Baltimore Trying to Keep Pace With Yankees
Rays vs Orioles Series Preview: Baltimore to be Tough at Home
The Tampa Bay Rays visit the Baltimore Orioles for a three-game series beginning Friday. The Rays are well back in the AL East standings, while the Orioles are second behind the Yankees. Baltimore has played well against teams with a winning record, going 18-10.
That’s been a problem for Tampa Bay, which is just 9-13. The Rays vs Orioles series preview is showing Aaron Civale and Albert Suarez as the starters on Friday. The Orioles are favored -140 and the total is 8.5-over (-115).
Tampa Bay Rays is scoring just 3.9 runs per game. The Rays are No. 22 in team batting average at .233 and aren’t hitting for power. Tampa Bay’s 46 home runs are No. 28 in the league. The Rays don’t show much difference in home or away scoring.
Expert Pick: Subscribe below to get our Premium Insights!
Expert Pick: Subscribe below to get our Premium Insights!Tampa Bay’s pitching is a few notches short of what it’s been in recent seasons. The Rays are No. 22 in team ERA and the bullpen has been pretty average. It’s not the team strength it was a couple of seasons ago.
The Orioles don’t have much of a problem when it comes to scoring. Baltimore isn’t hitting for a very high average, ranking No. 11 in team batting average, but the Orioles have some power. The team’s 79 home runs are No. 2 in MLB.
The Orioles have gotten the job done on the mound. Baltimore is No. 5 in team ERA and the bullpen has been a little better than average. The Baltimore Orioles standings are what you would expect from a team getting it done offensively and defensively.
Friday’s Game
Rays vs Orioles 
Streaming: MLB.tv, ESPN
Civale has been a bit of a disappointment for the Rays so far this season. Tampa Bay is 4-7 when he starts and he’s pitching to a 5.72 ERA. He’s been worse on the road where Tampa Bay is 1-4 in his starts and his ERA is 7.40. The Rays have lost his last four trips to the mound.
Suarez has done well in limited starts for the Orioles. Baltimore is 3-1 when he starts and his ERA is 1.86 in those games. Between his starts and seven relief appearances, Suarez has a 1.53 ERA this season.
In four starts, he hasn’t allowed any runs in three of them and allowed four runs in four innings against Oakland. He’s lasted between 4.0 and 5 2/3 innings in those four starts.
Normally this would be a spot where you’d look at Civale as a small underdog. But it’s awfully hard to pull the trigger on him right now. He’s had a couple of terrible starts, which hasn’t helped with his stats.
You have to side with Baltimore here, although the odds keep them from being one of your MLB best bets tonight.
Saturday’s Game
Day/Time: Streaming: MLB.tv, ESPN
The Rays vs Orioles series preview shows Taj Bradley and Kyle Bradish as the scheduled starters for Game No. 2. The Orioles will be mid-sized favorites once again in this game.
Bradley has been decent in four starts this season. Tampa Bay is 2-2 and Bradley’s ERA is 3.13. The Rays have scored four runs twice for Bradley and been blanked twice.
Bradish has been solid in five starts for the Orioles, who are 4-1 when he’s started this season. He has a 1.75 ERA and hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any start. The bullpen hasn’t done him any favors in a couple of those games, but the Orioles are winning and that’s the main thing.
This is another case of Baltimore looking to be the likely winner, but the odds have to be reasonable before pulling the trigger on the Orioles.
Took care of business. pic.twitter.com/MOWuflQPXc
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) May 30, 2024
Sunday’s Game
Day/Time: Streaming: MLB.tv, ESPN
The Rays vs Orioles series preview shows Zack Littell getting the start for the Rays against Baltimore’s Cole Irvin. Tampa Bay is 5-6 when Littell starts, with the Rays wasting a couple of strong outings. Littell is pitching to a 3.03 ERA for the season.
Irvin has been getting the job done for the Orioles, who are 7-1 when he starts. The first two starts of the season were a little bit rough for Irvin, but he’s been brilliant from that point on.
Tampa Bay is 7-5 against left-handed pitchers this season and is scoring 5.0 runs per game. Irvin’s numbers will likely keep the line a little bit on the high side. Littell is due to catch a break along the way and the Rays could be a decent value play in this game.
The Rays are going to need to win at least one game to remain in the hunt to make the MLB playoff bracket. This game could be their best chance to steal a victory.
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