Despite struggling lately, the Baltimore Orioles remain perched atop the American League East division with a 73-55 record. They’ll have a chance to arrest their current three-game losing skid tonight when they host the Tampa Bay Rays, who are trying to summon a push for the last wild card spot in the AL.
Read on for a detailed preview of this matchup below. You can also check out the five best baseball games to bet on today here.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles Betting Preview
Where: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore
When: Monday, August 25, 7:05 PM ET
Line: Tampa Bay Rays (+122) at Baltimore Orioles (-132); total: 8.0 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Tampa Bay Rays
[sc:MLB240banner ]The Rays are hoping to catch fire before it’s too late, and their 3-1 record in the last four games is a good start. With Jake Odorizzi (9-10, 3.83 ERA) stepping on the mound tonight, the Rays have a solid pitcher that can keep them going for a last push at a postseason appearance.
Odorizzi lost in his last outing, giving up three earned runs on five hits in six-plus innings of duty in the Rays’ 6-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers on August 20.
Though it was clear that he didn’t have his A-game that day, it was also apparent that the Rays’ offense failed to provide him any kind of support. Tonight may be a different story, though, as Tampa Bay did fairly well at the plate in its recent three-game series, outscoring the Toronto Blue Jays, 14-6.
Evan Longoria is one of the players Odorizzi can rely on for run support later, and for a good reason. Apart from driving home six runs in the last six games – No. 1 in the team during that stretch –, Longoria has the hottest bat against the Orioles’ Chris Tillman; Longoria is 13-of-30 for a whopping .433 batting average with five homers in his career against Tillman.
Odorizzi doesn’t give up that many runs. In fact, he’s given up more than three earned runs just once in his last 10 starts. This partly explains why the under is 3-1-1 in his last five starts.
Betting on the Baltimore Orioles
After going 4-5 in nine games on the road, which included a sweep at the hands of the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley Field, the Orioles are coming back to Camden Yards, where they are 15-5 in their last 20 games.
Baltimore’s offense can take the blame for the team’s recent struggles, having produced two runs or fewer in each of the five defeats it suffered in their recent road trip. Chris Davis and Nelson Cruz are among the O’s who have been struggling at the plate lately, as the two have hit .091 and .143 in the last six games, respectively.
Facing Odorizzi tonight is Chris Tillman (10-5, 3.55 ERA), who has been lights-out since August began. Tillman is 3-0 with 1.57 ERA in four starts thus far this month. The Orioles are 6-1 in Tillman’s last seven home starts.
Writer’s Prediction
Baltimore gets back on track and defeats the Rays. Create a betting account now and cash in on this series opener.
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