MLB: Oakland Athletics vs Tampa Bay Rays odds, picks, and predictions

The Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics will face off at Oakland Coliseum on Monday in Major League Baseball action. The Tampa Bay Rays are looking for their seventh win in their past 11 games. After losing six of their previous eight games, the Oakland Athletics are in desperate need of a win. In their last three games, the Tampa Bay Rays have scored 10 runs, and in six of their last nine games, they have scored three or fewer runs. When scoring three or fewer runs, the Rays have lost seven of their last ten games. Wander Franco has 26 hits and 13 RBI for the Rays, while Randy Arozarena and Yandy Diaz have combined for 34 hits and nine RBI. Drew Rasmussen takes the mound, and he's 1-1 this season with a 3.50 ERA and 18 strikeouts. Rasmussen will be facing the Athletics for the first time in his career.

In their last three games, the Oakland Athletics have scored 12 runs, and in seven of their last eight games, they have scored three or fewer runs. When scoring three or fewer runs, the Athletics have lost six of their last eight games. Sheldon Neuse has 21 hits and 13 RBI, while Tony Kemp and Sean Murphy have combined for 35 hits and 17 RBI for the Athletics. Daulton Jefferies takes the mound, and he's 1-3 this season with a 3.26 ERA and 12 strikeouts. Jefferies will be facing the Rays for the first time in his career.

The Rays are 75-35 as underdogs in their previous 110 games and 5-2 in their last seven overall. The Athletics have lost four of their past five games at home and two of their last seven overall. Overall, the under is 5-2-1 in the Rays' last eight games. In the Athletics' last 11 home games, the under is 8-3. In the last eight meetings, the Rays are 2-6.

Rasmussen is regaining his mojo, allowing only two runs in his last nine innings. Jefferies has pitched well in three of his four starts, allowing just 16 hits and seven earned runs in 19.1 innings, but he doesn't get much run support and is frequently defeated. The basic line is that the A's are beginning to resemble the squad we anticipated to see after trading half of their roster. The Tampa Bay Rays' season is heating up. Two teams are going in opposite directions. I'll take the Rays.

Oakland Athletics vs Tampa Bay Rays picks, and predictions

My Pick: Tampa Bay Rays