Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles Predictions, Picks, Odds: Backing Shane McClanahan Against the Orioles

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles Predictions, Picks, Odds: Backing Shane McClanahan Against the Orioles

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

• Date: August 13, 2022
• Game Time: 4:10 pm ET
• Where to Watch: MLBTV

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Rays vs. Orioles Line Movement

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles Prediction

This next sentence was one we never thought we would be saying this year, especially after the trade deadline but here we go. The Orioles are currently IN the playoffs as the last Wild Card and if it wasn't for the Dodgers and the Phillies you're looking at the hottest team in baseball.

How are they doing it you might ask after trading one of their best hitters and their closer? Well, it's simple when you have your nine hitter getting five hits and three other guys getting more than three hits in a game it tends to help. Also, when your starter the scary Austin Voth (in four out of five years has had an ERA over 5 in his career), who lowered his ERA to 5.34 and was pitching a no hitter until the fifth inning (good pitching timely hitting wins games) that tends to do the trick.

This guy has been decent but Tampa Bay embarrassed themselves yesterday against Voth and the Orioles had the most hits they have had in a game. Will today be different or will the hottest team in the AL continue this run?

The Orioles send out DL Hall, making his major league debut today. This guy has had command issues his whole career and the Orioles off the 19-hit performance yesterday are feeling nice and fat, we could see a letdown today especially when they are facing the Rays ace in McClanahan. 

Hall has played for three teams this year in the minors and we are not impressed by his 2-7 record in 20 starts and a 4.52 ERA. When a rookie gets called up he is either getting hammered early or walking a lot of guys, especially with the patient Rays hitters.

If he does survive we see the Rays really getting to him the second time around the lineup and would be shocked to see him face any batter three times today. By starting Hall today the Orioles are saying if we make the playoffs great but we are bringing up and playing our young guys as developing talent is more important. 

What is wrong with the All-Star Game starter Shane McClanahan? Well, since the break he has been reading the Cy Young headlines and not pitching like the Cy Young winner. He has been awful in his last two starts going 10 2/3 innings with nine runs and only seven strikeouts.

This is the guy that was the best pitcher in the AL in the first half of the year and he is facing a rookie with control issues at home and trying to stop the Rays three-game losing streak. We fully expect to see the first-half All-Star starter tonight for the Rays and nowhere near the 19 hits we saw yesterday from the Orioles offense. 

We personally have a situation that has won nine times in a row against the Orioles in this situation based on lines and we feel the price is low for the mismatch at pitching. Let's also not forget the Rays have won 38 out of the last 51 games in Tampa against these Orioles.

We don't mind laying the juice tonight because if you win there is no juice but let's do the right thing and lay -1 with TB at -118 juice available at Unibet and Betrivers. The Rays score enough to win and the Orioles will get their one run off Shane since before the break he gave up 0 or 1 run in his last seven starts to end the first half. Watch the Rays ace bounce back, the Rays end their losing streak, and DL Hall will learn he has some learning to do before he joins the rotation.

Rays -1 is your easy Saturday winner as we stay hot. 

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles Pick

• Rays -1 (-118) (Bet $118 to win $100)