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The Baltimore Orioles (68-48) and Tampa Bay Rays (58-56) open a 3-game series Friday. First pitch from Tropicana Field is at 6:50 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Orioles vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Orioles lead 6-1
The Orioles lost 7-6 Toronto on Thursday afternoon against the Blue Jays, cashing the Over (9) for the 6th time in the past 7 outings. However, the O’s are just 3-4 in the 7-game span.
The Rays salvaged a game in their interleague series Thursday in St. Louis, winning the final 6-4 as an underdog (+106) as the Over (8) cashed. Like Baltimore, Tampa Bay is 3-4 in the past 7 outings. The Under was on a 5-0 run until Thursday’s Over result.
These teams have met 7 times, with the Rays winning just once. The good news is that the victory was in one of RHP Zack Littell‘s 2 starts against the O’s. He gets the ball for Friday’s series opener.
For the O’s, RHP Zach Eflin makes his 1st start against the Rays after being traded to the Orioles at the MLB non-waiver trade deadline in late July.
Orioles at Rays projected starters
RHP Zach Eflin vs. RHP Zack Littell
Eflin (7-7, 4.05 ERA) makes his 22nd start. He has a 1.18 WHIP, 1.0 BB/9 and 7.1 K/9 in 122 1/3 IP with the Rays and Orioles.
- Last start: Win, 6 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 7-4 road victory vs. Cleveland Guardians last Saturday
- 2024 road splits: 3-5, 5.10 ERA (72 1/3 IP, 41 ER), 1.27 WHIP, .279 opponents’ batting average (OBA), 10 BB, 57 K in 13 starts with Rays and Orioles
- Career vs. Rays: 0-1, 4.91 ERA (7 1/3 IP, 4 ER), 1.23 WHIP, 6.1 K/9 in 1 start (2 appearances)
Littell (1-1, 3.72 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 1.52 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9 and 6.2 K/9 in 29 IP.
- Last start: Win, 5 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 4 H (1 solo HR), 1 BB, 3 K in 6-1 road victory vs. Houston Astros last Saturday
- 2024 home splits: 3-3, 3.00 ERA (66 IP, 22 ER), 1.08 WHIP, .239 OBA, 11 BB, 63 K in 11 starts
- 2024 vs. Orioles: 0-1, 4.50 ERA (12 IP, 6 ER), .340 OBA, 2 BB, 6 K in 2 starts
- Career vs. Orioles: 0-1, 3.66 ERA (19 2/3 IP, 8 ER), 1.32 WHIP, 5.9 K/9 in 3 starts (5 appearances)
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Orioles at Rays odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:29 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Orioles -134 (bet $134 to win $100) | Rays +114 (bet $100 to win $114)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Orioles -1.5 (+126) | Rays +1.5 (-152)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Orioles at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 5, Orioles 4
Moneyline
The RAYS (+114) are a solid play in this series opener against old friend Eflin and the visiting Orioles (-134).
Yes, Baltimore is 6-1 against Tampa Bay this season, but the lone win came with the Burlington, N.C., native Littell on the bump June 2 in 1 of his 2 outings against the O’s.
Eflin has been shaky on the road, and the Rays certainly know his tendencies.
Run line/Against the spread
If you’re not feeling Tampa Bay straight up, and you’d like a little insurance instead, consider RAYS +1.5 (-152), as they’re not priced out of line. Tampa Bay is 9-1 in the past 10 games as an underdog on the run line, winning 6 of those games since July 23 straight up.
Over/Under
OVER 7.5 (-115) is worth a look in this series opener.
While the Under is 5-1 in the past 6 games for the Rays, the Over cashed Thursday. The Over is 6-4 in Littell’s past 10 outings, including his most recent start June 9 against the O’s in a 9-2 setback.
For the O’s, the total has gone high in 7 of the past 8 games, and 18 of the past 21 outings. The Over is 2-1-1 in the 4 previous meetings in St. Petersburg this season, too.
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