Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles Prediction: Will Tampa Bay Continue to Feast on the Orioles?

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles Prediction: Will Tampa Bay Continue to Feast on the Orioles?

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 2-1, in the first game of the season. The offense didn't produce as expected but the pitching held it down and allowed the Rays to rally for the win.

Every team is going to want to beat up on the Orioles. That's the difference between winning your division and not winning. Can the Rays continue to have success against the Orioles today? Here are our picks, predictions, and odds for the second game of the series between the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays.

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Rays vs. Orioles Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

• Date: April 9, 2022
• Game Time: 1:10 pm ET
• Where to Watch: MLBN

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Rays vs. Orioles Injury Report

Orioles

Out: C Adley Rutschman (Triceps), OF Shed Long (Lower Leg), OF Heston Kjerstad (Hamstring)

Rays

None of Importance

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Rays vs. Orioles Line Movement

Rays vs. Orioles Prediction

Yesterday, the Rays didn't show off much offense against the Orioles. That's likely going to change throughout the rest of this series. The Orioles aren't any better than last season and added pitchers from other teams that we've already faded a bunch of times earlier in their careers.

Does Jordan Lyles ring a bell?

Lyles had an xFIP of 5.03 last season with just 19.3% strikeouts and 38.3% ground balls. He also gave up 46.7% hard contact and 22.8% line drives all with the Texas Rangers last year. Now Lyles has graduated to the Orioles and won't have any success there either. The Rays' projected lineup had a .205 ISO with a .331 wOBA last season against righties with 10.8% walks.

When it comes to the Rays, strikeouts are going to be pretty high but Lyles couldn't even earn 20% strikeouts last season throughout the entire year. Clutch hitting is absolutely in the cards for the Rays tonight with Brandon Lowe, Wander Franco, Mike Zunino, and Brett Phillips all expected in the lineup.

On the other hand, Drew Rasmussen will get the call for the Rays. He had a 4.13 xFIP last season with 22.4% strikeouts. His hard contact was a bit high at 47.1% last season but ultimately, he still kept power numbers down on both sides of the plate. Rasmussen will take on an Orioles lineup that combined to strike out 24.7% of the time with just 7% of walks against righties last season. Cedric Mullins is really the only major threat in that Orioles lineup.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles Pick

• Rays Over 2.5 First Five Team Total (-115) (Bet $115 to Win $100)

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