The Baltimore Orioles (30-62) and Tampa Bay Rays (55-38) play the opener of a three-game set Monday at Tropicana Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Orioles vs. Rays odds with MLB picks and predictions.
RHP Spenser Watkins is the projected starting pitcher for the Orioles. He is 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 6 K and 6 BB over 10 1/3 IP across two starts and one relief appearance.
Watkins hasn’t given up much in the way of runs in his two previous starts, yielding just 1 run to the Toronto Blue Jays over 5 innings in a win July 6, and just 1 run over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision July 11 against the Chicago White Sox last time out. His issue has been allowing walks, with six free passes issued in the last 9 1/3 innings.
LHP Ryan Yarbrough is the projected starting pitcher for the Rays. He is 6-3 with a 4.30 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 7.4 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9 across 96 1/3 IP in 13 starts and five relief appearances.
The southpaw has gone 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in a pair of victories over the Toronto Blue Jays so far in July.
He has posted a 1-0 mark with a 3.75 ERA and .234 opponent batting average against through 12 innings while serving up 4 home runs in two starts against the Orioles this season.
MLB betting offers/promotions
BetMGM Sportsbook offers available in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA, WV and Washington D.C. New customer offers, terms and conditions apply.
- Bet just $1 on either team’s money line, WIN $100 (in free bets) if either team hits a home run during the game. Bet now!
- RISK-FREE FIRST BET. Place your first bet, if it loses you’ll get up to $600 in free bets. Bet now!
Orioles at Rays odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 7:05 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Orioles +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | Rays -210 (bet $210 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Orioles +1.5 (-115) | Rays -1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under: 9 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Prediction
Rays 5, Orioles 3
Money line (ML)
The Rays (-210) will cost you two times your potential return, and that’s just a little more expensive than I care to wager, even against the lowly Orioles. Baltimore proved a few weeks ago in a road sweep in Houston that they can cobble together a few impressive wins.
AVOID, and play the run line instead.
FANTASY BASEBALL: Serious about winning your league? Sign up for BaseballHQ.com to dominate the competition. Subscribe now!
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The RAYS -1.5 (-105) are a much better value on the run line, especially at home. Not only is Tampa Bay 7-3 across the last 10 starts by Yarbrough, but they’re also 8-2 covering the run line in his last 10 outings, including five times as the favorite with wins of 2 or more runs.
Over/Under (O/U)
The UNDER 9 (-115) is the play in this series opener. Watkins hasn’t been yielding a lot for the O’s, and Yarbrough has been on point lately for the Rays.
Tampa Bay has averaged just 4.8 runs per game across Yarbrough’s past four outings, and the Under is 5-2-1 across the past eight meetings between these sides at “The Trop”.
PLAY: Free, daily sports pick’em contests. Play now!
Bet on this game now at BetMGM Sportsbook. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow Joe Williams on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]