The Oakland Athletics ended a four-game skid yesterday when they shut out the Tampa Bay Rays in a 5-0 win. The Rays are coming in as a dog here as the A's send their ace to the mound, and I like the price we get on the hosts to record an upset.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The A's will hand the ball to Sonny Gray (4-2, 1.92 ERA) who's coming off back-to-back losses. He surrendered three runs on seven hits with three walks over five innings at Houston his last start and was 0-1 with a 5.11 ERA over two starts against the Rays last season. The Rays will counter with Erasmo Ramirez (2-1, 6.44) who's off back-to-back wins, over which he's conceded three runs on three hits over 10 innings. He's 0-5 with a 4.99 ERA in six career starts against Oakland but has dominated Josh Reddick who is 0-for-11 against the 25 year old right-hander.

2. Home Cookin' - Tampa Bay had won six straight home at Tropicana before yesterday's loss. It's a perfect 4-0 in its last four as a home underdog while the A's have won just two of their last 11 away from home.

3. X-Factor - James Loney is 3-for-7 with two walks in previous match-ups against Gray and he's 8-for-22 wit two doubles last seven days.

Selection: This is a play on the Tampa Bay Rays +1.5 (8*)