The Tampa Bay Rays (35-28) limp into Oriole Park at Camden Yards Friday to start a 3-game series with the Baltimore Orioles (28-37). First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Rays vs. Orioles odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Tampa is 4-6 straight up (SU) in the last 10 games with 2 straight road series losses with the latest being a 3-game sweep at the New York Yankees.
Baltimore is 5-5 SU in the last 10 and has split 2 consecutive 4-game road series heading into Friday vs. the Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays.
The Rays lead the season series with the Orioles 4-2 and have a plus-13 run differential in those meetings.
Rays at Orioles projected starters
RHP Shane Baz vs. RHP Dean Kremer
Baz lost his season debut Saturday at the Minnesota Twins 6-5, lasting just 2 1/3 innings, giving up 5 ER, 3 H (1 HR), 3 BB and 2 K.
- This is Baz’s 5th career start and 1st against the Orioles.
Kremer (1-1, 3.86 ERA) won his 2nd outing of the year Sunday in Kansas City with 5 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 4 H, 2 BB and 2 K vs. the Royals.
- Lost his 1st outing 3-2 at home vs. the Cleveland Guardians June 5, with 3 ER, 5 H (1 HR), 1 BB and 3 K in 4 1/3 IP.
- 2021 vs. the Rays: One start, a 10-1 home loss May 20 with 3 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 2 HR, 4 BB and 3 K.
Rays at Orioles odds 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 10:34 a.m. ET.
- Money line (ML): Rays -160 (bet $160 to win $100) | Orioles +130 (bet $100 to win $130)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays -1.5 (+105) | Orioles +1.5 (-130)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -120 | U: -105)
Exclusive USA TODAY Network offer: Deposit $10 or more, get $200 in instant bet credits at Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Place your legal, online sports bets at Tipico. Let’s make this interesting. Bet now!
Rays at Orioles picks and predictions
Prediction
Orioles 5, Rays 4
Money line
PASS.
The Rays (-160) are 28-7 SU vs. the Orioles over the last 3 seasons and this could be a buy-low spot for Tampa because it was just swept by the Yankees and Baz was chased early in his 1st start back from the injury list.
But, there’s no shame in losing to the Yankees the way the Bronx Bombers are playing and Baz’s stuff looked good vs. the Twins, he just lost the strike zone against a quality Minnesota lineup.
Also, Kremer’s basic and advanced pitching numbers vs. the Rays are brutal. Kremer has a .351/.456/.588 expected batting average, wOBA and slugging percentage slash line with a 5.0 K% and 95.6 mph exit velocity in 20 plate appearances vs. current Tampa hitters (per Statcast).
Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! Use the couple code SBW22 for 20% OFF full-season subscription. New customer offer; expires 6/30/2022. Subscribe today and start winning!
Run line/Against the spread
BET 0.75 units on the ORIOLES +1.5 (-130) since only 2 of the 6 Rays-Orioles meetings have been decided by 1 run.
However, the Rays could be hungover from playing the Yankees and this is a much more profitable spot for the Orioles. Tampa is just 1-1 SU and RL as -150 road favorites or greater and that 1 loss was against Baltimore May 22.
The Orioles are 14-7 RL at home vs. right-handed starters with a plus-26.1% return on investment.
The ORIOLES +1.5 (-130) is my favorite wager in this game.
Over/Under
LEAN to the OVER 8.5 (-120).
The weather forecast is predicting hitter-friendly conditions of temperatures in the low-90s and 15 mph winds blowing out to right-center field. Also, both starters are working back from injuries, the Rays are 9-6-2 O/U as road favorites and the Orioles are 14-12-1 O/U as home underdogs.
It’s only a LEAN to the OVER 8.5 (-120) since I prefer Baltimore’s RL and both bullpens are actually very impressive. Tampa’s bullpen-prowess is somewhat obvious but Baltimore’s bullpen is 3rd in WAR, per FanGraphs.
Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
BaseballPress.com: Your source for every MLB lineup
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA).
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]