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From Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, the Orioles will host the Rays in an AL East matchup. The game is set to start at 12:05 PM ET, and the Orioles are the heavy money line favorite at -202. The money line odds for the Rays are sitting at +168, and the over/under line is at 7.5 runs.
Baltimore comes in with a record of 82-61, while the Rays are 70-72 overall. Zack Littell will start for the Rays, while Corbin Burnes goes for the Orioles. In the AL East, the Orioles are in 2nd place, while the Rays are 4th.
Tampa Bay vs. Baltimore Key Information
- Teams: Rays at Orioles
- Where: Oriole Park at Camden Yards Baltimore
- Date: Sunday, September 8th
- Betting Odds BAL -202 | TB +168 O/U 7.5
The Rays Can Win If…
The Rays are sending Zack Littell to the mound today vs. the Orioles, and he comes in with a record of 5-9 and an ERA of 4.04. Littell has made 25 starts this season, and his WHIP is currently 1.35. In his last outing, Littell took the loss, giving up four earned runs in four innings of work vs. the Twins. Before that, he had gone three straight outings without taking the loss. Littell’s ERA at home is 3.3 compared to 6.77 on the road. So far, he has made eight quality starts.
Yandy Diaz has been swinging a hot bat of late for the Rays, going 10/25 in his last seven games with three homers. For the season, he is batting .279 with a team-leading 64 RBIs. Christopher Morel and Jose Siri are the Rays’ top home run hitters this season, but both are batting under .200.
As a team, the Rays are averaging just 3.9 runs per game, which is 28th in the MLB. Their team batting average of .231 is also one of the worst marks in the league. Tampa Bay’s offense has been especially bad at home this season, averaging just 3.8 runs per game.
- The Rays are 4-6 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Rays are 4-1 vs. the run line.
- Tampa Bay has an over/under record of 6-2-2 in their last ten games.
- The Rays have an average of 4.2 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten road games, the Rays are 4-6
- Looking back across the Rays last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
- Tampa Bay has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Rays have averaged 3.1 runs per game on offense
The Orioles Can Win If…
Through 28 starts, Corbin Burnes has a record of 13-7 and an ERA of 3.19. This season, he has turned in 19 quality starts and is averaging 8.19 strikeouts per nine innings. Burnes has been much better at home, coming in with a record of 7-4 and an ERA of 3.57. At home, he has a WHIP of 1.13 compared to 3.3 on the road. Burnes most recently faced the White Sox, where he picked up the win, going five innings and giving up one earned run. Before that, he had lost three straight starts.
Heading into today’s game, the Orioles’ offense is averaging 5 runs per game, which is 4th in the league. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.2 runs per contest. Overall, the team is 2nd in home runs and are batting a collective .251, which is 6th in the MLB. Baltimore is also the league’s top slugging team and have the best isolated power figure in the league.
Anthony Santander and Gunnar Henderson have been the team’s top power threats this season, with Santander’s 39 homers leading the team and Henderson’s 36 long balls coming in as the 2nd most on the team and 6th in the league. Henderson has been hot of late, going 10/28 in his last seven games with three homers.
- The Orioles are 5-5 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Orioles are 3-2 vs. the run line.
- Baltimore has an over/under record of 6-3-1 in their last ten games.
- The Orioles have an average of 5.2 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten home games, the Orioles are 4-6
- Looking back across the Orioles last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
- Baltimore has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Orioles have averaged 4.2 runs per game on offense
With just three weeks left in the regular season, the Baltimore Orioles are feeling the heat as they continue their chase for the American League East title. Sunday’s game is more than just a series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays—it’s a crucial opportunity for the Orioles (82-61) to close out their homestand on a high note and reclaim the top spot in the division.
Orioles Locked in a Tight AL East Race
The Orioles have had a solid season overall, but things have been shaky lately. After splitting the first two games of this series with the Rays, Baltimore dropped a tough 7-1 loss on Saturday. Now, they find themselves half a game behind the New York Yankees in the AL East standings. Their second-half performance has been a bit of a rollercoaster—after posting an impressive 53-31 record before July, the Orioles have gone just 24-23 since the All-Star break, struggling to regain their early-season magic.
Manager Brandon Hyde knows how important these next few games are, saying, “We’re tired, but the guys are pushing through, and I expect us to finish strong.”
Shortstop Gunnar Henderson remains positive, insisting that the team’s fortunes will turn around. “There’s no secret to it—just go out there, play hard, and things will flip,” Henderson said.
Rays Look to Play Spoiler
On the other side, the Tampa Bay Rays (70-72) might not be in prime wild-card position, but they’re certainly not rolling over. Saturday’s win was a big boost, thanks in large part to center fielder Jose Siri’s highlight-reel catch that robbed Gunnar Henderson of a home run. The defensive gem completely changed the momentum of the game.
“That was a game-changer,” said Rays shortstop Taylor Walls. “The moment he made that catch, it quieted the crowd and shifted things in our favor.”
While Tampa Bay’s defense has been sharp, the Orioles’ offense has hit a rough patch, especially in terms of power. Over their last three games, 14 of their 17 hits have been singles, and they’ve struggled to bring runners home early in games.
Hyde acknowledged the offensive slump, saying, “We had chances to change the game early but just couldn’t get that key hit.”
Pitching Matchup: Burnes vs. Littell
Sunday’s game will feature a solid pitching duel as the Orioles turn to their ace, Corbin Burnes (13-7, 3.19 ERA), to right the ship. Burnes is coming off a much-needed win against the Chicago White Sox on Monday, where he allowed just two runs (one earned) over five innings. He’s been effective against Tampa Bay this year, holding a 1-0 record with a 2.08 ERA in two starts.
The Rays will counter with Zack Littell (5-9, 4.04 ERA), who’s making his second start since returning from the injured list. Littell struggled in his last outing against the Minnesota Twins, giving up four runs on seven hits over four innings. However, he has fared well against the Orioles in the past, with a 3.28 ERA in six career appearances, though he has yet to notch a win against them.
What to Watch For
Sunday’s game is a must-watch, with high stakes on both sides. For Baltimore, they’ll need a big game from Corbin Burnes to steady the ship, while the offense must find a way to generate more extra-base hits to turn their recent struggles around.
On the other hand, the Rays, led by Littell and defensive standout Jose Siri, will look to play spoiler and end their series with another win. Tampa Bay’s defense has been stellar, and if Littell can shake off his rust, they could put up a serious fight.
High-Stakes Game as Orioles Fight to Reclaim AL East Lead
Sunday’s showdown between the Orioles and Rays is shaping up to be a nail-biter. With Corbin Burnes on the mound, the Orioles have a great chance to bounce back and reclaim first place in the AL East. However, the Rays, led by defensive star Jose Siri and Zack Littell, are ready to play spoiler. Both teams are hungry for a win, and this game could have major playoff implications as the regular season enters its final stretch.
The Lean
Today’s Rays and Orioles matchup should feature plenty of offense, as this is projected to be the 4th highest-scoring game of the day. For an over/under pick, we are leaning towards the over. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we like the Orioles to come out on top. The Orioles offense is our highest-rated in today’s slate of games, and Corbin Burnes is 10th in our projections in starting pitcher strikeouts.
