The Baltimore Orioles are on the road to open their season when they face the Tampa Bay Rays Friday. First pitch from Tropicana Field is set for 3:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Orioles vs. Rays odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: Rays won the 2021 series 18-1, outscoring the Orioles 150-71.
It appears another difficult season is in the future for the Orioles. Baltimore has finished last in the AL East in four of the last five years. That’s looking as though it may be a likely outcome again as the O’s were Tipico’s longest preseason odds to win the World Series at +40000.
Tampa will be looking for a strong start in their home opener after recording 100 wins last season before falling 3-1 to the AL East rival Boston Red Sox in the ALDS. The Rays will once again have one of the lowest payrolls in MLB but are still expected to be a contender in the packed AL East.
Orioles at Rays: Projected starters
LHP John Means vs. LHP Shane McClanahan
Means (6-9, 3.62 ERA in 2021) gets the opening-game nod for the Orioles. The lefty recorded a 1.03 WHIP, 1.6 BB/9 and 7.7 K/9 through 146 2/3 IP in 26 starts in 2021.
- Posted a 5.40 ERA on a 1.35 WHIP in five starts (0-2) against the Rays in 2021.
- Had a slightly depressed ERA in 2021 as evidenced by his xFIP (4.36), xERA (4.09) and SIERA (4.10).
McClanahan (10-6, 3.43 ERA in 2021) takes the mound for the Rays’ opening day in just his second season. He finished with a 1.27 WHIP, 10.3 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 across 123 1/3 IP in 25 starts last year.
- Was a perfect 4-0 with a 2.74 ERA (23 IP), 1.09 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 in four starts versus the Orioles in his rookie campaign.
- Was one of three Rays to receive AL Rookie of the Year votes in 2021, finishing seventh.
Orioles at Rays odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:08 a.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Orioles +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | Rays -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Orioles +1.5 (-140) | Rays -1.5 (+115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Orioles at Rays prediction and picks
Prediction
Rays 6, Orioles 3
Money line
Starting pitching, relief pitching and batting should all favor the Rays in this game. While Means showed flashes last season, particularly early in the year, Tampa was able to get him to for 4 or more runs in three of his five starts against them. Even if the lefty is able to keep Tampa contained, the bullpen battle should favor the 100-win team.
At the plate Tampa was one of the best hitting teams against left-handed pitchers in the American League in 2021; Baltimore was the worst.
BET the RAYS (-190).
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Run line/Against the spread
Sure, this is a new season, but not a lot has changed between these two clubs. The Rays were 15-4 ATS versus the Orioles last season.
It’s the first game of the year and there could be surprises in store for us so don’t get carried away, but consider a partial-unit play on the RAYS -1.5 (+115).
Over/Under
PASS.
Means did manage to keep the Rays under wraps in two of his five starts last season, but more importantly he was much sharper in the first half of the season and all five of his Rays meetings came after the break. The Orioles lefty recorded a 2.28 ERA in 12 first-half starts, in contrast to a 4.88 ERA in 14 starts after the All-Star break. It’s risky business to get behind him being lit up, necessarily.
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