Oakland Athletics vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, 4/29/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Oakland Athletics vs Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Thursday, April 29, 2021

Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

TV: Bally Sports Sun

Odds/Point Spread: Oakland (-105) Tampa Bay (-105)

Tropicana Field is the site where Ryan Yarbrough and the Tampa Bay Rays (12-12, 2nd in AL East) will take on the Oakland Athletics (15-9, 1st in AL West) on Thursday. The Athletics open this contest at -105 while the Rays are priced at -105. The total has been set at 8. The pitchers who are expected to start will be Chris Bassitt and Ryan Yarbrough.

As a squad, the Oakland Athletics are knocking in 4.4 runs per game, which ranks them 12th in MLB. They have notched a total of 106 runs while holding a team OBP of .308. The Athletics have accrued 28 two-baggers as a team and have hit 30 baseballs out of the park. They have compiled 99 runs batted in in addition to 166 base knocks this year, and their average at the plate is sitting at .216. Oakland owns a slugging percentage of .383 and have been rung up 212 times, while taking a walk on 86 occasions.

The Athletics have an ERA of 4.31 for the season (19th in the league), and their staff has rung up 203 hitters. They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.82 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.36. Athletics pitchers have surrendered 27 home runs in addition to 108 runs (22nd in baseball). They have walked 72 opposing hitters and their FIP sits at 3.98 as a team for the season.

The Athletics have sent 81 relievers to the hill for the season. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 35 runners for the season with 40.0% of them ended up crossing the plate. They have tallied 5 saves so far this year and have not converted 0 of their 5 save opportunities. The Athletics bullpen have accumulated a save rate of 100.0% and has stepped onto the mound in 16 save situations. The relief pitchers have accumulated 11 holds for the year (16th in MLB). Athletics relief pitchers have entered the game with opponents on base 22 times and also have had 20 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Oakland Athletics have a total of 633 putouts so far this season, as well as 203 assists and 12 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .986 which has them sitting 8th in baseball, and have earned 178 double plays. The Athletics have converted 67.8% of balls hit into play into outs in their 1,899 innings on the diamond, ranking them 26th in the majors.

Bassitt (21-23 career mark) has a FIP of 4.03 while he has faced 1,831 hitters during his time in the major leagues. He has given up 396 base knocks (8.4 hits per nine innings) and has had 151 walks. His earned run average is 3.63 (172 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.282. Bassitt has taken the hill for 426 frames and has tallied 372 strikeouts in his career.

The Tampa Bay Rays have accumulated an OBP of .307 and a team batting average of .228 for the season. They have been rung up on 239 occasions (4th in the league) and have notched a total of 186 base hits. Tampa Bay has accumulated 25 home runs for the season and 99 runs batted in. The Rays hold a slugging % of .382 and they earn 4.46 runs per game (11th in the league). They have 44 doubles, while taking a walk 83 times and racking up 107 runs.

The Tampa Bay pitching staff have allowed 112 runs over the course of the season and come in with a team ERA of 4.23 (102 earned runs conceded). They have conceded 25 homers and they surrender 4.64 runs per 9 innings (19th in baseball). The Rays hold a team WHIP of 1.184 and have a FIP of 3.68 as a staff so far this year. They currently have a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.18 (213 strikeouts against 67 free passes). They rank 26th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits surrendered with 190.

Sitting with 32 save situations, the Rays have accumulated 18 holds in addition to 6 blown saves. Tampa Bay has had bullpen pitchers enter the contest in 14 save opportunities and they have come away with 8 saves. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 35 times in high leverage situations and on 21 occasions with base runners. Tampa Bay relievers have an inherited score percentage of 26.9% of 26 inherited runners. They are currently ranked 20th in the league with a save rate of 57.1%, and they have dispatched 75 bullpen pitchers to the hill so far this season.

In 1,956 innings played, the Rays have earned a efficiency on defense of 70.6% (15th in pro baseball). The Tampa Bay Rays have twisted 22 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .990 (3rd in baseball). The Rays have accrued 207 assists, 9 errors and are sitting with 652 putouts on the season.

Thus far in his career, Yarbrough has surrendered 343 base hits while he has accumulated 310 K's in 372 innings pitched. Yarbrough (29-18 career record) has a 3.97 earned run average while giving up 8.3 hits per 9 innings. He has given up a total of 164 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.156 and a FIP of 3.8. He has a K/BB ratio of 3.56 and he has gone up against 1,541 batters so far in his pro baseball career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (-105)

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