MLB Predictions Preview … The Tampa Bay Rays welcome the Oakland Athletics into Tropicana Field tonight to start a three-game series between two contenders in their respective AL divisions. The A’s desperately need to get back on the winning track having dropped to nine-games behind the West leading Los Angeles Angels after losing five straight games. The Rays, holding onto a slim 1.5 games lead over the Boston Red Sox in the East, need to keep winning in order to hold off their eastern rivals. The Rays send their ace lefthander, Scott Kazmir (7-5, 3.04 ERA), to the mound with hopes of extending Oakland’s losing streak while the A’s pin their hopes on lefty Dana Eveland (7-6, 3.49 ERA).
MLB Predictions Betting Line …Oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com have installed the Rays as -186 money line favorites with a 7.5 total. The A’s are getting +176 money line odds.
Tampa Bay is 2-1 (+1.0 Units) against Oakland this season 2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER the total this season .
Kazmir took the loss in his last start, against the Indians on July 13, when he allowed five runs on eight hits in six innings. Kazmir has not picked up a win since June 27 at Pittsburgh, and he's 1-4 in his last five decisions. In addition, Kazmir has made it into the seventh inning just once in his last seven starts. The lefty is still working to gain command of his slider, which has historically been his best pitch. Without his slider, he has primarily used a fastball-changeup combination this season. He is 5-1 with a 2.96 ERA in nine career starts against the A's. Kazmir is 5-1 when starting against Oakland with an ERA of 2.96 and a WHIP of 1.262.His team's record is 6-3 (+3.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-4.
First-inning struggles continued for Eveland in his last start against the Angels. He pitched well in 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs in the first inning, on five hits with five strikeouts, but he also walked five. It was the third straight outing in which Eveland had trouble in the opening frame, but after the game he said toning it down to about 80 percent may be the solution to his early-inning woes. He pitched his first career complete game in his only start against Tampa Bay earlier in the year, giving up a lone run on just three hits while walking one and fanning five in the win. Eveland is 1-0 when starting against Tampa Bay with an ERA of 1.00 and a WHIP of 0.444.His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0.
The A's lost to the Yankees 2-1 as a +125 underdog on Sunday. The three runs scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (7.5).
Justin Duchscherer took the loss for Oakland after giving up two runs on six hits in seven innings.
The Rays lost to Toronto 9-4 as a -150 favorite on Sunday. The 13 runs scored went OVER the posted over/under total (8.5).
Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena hit solo home runs for Tampa Bay, while Edwin Jackson was roughed up for six runs in four 1-3 innings.
MLB Game Prediction : Kazmir and the Rays should get it done…-186 ML.
