The Tampa Bay Rays are squaring off against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field. The game gets underway 7:10 p.m. ET and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will broadcast the action.
Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Baltimore (+130) as the underdog to Tampa Bay (-140). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -105 for over 8.5 runs and -115 for under 8.5. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds coming in at Orioles +1.5 runs (-170) and Rays -1.5 runs (+150).
The Rays are 23-25 SU and 23-24 ATS. They’ve lost 2.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 2.5 units against the spread (ATS). Tampa Bay has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Orioles have gone 16-34 SU this year and are 18-31 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 18.6 units for gamblers taking the moneyline in the season’s early going and 14.4 units ATS. Baltimore’s covered the spread only once in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Rays games have a 23-22-2 over/under record so far in 2018. Baltimore has an over/under record of 22-25-2.
David Hess will get the start for Baltimore. The right-handed Hess is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA and seven strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with three strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA against Tampa Bay this year.
The Rays are putting the ball in the right hand of Sergio Romo (1-0, 4.34 ERA), who has 26 strikeouts and nine walks as well as a 1.45 WHIP. Romo is 1-0 with two strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA against Baltimore this year.
Tampa Bay’s pitchers have given up 4.5 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starters have a 4.16 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.44 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 8.4 K/9. In 24 games against divisional foes, Rays starters have an ERA of 5.32 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.86.
The Tampa Bay offense has produced 4.3 runs per outing, including 4.3 per game against divisional foes and 3.2 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .208/.300/.302 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
First baseman C.J. Cron and third baseman Matt Duffy have paced the Rays’ batters this year. Cron is slashing .271/.325/.489 with 11 home runs, 28 RBIs and 28 runs scored, while Duffy is batting .317 with 44 hits, 15 RBIs and 10 runs scored.
Cron performed well against righties at home in 2017. In 143 such plate appearances, he slashed .294/.371/.492 (his total season line was .248/.305/.437).
In the visiting dugout, Baltimore’s pitching staff allowed 5.5 runs per game and its starters own a 5.49 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 8.03 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.49, along with a K-per-9 of 8.33.
The Orioles offense has slashed .234/.299/.395 on its way to 4.0 runs scored per game this season, including 4.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Baltimore’s hitters have been led by shortstop Manny Machado and right fielder Adam Jones, who have combined to swat 24 home runs. Machado is slashing .335/.409/.634 with 15 home runs, 44 RBIs and 27 runs scored, while Jones (.270/.288/.461) is up to nine homers, 25 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
Maintaining a slash line of .227/.264/.387 across 254 plate appearances, Machado seemed to take a step back when hitting righties on the road in 2017 (compared to his overall season line of .260/.311/.473).
The Orioles have lost 14.9 units and are 11-20 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 13 of those games, as opposed to 17 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Rays have lost 4.5 units and are 12-17 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 16 of those games, as opposed to 12 that’ve cashed the under.
Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Orioles, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Orioles have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games. The Rays have hit 11 over their last 10.
Baltimore has recorded 21.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 20.2 over its last five.
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