The Tampa Bay Rays will head north to face off against their AL East foe Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. Mid-Atlantic Sports Network is in line to televise the matchup and the game will get going at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Baltimore (+100) as the underdog to Tampa Bay (-110). The total is sitting at 8.5 runs and bettors can wager on the over or the under for -110. Gamblers can also wager on the game’s spread with the runline odds sitting at Rays -1.5 runs (+135) and Orioles 1.5 runs (-155).
The Rays have gone 8-13 SU this year and are 11-10 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 5.8 units for moneyline gamblers in the season’s early going, despite having gained 1.6 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in six of those seven. The Orioles, on the other hand, are 6-17 SU and 7-15 ATS. The team has lost 8.4 units for moneyline bettors and 8.7 units ATS. Baltimore has covered the spread just once in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Orioles games have an over/under record of 9-12-1 so far in 2018. Tampa Bay has been a decent over bet with a total record of 14-7.
Jake Faria will get the start for the visiting Rays. The right-handed Faria is 1-1 with a 5.82 ERA and 15 strikeouts. He has yet to face Baltimore this year, but he did make three starts against the Orioles in 2017, compiling a 1-0 record against them with a 4.09 ERA and 22 strikeouts.
The Orioles are going with righty Alex Cobb (0-2, 15.43 ERA), who’s got four punchouts and two walks, as well as a WHIP of 3.14. Cobb did not record a start against the Rays in 2017.
Tampa Bay’s pitching staff allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starters own a 4.44 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 8.54 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 5.14, along with a WHIP of 1.26.
The Rays offense has slashed .251/.330/.375 on its way to 4.2 runs scored per game this year, including 3.0 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Second baseman Daniel Robertson and outfielder Mallex Smith have led Tampa Bay’s hitters. Robertson is hitting .318/.474/.523 with 14 hits, five RBIs and 11 runs scored, while Smith has a .344 average with 21 hits, three RBIs and nine runs scored.
Maintaining a slash line of .236/.276/.300 across 116 plate appearances, Smith taken a step back when hitting righties on the road last season (compared to his total season line of .270/.329/.355).
For the home team, Baltimore’s pitching staff has given up 5.3 runs per game overall this season. The club’s starters have a 5.07 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.48 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 8.0 K/9. In 10 games against AL East foes, Orioles starters have an ERA of 5.40 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.96.
The Baltimore hitters are putting up 3.2 runs per contest, including 3.7 per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over their last five. The team has hit .217/.267/.398 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
Shortstop Manny Machado and outfielder Trey Mancini have paced the Orioles’ batters this year. Machado is hitting .360/.447/.708 with eight home runs, 17 RBIs and 13 runs scored, and Mancini’s line is .280/.348/.415 with 23 hits, seven RBIs and 10 runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .260/.311/.473, Machado seemed to enjoy hitting righty pitching at home in 2017, slashing .286/.355/.534 over 265 such plate appearances.
The Rays have lost 4.0 units and are 5-8 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in nine of those games, compared to four that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Orioles have lost 5.2 units and are 4-10 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in five of those games, compared to nine that’ve cashed the under.
Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Orioles, ATS Winner – Orioles, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- The Orioles have lost nine of their last 10 games SU.
- Baltimore has recorded 16.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 17.0 over its last five.
- Both teams have hit 10 home runs over their last 10 outings.
