These two teams are heading in opposite directions as the Oakland Athletics have won six of their last eight and the Tampa Bay Rays losing seven of their last nine. I'm happy to take the hotter team at this price here in the opener of a four-game series Thursday night.

Oakland right-hander Frankie Montas (9-2, 2.85 ERA) has been excellent of late, going 5-0 with a 2.77 ERA in his past eight starts. He must feel pretty confident knowing he'll face a Rays team that opened this week by getting outscored 21-4 while getting swept over three games by the Yankees.

Tampa Bay righty Charlie Morton (8-1, 2.37 ERA) is certainly no slouch either, but he was tagged with four runs on five hits (two homers) in six innings of a 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels last time out. Here Morton has to try and slow down an Oakland side that is coming off a three-game home sweep of the Baltimore Orioles during which it outscored its opponent 27-7.

Athletics are 6-1 in their last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter. Athletics are 6-1 in Montas' last 7 starts.

Free pick on Oakland Athletics.

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