Though the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles have both been eliminated from the playoffs, that doesn’t make these last few games irrelevant. Both clubs will look to make quick turnarounds in the offseason and contend for the playoffs next year. The players on these teams are on red alert; if you take your foot off the gas, you risk being exposed to trades or being replaced. Even with the playoffs out the window, don’t go into this game expecting anything less than 100% effort from both sides.
The Orioles come in as -114 moneyline favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 8.5 runs. Let’s dig into a preview, prediction and best bet for this Rays vs. Orioles matchup.
Rays at Orioles prediction, preview
Shane Baz is one such player who finds himself on the bubble. The 26-year-old was once a top prospect in the vaunted Rays farm system and broke into the majors at 22 years old. This year marks the first time Baz has received a complete starter’s workload, and results have been mixed.
Across 162.1 innings, Baz has recorded a 4.99 ERA. The underlying numbers say he’s been unlucky; Baseball Savant grades his expected ERA at 3.87, a slightly above-average number. He generates a solid amount of strikeouts and ground balls, and with a full season under his belt, there is reason to believe better things are coming. However, this is the first arbitration-eligible offseason for Baz. The always cost-conscious Rays may be concerned with his rising cost. They’re also deep on pitching, even after dealing away Taj Bradley at the deadline.
Tyler Wells, the Baltimore starter, is another pitcher looking to prove he belongs. A fixture in the team’s rotation from 2022-23, Wells was passed over for new additions and spent most of the last two seasons in the minors. But he’s thrown well in three starts this year, pitching to a 2.04 ERA in his late-season action. Perhaps the right-hander has shown enough to justify a spot on the roster next season, or made himself a more attractive offseason target for other teams.
Wells pitching prolifically in his limited action gives Baltimore a sizable edge here. Count on the Orioles to deliver a victory at home.
