MLB picks: Athletics vs. Rays, Rockies vs. Giants

Let’s take a look at the two best betting matchups on the diamond this Wednesday night!

First up, two of the better teams in the American League square off at Tropicana Field as the Oakland Athletics take on the Tampa Bay Rays. Then we’ll highlight a National League West clash between the Colorado Rockies and the San Francisco Giants.

Oakland Athletics (14-8) at Tampa Bay Rays (12-12), 7:10 p.m. ET

Under bettors have cashed in each of the first two games of this series between the A’s and Rays, and look poised to do so again on Wednesday night.

Cole Irvin gets the call for Oakland, fresh off two strong outings in which he allowed only one earned run over 11 1/3 combined innings. Irvin struck out 12 batters in that span while walking only one.

The southpaw has yet to face any batter on the Rays’ roster, which is 21st in the majors in OPS against lefties this year (.689). Once Irvin departs, the A’s fifth-ranked bullpen by ERA over the last two weeks (2.41) will take over.

Tyler Glasnow counters for Tampa, trying to shake off a subpar start against the Toronto Blue Jays (five earned runs allowed over six innings). He had surrendered just two earned runs in 24 2/3 innings in his first four efforts of 2021.

Oakland’s offense – which has scored three runs or fewer in four of their last five games – is unlikely to chase Glasnow early. The Rays’ rapidly-improving relief corps (10th in ERA last 14 days) lies in wait.

MLB pick: Under

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Colorado Rockies (9-14) at San Francisco Giants (15-9), 9:45 p.m. ET

Bettors should expect the Over to cash for a third straight time as the Rockies and Giants wrap up their three-game series at Oracle Park on Wednesday night.

German Marquez has been Colorado’s most reliable arm in 2021, but San Francisco has always given him problems. The Giants have hit .309 against Marquez over 62 2/3 career innings, leading to a 5.46 ERA. Buster Posey – who has seven hits in this series alone – is 4-for-12 lifetime against Marquez with a home run.

The Rockies’ bullpen is unlikely to provide much relief, as they’re 26th in the majors by ERA on the year (5.00).

Alex Wood makes his third start of the season for San Fran, and his first two outings could not have gone much better. He allowed just one earned run in 12 combined innings, registering 11 strikeouts and just one walk.

However, Wood did this work exclusively against the Miami Marlins. Bettors should expect Charlie Blackmon and Trevor Story – who are 15-for-33 (.455) combined against Wood with a homer and 10 RBI – to give him a much harder time than the Fish did.

The Giants’ 20th-ranked bullpen by ERA will likely just add gasoline to the fire.

MLB pick: Over