These two teams might not play in the same league, but they still feel very similar. It all goes back to 2023.
That was the year that the Orioles won 101 games. That was the year that the Diamondbacks made the World Series. It truly felt like these two young and talented organizations were at the precipice of long runs of total domination. However, two years later, and neither has so much as won a playoff game. What a disappointment.
Both enter 2026 looking to get back on track, and both have started the season well enough, with each club coming into tonight’s series opener with a record above .500. Who will win on Monday? Let’s preview this interleague clash and make a couple picks on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Diamondbacks vs. Orioles prediction, preview
While the Orioles technically haven’t made it official, the expectation is that Dean Kremer will get his first start of 2026 on Monday, getting the call up from Triple-A. Though Kremer did not break camp with Baltimore, he certainly isn’t some unknown entity. In fact, we have a sample of over 450 MLB innings from Kremer dating back to the beginning of 2023. Heck, you could even argue that the veteran RHP is directly on the heels of his best season in an Orioles’ uniform, as Kremer maintained a career-low 3.88 xERA across 29 starts and 31 appearances in 2025. The 30-year-old has given up a few too many home runs to opposing LHBs throughout his time in the majors, but at the end of the day, Kremer is a rock solid back-end starter. Baltimore’s rotation depth is the reason Kremer was in Norfolk. It had nothing to do with talent. He’s a legit MLB-caliber arm.
The same can be said about Ryne Nelson, who is simply in the midst of a very odd start to his 2026 campaign. In his first outing against the Dodgers, Nelson only allowed a pair of hits over 4.2 innings. Unfortunately, both hits left the park. In his second outing, Nelson allowed seven runs against the Braves, but just two of the seven were earned. In his third outing, Nelson finally thrived, tossing one-run ball across 5.2 innings against the Mets. The RHP struck out five and didn’t issue a walk in the winning effort. Overall, Nelson is throwing harder than he ever has before. He’s also not unfamiliar with success. In 2025, Nelson worked 154.0 innings for the Diamondbacks, splitting his time between the rotation and the bullpen. He’d finish the year with a 3.39 ERA and a 3.73 FIP. He may not be a household name, but he’s also proven himself at the MLB level.
The surprising part about Arizona’s 9-7 record is that its managed to be two games above .500 without getting much from its bats. The Diamondbacks are slashing just .226/.286/.362 entering play on Monday. They’re one of only two teams without double-digit home runs, and their 82 wRC+ ranks 27th in the sport. Not ideal. Conversely, the Orioles have been swinging the lumber well, as the club’s 112 wRC+ sits fifth in MLB. Gunnar Henderson has bounced back in 2026, with his six home runs tying him for the American League lead with Yordan Alvarez. Taylor Ward and Adley Rutschman are also off to wonderful offensive starts, though the latter now finds himself on the IL with an ankle issue. If Pete Alonso can wake up and live up to his hefty contract, Baltimore’s lineup could be very, very dangerous.
Diamondbacks vs. Orioles pick, best bet
Best Bet: Under 8.5 (-105)
I think Kremer and Nelson are both more solid than the public gives them credit for. I also know that the Diamondbacks’ offense is off to a slow start in 2026, while the Orioles’ IL is incredibly lengthy, populated by names like Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg.
Strong Lean: Corbin Carroll 2+ Total Bases (+101)
The only Arizona player hitting at all is Carroll, who comes into Monday slashing .327/.414/.653 with a 96th percentile expected wOBA (.432). His hand injury in Spring Training isn’t slowing his down at all. Give me the former Rookie of the Year in an opposite-hand matchup.
