The Baltimore Orioles are trying to avoid losing their fourth consecutive game they play host to the Tampa Bay Rays at Camden Yards. The game gets underway 7:05 p.m. ET and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will showcase the matchup.
Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles Odds
Tampa Bay (-110) is favored over Baltimore (+100) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this night game at 8.5 runs (-110 for the under and -110 for the over). Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds sitting at +135 for the Rays -1.5 runs and -155 for the Orioles +1.5 runs.
The Orioles are only 6-17 SU and 7-15 ATS. The team has lost 8.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 8.7 units against the spread (ATS). Baltimore has covered the spread just once in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Rays have gone 8-13 SU this year and are 11-10 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 5.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline in this young season, but have gained 1.6 units ATS. Tampa Bay’s covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in six of those seven.
Baltimore 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 nod for Tampa Bay. 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 putting the ball in the hands of righty Alex Cobb (0-2, 15.43 ERA), who has four strikeouts and two walks to his credit, as well as a 3.14 WHIP. Cobb did not record a start against the Rays in 2017.
As a unit, Baltimore’s pitching staff has given up 5.3 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have an ERA of 5.07, a WHIP of 1.55 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.4. The bullpen has a 4.48 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 8.0 K/9. In 10 games against divisional opponents, Orioles starters have an ERA of 5.40 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.96.
The Baltimore hitters have put 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 slashed .217/.267/.398 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
The Orioles’ offense has been led by shortstop Manny Machado and left fielder Trey Mancini. Machado is hitting .360/.447/.708 with eight home runs, 17 RBIs and 13 runs scored, and Mancini is batting .280 with 23 hits, seven RBIs and 10 runs.
Machado seemed to enjoy hitting righty pitching at home last year. Across 265 such plate appearances, he slashed .286/.355/.534 (compared to his total season line of .260/.311/.473).
In the other dugout, Tampa Bay’s pitchers have 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 K-per-9 of 8.36.
The Rays offense has slashed .251/.330/.375 on its way to 4.2 runs scored per game in 2018, including 3.0 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Tampa Bay’s offense has been led by second baseman Daniel Robertson and outfielder Mallex Smith. Robertson is hitting .318/.474/.523 with 14 hits, five RBIs and 11 runs scored, while Smith (.344/.412/.459) is up to 21 hits, three RBIs and nine runs scored.
Smith had some trouble hitting righty pitching on the road last season, putting up a slash line of .236/.276/.300 across 116 such plate appearances (his overall season line was .270/.329/.355).
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 righty starter. The over’s hit in five of those games, compared to nine that’ve gone under.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Orioles, ATS Winner – Orioles, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Notes
Each team has hit 10 home runs over its last 10 games.
Baltimore has recorded 16.7 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 outings and 17.0 over its last five.
The Orioles have lost nine of their last 10 games SU.
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