Tampa Bay Rays (28-7) vs. Baltimore Orioles (22-12)
May 8, 2023 6:35 pm EDT
The Line: Baltimore Orioles +135 / Tampa Bay Rays -155; Over/Under: 7.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles meet Monday in MLB action from Oriole Park. Tampa Bay is fresh off a series versus the Yankees. The Rays split the first pair, then in the Sunday rubber match Tampa Bay posted a comeback victory. As for Baltimore, they played the Braves over the weekend. The Orioles likewise split the first pair, then in the rubber match Baltimore lost in extra innings. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay eked out a 5-4 win over the Yankees in their Friday opener, but then fell in a close one 3-2 on Saturday. In the Sunday finale the Rays came back from a 6-0 deficit to win 8-7 in 10 innings. Josh Fleming did most of the pitching on 5.0 innings, six earned, seven hits and four walks.
For the starter job in the Monday game the Rays will send out Shane McClanahan. In his seven starts so far McClanahan is 6-0 with a 2.03 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 40.0 innings. McClanahan is 28-14 with a 2.81 ERA in 60 career starts.
Baltimore Orioles
Over on the Orioles’ side, they beat the Braves 9-4 on Friday. Baltimore would end up losing 5-4 on Saturday, though. In the Sunday rubber match the Orioles fell 3-2 in 12 innings, posting a tepid five team hits along the way. Starter Tyler Wells lasted 5.0 innings with one earned on three hits and a walk.
Starter for Monday’s game will be Kyle Gibson. This year Gibson is 4-1 with a 4.61 ERA in seven starts. He’s got 27 Ks in 41.0 innings. Gibson is 93-92 with a 4.52 career ERA in 274 games (268 starts).
The Rays are 5-0 in their last five in game one of a series and 27-7 in their last 34 overall. The under is 12-3-1 in the Rays’ last 16 Monday games.
Meanwhile, Baltimore is 4-1 in their last five Monday games and 16-5 in their last 21 overall. The Orioles are 37-15 in their last 52 in game one of a series.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably stick with Tampa Bay. McClanahan is rolling right along these days. He’s got just five earned over his last three starts from 17.0 innings, 13 hits and five walks. As for Gibson, he’s been a little choppy lately with nine earned on 18 hits and two walks in his last pair over 11.0 innings. He should be better here, though. On Sunday Tampa Bay posted an epic comeback against a flailing Yankees team, bagging 10 hits in the process. It was also a great job by (most of) the bullpen after the fifth inning. I like the Rays to keep it rolling on Monday.
