Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles Betting Preview
Maybe the Baltimore Orioles really have turned things around. After dropping two of three to the Yankees to start the second half, many were expecting the usual Orioles implosion to begin, but they were able to get a 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Monday’s series opener.
Instead, it may be Tampa Bay (52-44) who starts to slide as they have now dropped three in a row. The Rays are still looking good in the second wild-card spot, but the Orioles (48-48) are contending for the postseason, too, down just 3.5 games.
Tampa Bay Needs to Stop This Skid
The Rays started off the second half of the season on a positive note, beating the Royals 7-3 coming out of the All-Star break. They went on to drop the last two of the Kansas City series and could manage just a Brandon Lowe solo HR as their only run in Monday’s loss.
Aside from the loss to Baltimore, Tampa Bay got even worse news in announcing that Kevin Kiermaier (hip) and Mike Zunino (shoulder) would miss the remainder of the season. The Rays are 7-5 since Kiermaier’s injury on July 9th but haven’t had Zunino since June, so they have adapted.
Shane McClanahan (10-3, 1.71 ERA) will try to be Tampa Bay’s stopper on Tuesday night. The American League starting pitcher in the All-Star Game gave up two runs and four hits in his lone inning of work, so he’ll be eager for a cleanser.
Orioles Try to Get Above .500
Baltimore is hovering right at .500, which in recent years would be cause for celebration. The 2022 team has a different edge, though. The Orioles went 14-12 in June and have parlayed that to a 13-6 mark so far in July.
Monday night’s win was a nice slice of revenge for Baltimore, who had their 10-game win streak snapped by the Rays just prior to the All-Star break.
The O’s dropped two of three at Tropicana Field that weekend but overall have gone 6-7 vs. Tampa Bay this season after posting a 1-18 head-to-head tally in 2021.
Spenser Watkins (3-1, 3.93 ERA) tries to make it two in a row for Baltimore, but he hasn’t pitched since July 13th. Watkins has allowed an ER or less in four straight starts, but how much will rust factor into his performance here?
Rays vs. Orioles Pick and Prediction
It wouldn’t be a total shock if Tampa Bay tied up the series here, especially with McClanahan on the mound as a -200 favorite and with Baltimore’s pitcher having had nearly two weeks off.
The Rays are in the midst of a three-game losing streak, but they had also won seven of eight prior to this mini-slump.
Tampa Bay’s big issue is that they’ve dropped six of their last seven road games, including getting swept in Cincinnati and losing two of three in Kansas City.
The O’s have won six of their last seven against LH starters, and that, combined with being at home, gives them the edge.
Pick: Orioles +168
