The Tampa Bay Rays will head north to face their divisional foe Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network is in line to broadcast the matchup.
Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles Odds
Vegas is listing Tampa Bay (+120) as the underdog to Baltimore (-130). The total sits at 8 runs and bettors can wager on the over for +110 and the under for -130. You can also bet on the game’s spread with the runline odds standing at -175 for the Rays +1.5 runs and +155 for the Orioles -1.5.
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 8-15 ATS. The team has lost 9.4 units for moneyline bettors and 7.7 units ATS. Baltimore has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Baltimore games have an over/under record of 9-13-1 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 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 made three starts against the team in 2017, posting a 1-0 record with a 4.09 ERA and 22 strikeouts.
The Orioles will put the ball in the right hand of Alex Cobb (0-2, 15.43 ERA, 3.14 WHIP), who has four strikeouts and two walks this season. Cobb did not record a start against the Rays in 2017.
Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.44 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 8.54 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 5.14, along with a WHIP of 1.26 and a K-per-9 of 8.36.
Rays hitters have slashed .251/.330/.375 on their 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 outings (4-1 SU).
Tampa Bay’s hitters have been led by second baseman Daniel Robertson and left fielder Mallex Smith. Robertson is hitting .318/.474/.523 with 14 hits, five RBIs and 11 runs scored, while Smith (.344/.412/.459) has produced 21 hits, three RBIs and nine runs scored.
Smith didn’t do as well hitting against righties on the road in 2017. Over 116 such plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .236/.276/.300 (compared to his overall season line of .270/.329/.355).
In the other dugout, Baltimore’s pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game overall this season. 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 AL East foes, Orioles starters have an ERA of 5.40 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.96.
Baltimore’s offense has produced 3.2 runs per outing, including 3.7 per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over its 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 led the Orioles’ offense this year. Machado is slashing .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 total season slash line of .260/.311/.473, Machado enjoyed batting against righty pitching at home last year, 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 6.2 units and are 5-10 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in five of those games, compared to 10 that went under.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Orioles, ATS Winner – Rays, O/U – UNDER
Notes
Betting Notes
The Orioles have lost nine of their last 10 games SU.
Tampa Bay has posted 23.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 27.6 over its last five.
Each team has hit 10 home runs over its last 10 games.
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