Tampa Bay Rays (53-48) AT Oakland A’s (45-57)
July 26, 2011 at 10:05 PM EST
Opening Line: TAM -145, OAK +125
Current Line: TAM -129, OAK +119
Opening Total: 6.5
Current Total: 6.5
SP: TAM- David Price; OAK- Brandon McCarthy
The Rays are getting precariously close to non-contention. Now 9.5 games back from the division leading Red Sox, and 7 games behind 2nd place New York, the Rays are finding themselves fighting for their playoff chances, with about fifty games remaining in the season. Even on the road, where the Rays usually play their best ball, they are having problems closing out games this month, and dropped the series opener to the A’s last night 7 to 5. The Rays are only 4-7 since the break now.
Three Rays finished with multiple hit games. Ben Zobrist, who is now batting .276 on the season, went 3 of 4, with a homer and 2 doubles, while prospect Desmond Jennings went 2 of 5 (he’s now 6 of 11 on the season) and Kelly Shoppach went 2 of 3. It wasn’t enough to beat the A’s, however, who went 10 of 33 from the plate, with 7 players picking up a hit (Pennington (2), Suzuki, Jackson (2), DeJesus, Willingham, Matsui, and Crisp). Second baseman Jemile Weeks went 0 of 5 and stranded 4 runnerse on base, but is still hitting .307 on the season since being called up earlier in the years.
Neither Hellickson nor Moscoso had good nights from the mound, as Hellickson gave up 3 earned runs in 5 innings and Moscoso gave up 5 earned runs in 5 innings, himself.
Conor Jackson, who hit a two-run double in the 7th inning, had this to say:
“I think it’s just apparent that everybody’s not chasing like we have in the past; We’re working counts, we’re taking our walks and we’re swinging at pitches in the zone. When you do that, it makes it a little more fun. I missed a lot of time the past two years so for me to start playing consistently and get a lot of at-bats in a row, I’m starting to feel more comfortable. It’s been a while since I’ve strung a lot of bats together so it’s starting to click.”
The Rays will attempt to hold the A’s to less runs tonight behind the pitching of David Price. The veteran is 9-8 with a 3.67 ERA this season, but had a tough time last outing, when he gave up only 2 runs in a quality start (7.1 IP), but the Rays gave him zero runs of support and the pen gave up an additional two runs, as the Rays dropped the game 4-0.
Price went 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA in two starts last season against the A’s, but will have to be very careful with the aforementioned Jackson, who is 8 of 20 with three doubles and is now batting .350 over the last 11 games.
Oakland will send Brandon McCarthy to the mound. McCarthy is 2-5 with a 3.74 ERA, but like Price had difficulties in his last outing, when he gave up 4 runs in 5+ innings of a 7-5 victory over the Tigers. He did not pick up a decision.
He attributed his difficulties to over-heating, saying it felt like he was “pitching while wearing a heavy blanket.”
He hasn’t faced Tampa Bay since 2009 when he was a member of the Texas Rangers. Over his career he is 1-2 with a 4.18 ERA, and has held them scoreless over the last 12.1 IP.
Some betting trends:
Tampa Bay is 3-7 SU in their last 10 games and 1-5 SU in their last 6 on the road. The Rays are 2-5 SU in their last 7 against the A’s, while the total has gone UNDER In 7 of the last 10 on the road in Oakland. The Rays are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games on the road against the A’s.
The Total has gone OVER in 6 of the A’s last 7 games and they are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games at home. The A’s are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games against the Rays and the total has gone UNDER in 7 of the last 10 at home against the Rays. The A’s are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games at home against the Rays.
Given last night’s offensive explosion, the 12 runs produced, the total looks a bit low at 6.5 today. Granted, both teams are using more effective pitchers, but offenses gain momentum and Price may have difficulty with Jackson, which could spell trouble for the Rays, so I like the ‘over’ on today’s total.
