Rays vs Orioles Prediction 5/20/26 MLB Picks Today

In this article we will formulate a Rays vs Orioles prediction for this MLB game on Wednesday, May 20th at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup. 

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview

The Tampa Bay Rays are 32-15 this season after they won the first two games in this series by scores of 16-6 and 4-1. In game two, Tampa Bay tied the game at one in the first inning, took the lead in the sixth, and added two more in the eighth in the win. The Rays recorded seven hits in the game and they were led by Diaz, who went 2-3 with one home run and two RBIs. Jax allowed three hits and one earned run over 5.0 innings, while Kelly got the win and Baker picked up the save. Prior to this series, Tampa Bay won two out of three against the Marlins and two out of three against the Blue Jays. 

This season, Tampa Bay has a 3.58 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and a .224 opponent batting average, while they have scored 227 runs with a .262 batting average and a .336 on base percentage. Jonathan Aranda has led the Rays with eight home runs and 35 RBIs, while Yandy Diaz has added eight home runs and 33 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for Tampa Bay is Jesse Scholtens, who is 4-2 with a 3.06 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP over 32.1 innings pitched this season. 

Baltimore Orioles Betting Preview

The Baltimore Orioles are 21-28 this year after they lost game two by a score of 4-1 on Tuesday night. Baltimore led 1-0 in the first inning, but they went scoreless over the last eight innings for the loss. The Orioles recorded four hits in the game and they were led by Ward, who went 1-4 with one home run and one RBI. Bradish allowed four hits and two earned runs over 5.1 innings for the loss, while Cano allowed one earned run in relief. Prior to this series, Baltimore lost two out of three against the Nationals, but did win two out of three against the Yankees before that. 

This season, Baltimore has a 4.96 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP and a .265 opponent batting average, while they have scored 212 runs with a .232 batting average and a .314 on base percentage. Pete Alonso has led the Orioles with eight home runs and 26 RBIs, while Adley Rutschman has added seven home runs and 26 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for Baltimore is Shane Baz, who is 1-5 with a 5.26 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP over 51.1 innings pitched this year. 

Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win

• The Orioles have lost each of their last 12 road games against AL East opponents.
• The Rays have won each of their last 12 home games against American League opponents.
• The Orioles have failed to cover the run line each of their last eight road games against teams that held a winning record.
• The Rays have covered the run line in 12 of their last 13 games against American League opponents following a home win.
• The Orioles have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last eight games as road underdogs against AL East opponents.
• The Rays have led after 5 innings in each of their last six games as favorites.
• The Orioles have lost the first inning in seven of their last eight games as road underdogs against AL East opponents.

Why the Baltimore Orioles will win

• The underdogs have won five of the last six games between the Orioles and Rays.
• The Rays have lost three of their last four games as favorites against the Orioles following a win.
• The Orioles have covered the run line in each of their last nine Wednesday games as underdogs.
• The Rays have failed to cover the run line in six of their last seven games as favorites against the Orioles following a win.
• The Orioles have led after 3 innings in each of their last five Wednesday day games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
• The Orioles have led after 5 innings in each of their last seven Wednesday day games against opponents that held a winning record.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the Rays’ last six day games against American League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Seven of the Orioles’ last eight games as road underdogs have gone OVER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in eight of the Orioles’ last nine road games against AL East opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in seven of the last eight games between the Orioles and Rays.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

• Yandy Diaz has hit a home run in two of the Rays’ last three games.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 appearances in day games against teams that held a losing record.
• Chandler Simpson ranks 5th in the league in Steals (14) this season.

Baltimore Orioles Player Prop Facts

• Taylor Ward has hit at least one home run in three of his last four road appearances against the Rays.
• Pete Alonso has recorded at least one hit in each of the Orioles’ last 12 games as road underdogs.
• Taylor Ward ranks 4th amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.416) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Rays rank T2nd in the league for triples this season (10).
• The Rays rank 2nd in the league for batting average this season (.262).
• The Orioles rank 29th in the league for opponent batting average this season (.265).
• The Orioles rank 28th in the league for runs allowed this season (269).

Rays vs Orioles Prediction 

Tampa Bay comes into this matchup looking to complete the series sweep and they have scored 26 runs in their last three games. The Rays are 18-5 at home this year, while the Orioles are 9-16 on the road. Baltimore has lost four of their last five games and they have allowed 13+ runs in two of their last four. The O’s are starting Baz, who has allowed 13 earned runs in his last three starts, while Scholtens has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four straight outings. Take the Rays to win here.