Tampa Bay Rays vs Baltimore Orioles, Odds and Preview - 08/08/2021

by James Q

Saturday, Aug 07, 2021

Tampa Bay Rays vs Baltimore Orioles, Odds and Preview - 08/08/2021




Game Time
: 1:05 pm ET, Sunday, August 8th, 2021

Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland

Where to Watch:  MASN 2, Bally Sports Sun


Season-to-Date Record:


Rays:  66-44 (1st place, American League East)

Orioles:  38-70 (last place 5th, American League East)


Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks:



DraftKings:  Moneyline odds: Rays -180, Orioles +155; Over/Under:  10.5 runs
Bet America:  Moneyline odds: Rays-180, Orioles +160; Over/Under 10 runs


Key Injuries:



Rays: R. Arozarena  (illness) Out, T Glasnow (elbow) Out, 

Orioles: R. Mountcastle (concussion) Questionable, C. Davis (Back) Out



Recent Lineups:




Rays:

B. Lowe, 2B
N. Cruz, DH
W. Franco, SS
A. Meadows, LF
Y. Diaz, 1B
J. Wendle, 3B
M. Margot, RF
K. Kiermaier, CF
M. Zunino, C


Orioles:


C. Mullins, CF
A. Hays, LF
T. Mancini, 1B
A. Santander, DH
P. Severino, C
M. Franco, 3B
R. McKenna, RF
J. Mateo, 2B
R. Martin, SS


STATISTICAL LEADERS


Rays:

Batting Average: Joey Wendle (.274)

Hits:  Randy Arozarena (102)

Home Runs: Brandon Lowe (23)

RBI:  Austin Meadows (76)

Stolen Bases:  Brett Phillips (12)

Wins:  Josh Fleming (9)

Saves: Diego Castillo (14)

ERA: Andrew Kittridge (1.38)


Orioles:


Batting Average: Cedric Mullins (.321)

Hits:  Cedric Mullins (131)

Home Runs:  Trey Mancini (19)

RBI: Ryan Mountcastle (63)

Stolen Bases: Cedric Mullins (21)

Wins:  Matt Harvey (6)

Saves:  Cesar Valdez (8)

ERA:  John Means (.279)



Managers:


Rays: Kevin Cash 
Orioles:  Brandon Hyde 


Recent Form:


The Rays are 6-4 in their last ten games.  They have logged a coin flip of 5 Overs and 5 Unders.  The Rays swept the Boston Red Sox in three AL East games that started Friday July 30th.  They went 1-3 against the Yankees and 1-3 against the Seattle Mariners.

The Orioles are 4-6 over their last ten games. They were also 5 Over and 5 Under during that stretch.  They took 2 of 4 games from the Detroit Tigers, took 1 of 2 games from the Marlins, 1 of 3 from the Yankees.  No small feat for a team mired in last place.  Pro bettors know that sometimes their best opportunities come from dogs that get hot, this isn’t what’s happening here based on recent activity, and sometimes it’s the last placers that will give you a profitable win rate.  


Series History:


Tampa Bay is 9-1 against Baltimore over their last ten match-ups.  Of those Rays’ 9 wins:  6 Overs 2 Unders and a push.  The lone win for the Orioles was a solid Under.  Yarbrough pitched well on Sept 20th 2020 but the Rays’ batters only supported him with 1 run. It’s a whole new year since that last Orioles win.



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Tampa Bay Rays vs Baltimore Orioles Game Preview:



Tampa Bay will start righty Michael Wacha 2-3, 5.26 ERA, 69 strikeouts, 1.38 WHIP (over 1.30).  He is not the staff’s ace by any means. Over the last 7 games he has pitched 32 full innings, given up 34 hits, and 19 earned runs. You put this guy out against Baltimore to lead off a bullpen game.  Maybe playing a weak team he’ll also regain whatever form he had when he earned a spot in the rotation. 

The Baltimore Orioles will start righty Jorge Lopez 3-12, 5.91 ERA, 94 strikeouts, 1.64 WHIP.  Like the opposing pitcher Jorge is not this staff’s ace either.  In 102 innings pitched he has struck out only 94 batters.  Less than 1 an inning.  The Bullpen is already warming up as you read this. Over his last 7 games he has given up 22 earned runs in 30 innings off 44 hits for a whopping 6.46 ERA (remember big isn’t good in ERA… in case a rookie is reading for entertainment purposes).  This is a strong signal that Rays bats will be swinging!     



Trends:


Tampa Bay is 6-4 on the moneyline over the last ten games.  Bagging 5 Overs and 5 Unders. 

Baltimore is 5-5 on the moneyline over the last ten games.  Also Bagging 5 Overs and 5 Unders.


Rays: 31-22 on the road, 59-48-3 O/U.  5 Overs in the last 5 games!! 5-0 In Wachas last 5 starts during a 3 game series.  Rays are 8-1 in their last 9 games vs a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30

Orioles: 4-0 in last 4 games against a starter with WHIP greater than 1.30. 4-0 in Lopez’s last 4 starts. 



Tampa Bay Rays vs Baltimore Orioles Prediction
:     Our MLB Pick for Sunday August 8th game is Rays 9 Baltimore 3.  The Over is the most likely bet just based on the pitching match-up.


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James Q

About the Author:

James Q. has been involved with sports and gambling his entire life. A former division 1 scholarship basketball player, James understands sports (and especially basketball) inside-and-out. Following his basketball playing days, James parlayed his gambling skills into a semi-pro poker career. James resides in Los Angeles, and especially loves the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Rams, and Los Angeles Dodgers. And when he isn't betting on sports (and writing about it), James can be found performing stand-up comedy on the Sunset Strip.

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