The Baltimore Orioles will be taking on their divisional rival Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will be televising the action.
Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Vegas has listed Baltimore (+100) as the underdog to Tampa Bay (-110). The total sits at 8.5 runs and bettors can take the over for +105 and the under for -125. You can also bet on the games spread with the runline odds sitting at Orioles +1.5 runs (-210) and Rays -1.5 runs (+175).
The Rays are 24-26 SU and 24-25 ATS. They’ve lost 2.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 2.5 units against the spread (ATS). Tampa Bay has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Orioles have gone 17-35 SU this year and are 20-31 ATS. In total, the teams lost 16.2 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 12.4 units ATS. Baltimore’s covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Tampa Bay games have a 24-23-2 over/under record so far in 2018. Orioles games have gone under 26 times, gone over 23 times and pushed on two instances.
Kevin Gausman will get the nod for Baltimore. The right-handed Gausman is 3-3 with a 3.48 ERA and 58 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with six strikeouts and a 2.45 ERA against Tampa Bay this year (three starts).
The Rays will put the ball in the right hand of Sergio Romo (1-1, 4.66 ERA, 1.50 WHIP), who’s got 27 strikeouts and nine walks. Romo is 1-1 with three strikeouts and a 6.75 ERA against Baltimore this year.
Baltimore’s pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.42 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 7.92 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.36, along with a K-per-9 of 8.34.
Orioles hitters have slashed .232/.295/.392 on their way to 3.9 runs scored per game this year, including 4.4 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over the teams last five outings (2-3 SU).
Shortstop Manny Machado and outfielder Adam Jones continue to lead Baltimore’s offense. Machado is slashing .327/.399/.619 with 15 home runs, 44 RBIs and 28 runs scored, while Jones is hitting .274 with nine homers, 25 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
Maintaining a slash line of .227/.264/.387 across 254 plate appearances, Machado did not do especially well against righties on the road last year (compared to his total season line of .260/.311/.473).
In the home-team dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has allowed 4.4 runs per game overall in 2018. The clubs starters have a 4.15 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.19 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 8.4 K/9. In 26 games against AL East foes, Rays starters have an ERA of 5.28 and the bullpens ERA is 4.37.
The Tampa Bay offense is putting up 4.2 runs per contest, including 4.1 per game against divisional foes and 2.8 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .250/.343/.340 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Rays’ batters have been led by first baseman C.J. Cron and catcher Wilson Ramos. Cron is hitting .270/.326/.485 with 11 home runs, 30 RBIs and 29 runs scored, and the line for Ramos stands at .305/.344/.464 with six homers, 25 RBIs and 14 runs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .248/.305/.437, Cron enjoyed hitting against right-handed pitching at home last year, slashing .294/.371/.492 over 143 such plate appearances.
The Orioles have lost 12.4 units and are 13-20 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 14 of those games, as opposed to 18 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Rays have lost 5.0 units and are 13-18 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 17 of those games, as opposed to 13 which went under the total.
Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Orioles, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Baltimore has posted 18.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 17.8 over its last five.
- The Orioles have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games. The Rays have hit 10 over their last 10.
