Rays and A’s In a Huge Series This Weekend
The Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland A’s get together for a big three game series in Oakland beginning late Friday night. The two teams are one and two in the American League Wild Card race with the Rays a half-game ahead of the A’s. Both are coming off tough losses on Thursday. The Rays could not get the tying runs in from second and third with one out in the ninth inning in a 2-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The A’s let a 6-1 lead get away in a 7-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers on a three-run walk-off home run by Torii Hunter.
Should one of these two teams sweep the other, there is a whole host of teams poised to slip into the second spot in the Wild Card race. The Baltimore Orioles are 3.5 games behind the A’s, the Cleveland Indians are 4 out, the always dangerous New York Yankees are 5 game back and the suddenly red-hot again Kansas City Royals are 6 games behind.
Tampa Bay will throw David Price against the A’s and Jarrod Parker on Friday. Price is 8-5 and has been pitching very well since the All-Star Break. Parker is 10-6 and has not lost a game in three months. This one should be good.
Betonline has the Rays -1.5 +145 while the A’s are +1.5 -165 ATS. Moneyline has the Rays -113 and the A’s +103. Over/Under is 6.5 with over -115 and under -105. This one is a tough one to call. But we will go with Price. Take the Rays -113 and the under -105.
Other important AL games include:
Orioles at Yankees– the O’s have Miguel Gonzalez at the Yanks and C. C. Sabathia. Sabathia looked good his last time out. The O’s are +1.5 -175 and the Yanks are -1.5 +155. Moneyline is Baltimore +121 and the Yanks -131. Over/Under is 9 with over -105 and under -115. We like C. C. in this one. Take the Yankees -131 and the under -115.
Royals at Blue Jays– The Royals have won five in a row and will send Ervin Santana to face Mark Buerhle. The Jays are +1.5 -165 and the Royals are -1.5 +145 ATS. Moneyline is Royals -112 and Jays +102. Over/Under is 8.5 with over +100 and under 8.5 -120. The Blue Jays are a dangerous team to be playing this time of year. They are loaded with talent and have no pressure. The Royals are due to lose too so we will take the Jays.
Indians at Tigers– The Indians are coming off a tough series with the Braves in which they lost several close ones. They will throw Zach McAllister against the Rick Porcello. The Indians are +1.5 -155 and the Tigers are -1.5 +135 ATS. Moneyline is Indians +133 and the Tigers -143. Over/Under is 9 -105 and under -115. We will take the Tigers -1.5 +135 and the under -115.
