Baltimore Orioles (22-39) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (39-24)
June 12, 2021 4:10 pm EDT
The Line: Tampa Bay Rays -220 / Baltimore Orioles +200; Over/Under: +7
(Get latest betting odds)
The Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Saturday in MLB action from Tropicana Field. This will be the second installment in a three-game series between these teams over the weekend. In the Friday opener, the Rays secured a two-run win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Baltimore played two games versus the Mets this week, winning 10-3 Tuesday and losing 14-1 on Wednesday. In the Friday opener versus Tampa, the O’s posted just two hits in a 4-2 defeat. Starter Keegan Akin went 4.0 innings with three earned on five hits.
For the starting role in the Saturday game, Baltimore will go with Jorge Lopez. Across his 56.0 innings this year, Lopez has 55 hits, 34 runs (33 earned), 10 homers allowed, 25 walks, 54 Ks and a 5.30 ERA.
Over on the Rays’ side, they played the Nationals in a pair this week. Tampa won Tuesday 3-1 but lost 9-7 in the Wednesday game. On Friday, the Rays managed nine hits in the victory. Ryan Yarbrough went 6.0 innings with three hits and no earned in the win.
For the Saturday starting pitcher job, the Rays will send out Rich Hill. Over 62.0 innings this season so far, Hill has 41 hits, 21 earned runs, seven homers allowed, 20 walks, 63 Ks and a 3.05 ERA.
The Orioles are 152-316 in their last 468 overall and 27-59 in their last 86 Saturday games. Baltimore is 73-163 in their last 236 road games and 16-40 in their last 56 in game two of a series.
Meanwhile, the Rays are 62-29 in their last 91 home games and 56-27 in their last 83 on turf. Tampa Bay is 24-9 in their last 33 Saturday games and 6-2 in their last eight in game two of a series.
PICK: I’m going to stick with the Rays in this one. Hill has pitched very well over his last two games, with no earned on five hits in 10.0 innings of work. Hill has been excellent since late April, and has only allowed two earned in a start once in his last seven. As for Lopez, he’s got four earned in his last 10.0 innings and has been doing fairly well himself. I like a lower-scoring game here with an eventual Tampa win.
