Orioles vs. Rays (7/17): In-form pitchers duel in rubber game between AL East rivals

After seeing their unexpected 10-game win streak end on Friday night, the Baltimore Orioles bounced back in extras against the Tampa Bay Rays yesterday. That sets up an intriguing rubber game matchup at Tropicana Field, with both teams looking to close out the first half of the season with a series win.

After Friday’s 5-4 win, the Rays were poised to wrap up a series win. But the Orioles forced extra innings, and after trading runs in the 10th inning, Tampa Bay couldn’t match Baltimore’s two 11th-inning runs as the O’s closed out a 6-4 win.

In today’s first half finale, two in-form pitchers will take the hill looking to go into the All-Star break on a winning note. Baltimore’s Jordan Lyles has won his last two starts, and so has Tampa Bay’s Corey Kluber.

Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Baltimore Orioles (46-45, 21-28 away, 5th in the AL East) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (50-41, 30-18 home, 2nd in the AL East)
• Venue & Location: Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, Florida)
• Date: Sunday, July 17, 2022
• Game Time: 1:40 p.m. Eastern Time

Orioles vs. Rays Pitching Matchup

• Baltimore Orioles: Jordan Lyles (2022: 18 starts, 6-7, 4.37 ERA)
• Tampa Bay Rays: Corey Kluber (2022: 17 starts, 5-5, 3.58 ERA)

Orioles vs. Rays Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. This article may also feature odds from other legal online sports betting sites that we have reviewed and recommend.

Moneyline

• Baltimore Orioles +138
• Tampa Bay Rays -164

Over/Under

• Over 7.5 (-110)
• Under 7.5 (-110)

Run Line

• Baltimore Orioles +1.5 (-156)
• Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 (+130)

Will the Over Hit for the Third Straight Game in the Series?

The over has hit in both of the first two games of the series, but a third straight over looks like a tough ask.

July is shaping up to be Lyles’ best month of the season thus far. In three starts, he is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA, and all three starts have been quality starts. In 19.1 innings, he has allowed four runs, 16 hits, and four walks and struck out 16.

Prior to this month, Lyles had allowed fewer than four runs in just two of nine away starts. But he has pitched well in both away starts this month, allowing one run and four hits in 6.1 innings against the Twins and two runs and seven hits in seven innings against the Cubs.

Things are also trending positively for Kluber after he opened July with one of his worst starts of the season. In his last two starts, both against the Boston Red Sox, he allowed two runs, seven hits, and one walk and struck out 12 in 12 innings.

Results have played out better at home than on the road for the two-time AL Cy Young winner over the course of the season.

At home, he is 3-1 with a 3.07 ERA in eight starts, and the Rays are 6-2 in his home starts. On the road, he is 2-4 with a 4.09 ERA in nine starts, and the Rays are 3-6 in those starts. Five of his nine quality starts this season have come on the road, but he has been far more consistent at home.

Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays Prediction and Best Bets

Orioles vs. Rays Prediction: Rays to win

Orioles vs. Rays Best Bets: Orioles/Rays under 7.5

Lower-scoring games were a rare sight for Lyles for the first couple months of the season, as there were seven or fewer runs just four times in his first 13 starts. But entering this matchup, there have been seven or fewer runs in each of his last five starts.

When it comes to Kluber, there have been seven or fewer runs in five of his eight home starts, though his lone home start against the Orioles thus far this season was an 8-0 win for the Rays back on April 10.

Were the total at 8, there would be a little more security here with the under, but it is still well worth backing at 7.5.

Both starting pitchers are pitching well, and the Orioles (3.16 bullpen ERA, fifth in MLB) and Rays (3.40 bullpen ERA, seventh in MLB) have two of the better pens in the league.

That said, thanks to the beauty of alternate totals, you can bag the under 8 at either Bovada Sportsbook or BetUS without having to wait around for line movement that might not come at BetOnline or other books that offer only 8.5 and not 8 for an alternate total.

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