The Tampa Bay Rays are playing host to their divisional rival Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field. The action will get underway at 4:10 p.m. ET and Mid-Atlantic Sports Network will broadcast the game.
Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays Odds
Tampa Bay (-135) is favored over Baltimore (+125) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this afternoon game at 8.5 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total stand at -120 for the over and +100 for the under. The game’s runline odds stand at -170 for betting the Orioles +1.5 runs and +150 for the Rays -1.5.
The Orioles are 17-34 SU and have gone 19-31 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 17.6 units for moneyline gamblers through the early part of the year and 13.4 units ATS. Baltimore’s covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven. The Rays, on the other hand, are 23-26 SU and 24-24 ATS. The team’s lost 1.3 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 1.6 units ATS. Tampa Bay has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Neither team has been an obvious over/under play this year. Tampa Bay games have an over/under record of 24-22-2 so far in 2018. Baltimore has an over/under record of 23-25-2.
The right-handed Andrew Cashner is the projected starter for the visiting Orioles. Cashner is 2-5 with a 4.72 ERA and 50 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rays this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (1-0, 4.50 ERA and four strikeouts over six innings).
The Rays are handing the ball to righty Ryne Stanek (0-0, 5.40 ERA), who’s got eight punchouts and three walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.40. Stanek is 0-0 with three strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA against Baltimore this year.
Tampa Bay’s pitchers have yielded 4.5 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The club’s starters have a 4.18 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.30 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 8.4 K/9. In 25 games against AL East opponents, Rays starters have an ERA of 5.37 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.58.
The Tampa Bay hitters have put up 4.2 runs per outing, including 4.1 per game against divisional foes and 2.2 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .222/.301/.310 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
The Rays’ hitters have been led by first baseman C.J. Cron and third baseman Matt Duffy. Cron is slashing .266/.319/.479 with 11 home runs, 28 RBIs and 28 runs scored, while Duffy is hitting .322 with 46 hits, 15 RBIs and 10 runs scored.
Cron enjoyed hitting against righty pitching at home last season, slashing .294/.371/.492 in 143 such plate appearances (compared to his total season line of .248/.305/.437).
In the visiting dugout, Baltimore’s pitchers have allowed 5.4 runs per game and its starters own a 5.35 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 7.93 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.43, along with a WHIP of 1.54.
Orioles hitters have slashed .234/.298/.395 on their way to 4.0 runs scored per game this season, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Baltimore’s offensive production been powered by shortstop Manny Machado and right fielder Adam Jones, who collectively have belted 24 home runs. Machado is hitting .328/.402/.621 with 15 home runs, 44 RBIs and 27 runs scored, while Jones (.279/.296/.466) is up to nine homers, 25 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
Machado did not do as well hitting against right-handed pitching on the road last year. Over 254 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .227/.264/.387 (compared to his overall season line of .260/.311/.473).
The Orioles have lost 13.9 units and are 12-20 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 14 of those games, compared to 17 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Rays have lost 3.4 units and are 13-17 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in 17 of those games, compared to 12 that went under the total.
Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rays, ATS Winner – Orioles, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Orioles have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
Baltimore has averaged 18.4 runs + hits + errors over its last 10 contests and 19.0 over its last five.
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