Jake Odorizzi (11-13, 4.12 ERA) and Miguel Gonzalez (10-9, 3.23 ERA) take the hill in the last of a three-game series between the Tampa Bay Rays (0-2) and the Baltimore Orioles (2-0) at Tropicana Field. The Orioles won the last game 6-5 and Baltimore leads the series 2-0. Action begins at 7:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Apr. 8 and can be seen on MASN and SunSports.
Odorizzi is 0-2 with a 5.48 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts against the Orioles. Kevin Kiermaier (.429 ) had a good game yesterday, going 2 for 4 with two runs, one home run, and two RBIs. When pitching against the Rays, Gonzalez is 4-3 with a 4.03 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts. Steve Pearce (.429 ) has been successful at the plate to the start the season for the Orioles, going 2 for 4 yesterday with two runs, one home run, and two RBIs.
Tampa Bay is a narrow -110 favorite at home against Baltimore. According to the oddsmakers, the Over/Under (O/U) is currently seven runs. Tampa Bay is one of the best in the MLB in terms of steals, swiping two bases.
Offensively, they average 6.0 runs per game, which is good for third in the AL. The Orioles are tough outs for opponents, ranking fifth in the AL with 7.0 hits per game. Baltimore is excellent at drawing walks with 4.0 per game, ranking fourth in the AL. The Orioles have established a reputation of overwhelming hitters with an AL-best 9.5 strikeouts per game, making them one of the top five teams in the league.
The Orioles have the edge in the season series, 2-0.
Predictions: SU Winner – BAL, O/U – Over
Notes
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Tampa Bay’s last 9 games.
Tampa Bay is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games.
Tampa Bay is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games at home.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay’s last 6 games when playing Baltimore.
Tampa Bay is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Baltimore.
Tampa Bay is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Baltimore.
The Orioles are a perfect 2-0 against division rivals, while the winless Rays are 0-2 against their foes.
When leading after 7 innings, Baltimore is 1-0, while Tampa Bay is 0-1.
Both falling in the top five of the league based on total home runs this season, Tampa Bay ranks third with three homers and Baltimore is second with four.
Ranking sixth, Tampa Bay is in the top 10 of the league in hits, notching 6.50 per game. Baltimore ranks in the top five at fifth with 7.00.
Ranking 12th, Tampa Bay is in the top half of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.698). Baltimore ranks in the top 10 at eighth with an OPS of .785.
When the Orioles allow at least one home run, they are 2-0. When the Rays allow one or more homers, they have a 0-2 record.
