Thursday, May 22, 4:10 PM

Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida

Oakland Athletics - Gray, S (5-1) vs. Tampa Bay Rays - Cobb, A (1-1)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Thursday afternoon, the Oakland Athletics will take the field behind Sonny Gray as they square off against the Tampa Bay Rays and Alex Cobb.  Gray will be making his 10th start as Cobb makes his 4th start.

Sonny Gray improved his record to 5 – 1 with an ERA of 2.10 after an impressive start his last time out.  In that outing, Gray gave up just a run on 2 hits in 6 innings of work.  He issued 3 walks and struck out 9.   Gray has already posted better numbers that he did in 2013 when he went 5 – 3 with a 2.67 ERA in 10 starts and 2 relief appearances during his rookie campaign.

Last season, Gray won his only start against the Rays after pitching 6.2 innings of scoreless ball and allowing just 5 hits and a walk while striking out 7.   The Rays are batting just .182 against Gray with just 4 hits in 22 at-bats.

Alex Cobb will return to the rotation after a strained oblique muscle put him on the 15 Day DL.  He brings a record of 1 – 1 and an ERA of 1.89 into this one after winning his last start.  In that outing, Cobb pitched 7 shutout innings and allowed just 4 hits while striking out 5.  Last season, Cobb was stellar with an 11 – 3 record and an ERA of 2.76 in 22 starts. 

In 2013, Cobb was 1 – 1 with a 2.93 ERA in 2 starts against Oakland.  The A’s are only batting .194 against Cobb and he should have no trouble with the lineup this time around.        

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

05/20/14 C Ryan Hanigan Hamstring questionable
05/17/14 CF Desmond Jennings Personal on the bereavement list
05/15/14 2B Ben Zobrist Thumb 15-day DL (5/14)
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 Oakland

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald