Oakland Athletics at Tampa Bay Rays Free MLB Picks & Odds
by Josh Schonwald - 5/20/2014
Wednesday, May 21, 7:10 PM on CSCA, SUN
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Oakland Athletics - Milone, T (1-3) vs. Tampa Bay Rays - Bedard, E (2-1)
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Wednesday, Tommy Milone and the Oakland Athletics will face Erik Bedard and the Tampa Bay Rays. It will be the 8th start of the season for Milone and the 7th start and 8th appearance for Bedard.
Tommy Milone pitched to a no decision in his last outing and that left his record at 1 – 3 with a 4.10 ERA. In that start, Milone pitched 6 innings of work and allowed a run (on a solo homer) and 5 hits without a walk while striking out 4. Milone still has time to equal or better last season’s results when he went 12 - 9 with an ERA of 4.14 in 26 starts and 2 relief appearances.
In 2013, Milone lost his only start against Tampa Bay after surrendering 6 runs on 8 hits in 6.2 innings of work. Tampa Bay’s Yunel Escobar could be an issue for Milone as Escobar is 3 of 6 with a homer and 3 RBIs against the left-hander.
Erik Bedard comes into this one after getting a no decision in his last start. His record stayed at 2 – 1 as he lowered his ERA to 2.78 after a 5.2 inning effort where he gave up 2 runs on 4 hits with a walk and 5 strikeouts. Last season, Bedard was 4 – 12 with a save and an ERA of 4.59 in 26 starts and 6 relief appearances for the Houston Astros.
In 2013, Bedard was 0 – 2 with an 8.36 ERA in 3 starts and a relief appearance against the A’s. His career numbers against the A’s aren’t bad but he will have to watch out for Nate Freiman. Freiman is 4 of 6 with 2 homers and 7 RBIs against Bedard.
Oakland Athletics Betting Trends
Oakland Athletics are 24-18-2 against the Over/Under
Run Differential for Oakland Athletics is 2.2
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends
Tampa Bay Rays are 25-18-2 against the Over/Under
Run differential for Tampa Bay Rays is -0.5
Injuries to Watch
Oakland Athletics
05/19/14 SS Jed Lowrie Neck questionable
05/09/14 P Ryan Cook Forearm 15-day DL (5/9)
04/04/14 SS Jake Elmore Quad 15-day DL (3/28)
03/30/14 P A.J. Griffin Elbow 60-day DL (3/21)
03/30/14 P Fernando Rodriguez Elbow 15-day DL (3/21)
03/28/14 P Eric O'Flaherty Elbow 60-day DL (2/17)
03/28/14 P Jarrod Parker Elbow 60-day DL (3/20), out for season
Tampa Bay Rays
05/17/14 CF Desmond Jennings Personal on the bereavement list
05/15/14 2B Ben Zobrist Thumb 15-day DL (5/14)
04/13/14 P Alex Cobb Oblique 15-day DL (4/13)
04/08/14 P Matt Moore Elbow 15-day DL (4/8), out for season
03/30/14 2B Tim Beckham Knee 15-day DL (3/30)
03/28/14 P Jeremy Hellickson Elbow 15-day DL (3/30)
Josh's Pick: Take Tampa Bay
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