Tampa Bay Rays vs Oakland Athletics – MLB Picks

For the second time in as many nights, the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics will renew their rivalry on Saturday at McAfee Coliseum.

Tampa Bay enters this weekend atop the American League East standings by a narrow margin over the New York Yankees. With the Bronx Bombers playing at Boston this weekend, this could be the perfect time for the Rays to put some distance between themselves and their biggest challengers for the AL East crown.

In spite of the fact that the A’s enter this weekend just one game over .500, they are still in a dead heat for first place in the AL West with the Texas Rangers.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Oakland Athletics

Game Date/Time: Saturday, May 8th at 4:05 PM
Game Location: McAfee Coliseum, Oakland, CA
TV/Radio Broadcast: Sun Sports, Cox Sports California, XM

RHP Wade Davis has had three lights out starts for Manager Joe Maddon out of his five this year. The righty has either pitched spotless ball or allowed one run in three of those five outings, including last Sunday when he outdueled Kansas City RHP Zack Greinke in a 1-0 victory.

The rookie is probably walking a few too many batters, as 16 in 29.0 innings is high, but if he can keep opposing batters’ averages anywhere near the .208 that he is allowing now, he’ll be in great shape.

Davis started against Oakland on April 27th and allowed four runs in five innings of work, but thanks to a great offensive effort, the Rays earned him a win with an 8-6 victory.

Tampa Bay has been the subject of successful MLB picks in four straight Davis starts.

When GM Billy Beane signed RHP Ben Sheets to a $10M deal in the offseason, he knew that he was living and dying with every pitch that the right-hander threw. So far this year, it’s been more dying and less living.

Sheets’ L/2 starts have been miserable, as he allowed eight runs at Tampa Bay (against Davis) and nine at Toronto.

At home this year, the righty has been solid, going 1-1 with a respectable 2.12 ERA, which may be the only thing that A’s fans have to hold on to at this point.

Opposing batters are hitting .339 against Sheets this year, and his 7.12 ERA and 1.91 WHIP are both off the charts.

The eight run game against Tampa Bay was his only start against the Rays in Sheets’ career.

MLB Insider Tip: The Rays are a woeful 58-157 in their L/215 road games against teams with winning percentages of at least .600 at home.

Just as we discussed with Friday’s game, it’s going to be hard to continue backing the Rays on the road. One has to think that this is just going to catch up with them at some point.

Sheets is in dire need of a good start, or his career as we know it might just flat out be over. Assuming that he’s a home underdog, we’ll take our chances with him against the rookie on Saturday.

Our MLB Picks are on Oakland over the Rays.

My MLB Prediction: Oakland Athletics (Sheets)– SIGN UP HERE