The Tampa Bay Rays opened the season by sweeping three games at home vs. the Baltimore Orioles, and the teams play again for the first time since Friday in Baltimore to open a weekend series. The Rays are favored on the MLB odds.
How to Bet Rays at Orioles MLB Odds & TV Info
Why Bet on Tampa Bay?
The Rays are 10-7 in games decided by 2 runs (or fewer) and 8-5 in 1-run games and the 13 1-run games are tied for 4th in the majors. The Rays are 4-1 in extra-inning games after going 7-12 last year. The Rays are 6-2-0 in their last eight series following a 1-2-0 start. Since the start of last season, the Rays have a majors-most 52 comeback wins and majors-most 9 wins when trailing after 8 innings.
Earlier this week, the Rays placed second baseman Brandon Lowe on the injured list and he has been diagnosed with stress reaction in his lower back. Lowe will be sidelined from baseball activities for at least three weeks before being re-evaluated. There won’t be any clarity on his potential recovery timeline until early June. Lowe had gotten out to a slow start in 2022, though he’s still delivered some extra-base pop, evidenced by his five homers, five doubles and two triples. He’d seemingly turned the corner in May, too, slashing a huge .282/.378/.615 with seven extra-base hits over his past 11 games.
Jalen Beeks (1-0, 1.72 ERA) is scheduled to start for Tampa Bay, although as an opener. Since he hasn’t covered more than two innings in any of his nine relief appearances this season and will be taking the mound on three days’ rest, Beeks will likely be pulled from the game before the lineup turns over. Ryan Yarbrough is scheduled to enter the game behind Beeks and serve as a bulk reliever.
Yarbrough (0-0, 4.91 ERA) allowed a run over 3 2/3 innings in last Saturday’s no-decision against the Blue Jays. He also allowed two hits, walked three, and struck out two. Yarbrough loaded the bases in the top of the first and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came around to score on a Santiago Espinal sacrifice fly. He managed to escape the top of the first with just one run scored against him, but after issuing two straight walks in the top of the fourth, he was taken out of the game.
Even though Yarbrough has pitched well in his last two starts — he allowed one run on six hits and four walks in 8.2 innings between the outings — the 30-year-old has yet to record his first win of the season.
Since last July 20, the Rays have won 15 consecutive games against the Orioles, the longest winning streak against a single opponent in club history.
Why Bet on Baltimore?
It’s possible the Orioles could call up catcher Adley Rutschman any day now. The former No. 1 overall pick and No. 2 prospect in MLB is slashing .313/.429/.531 in his 18 games in Triple-A. He began the year down there due to injury in spring training. It makes sense that the Orioles would like Rutschman to be in a decent offensive groove when he gets promoted so he can carry that to the majors. After being careful with him all this time, Orioles GM Mike Elias won’t to push Rutschman to the majors simply for an attendance boost this weekend against the Rays at home.
First baseman Ryan Mountcastle said he expects to come off the IL this Saturday. Mountcastle landed on the 10-day injured list on May 13, retroactive to May 11, due to a left wrist strain. He’s not sure how he hurt the wrist.
“It was some type of forearm/wrist thing that shot up through my thumb, through the middle of my forearm,” Mountcastle said. “It was really bugging me, and after the game it was killing me, so I really needed to get it checked out, just wasn’t progressing that well. Right now, it’s feeling better, and hopefully it will be good by Saturday.”
The Orioles are tied for 14th in MLB with nine Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) this season after ranking 24th in MLB with -30 DRS in 2021. Baltimore is tied for fourth in MLB with three DRS from shortstops after ranking tied for 26th in 2021 with -15 DRS; Jorge Mateo is tied for first among MLB shortstops with five DRS this season.
It’s Tyler Wells (1-3) on the mound Friday. Wells allowed three runs over four innings last Sunday in a loss to the Tigers. Wells surrendered eight hits, including a solo homer to Miguel Cabrera in the second inning. He finished with two strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter. The 27-year-old has been on a roll lately, allowing three earned runs or fewer in six consecutive starts since April 16. Wells has a serviceable 4.18 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 19/4 K/BB ratio across 28 innings (seven starts). He holds a career ERA of 7.04 (6 ER/7.2 IP) in his five career games (one start) against the Rays.
Game Trends
- Rays are 6-2 in their last 8 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Rays are 9-3 in their last 12 road games.
- Orioles are 5-2 in their last 7 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 5-1-1 in the last 7 meetings.
- Rays are 12-1 in the last 13 meetings in Baltimore.
Expert Prediction
- Rays 5, Orioles 4
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