa taking two of three games, while outsourcing Texas 19-14. If you weren’t impressed with the Rays before, there is no doubt they are the best team in the American League now.

A look at the MLB injury report shows that Tampa hasn’t had it as easy as it seems with 10 players on the IL. The flashy numbers do change some for the Rays on the road with the majority of their losses coming away from the Trop (17-13). Is that enough of a factor to bet the Athletics? Let’s continue our Rays vs Athletics betting odds preview with a deep dive into the red-hot Athletics.

MLB’s Longest Win Streak Belongs To Oakland

The 17-50 Oakland Athletics are all of a sudden scorching hot after sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers on the road last weekend. Overcoming the destruction of Thor’s hammer by Kevin Smith, the Athletics have won five straight games.

The baseball world snickered after Oakland took two of three from the Pittsburgh Pirates, but no one knew it was just the start of a small streak. This is the second meeting between these two clubs with Tampa sweeping the first three games by a combined 32-5. Games two and three resulted in the Rays thrashing Oakland with a pair of 11-0 victories.

There are reports out of the Athletics clubhouse that this club is taking on a ‘us against the world’ mentality with the ultimate test of their newly found confidence on deck. We conclude our Rays vs Athletics betting odds preview with our official series selection.

We Just Can’t Do It

It has been a nice run for the soon-to-be Las Vegas Athletics, but this is another level. The Tampa Bay Rays will win this series, but what is the correct way to bet on this series? If you want to lay -350, be our guest, but that’s not what we’re going to do.

This is a quick-hit series for us. The run line is our focus with Tampa -275 (game one), not being an option. Lay the 1.5 (-163) in game one, and if it wins get off the series. The run line is the only way we can put our money in and even at that rate, the price on the run line is still too rich for us.

A look at tonight’s MLB weather shows a cool night is on tap with temperatures in the high 50’s. That does it for our Rays vs Athletics betting preview, we wish you nothing but the best with your wagers.

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