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What has gotten into the Baltimore Orioles? A few months ago, they were a laughingstock in MLB but enter Friday’s series opener at Tampa Bay on a stunning 10-game winning streak. However, the O’s likely will be underdogs on the MLB odds.

How to Bet Orioles at Rays MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Friday, 7:10 PM ET
Where: Tropicana Field
Probable pitchers (away/home): Tyler Wells/Luis Patino
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: TBA

Why Bet on Baltimore?

Baltimore’s 10-game winning streak has moved the Orioles to 45-44 and every team in the loaded AL East to above .500. On Wednesday, the O’s beat the Cubs 7-1 for that 45^th victory. Last year, Baltimore won its 45th game on Sept. 8. This is the latest in a season that they’ve had a winning record since 2017.

The Orioles are the second team in MLB history to lose at least 110 games in a season and then have a winning streak of at least nine games in the next season, joining the Louisville Colonels, who went 27-111 in 1889, then had winning streaks of 12, 11, and 10 games in 1890.

Eight games below 500 on June 1, Baltimore has gone 23-14 since and hasn’t lost a game since July 2. Baltimore is just the fourth team in league history to win at least 10 in a row after finishing the previous season with the worst record in the league. The Orioles have the second-best ERA (3.17) in the AL during the streak and are hitting .366 with two outs and runners in scoring position. During the streak, they have won three straight games after trailing in the ninth inning or later for the first time since 1979.

The Orioles have had 51 games decided by two runs or fewer this year, tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the most in MLB. The O’s have gone 26-25 in those games, tied with the Milwaukee Brewers (26-20) for the second-most wins in such games in MLB. Orioles relievers lead MLB with a 1.98 ERA in “close and late” situations, defined as any plate appearance from the seventh inning or later in a one-score game or with the potential tying run at bat, on base, or on deck.

It’s Tyler Wells (7-4, 3.28 EAR) on the mound Friday. Wells surrendered three runs in four innings last Friday against the Angels in a no-decision. Wells had given up just three runs in 22 innings over his previous four starts, but he was less effective during Friday’s matchup. He gave up a three-run homer in the top of the third inning and was in line for the loss when he exited the game, but he came away with a no-decision after the Orioles mounted a late comeback. It snapped a streak of five consecutive wins for Wells. He is 0-1 with a 9.95 ERA in two starts this year against the Rays.

Why Bet on Tampa Bay?

Since the start of July, the Rays rank 5th in the majors at 5.23 runs per game, compared to 3.99 runs per game through June. The Rays rank among major league leaders this month in hits, doubles, walks, average and on-base percentage. Tampa Bay is batting .302 with RISP in the its wins compared to .183 with RISP in losses.

The Tampa bullpen ranks 7th in the majors with a 3.39 ERA and 4th in the majors with a 2.94 BB/9 IP ratio. The Rays have seven pitchers with a save, tied with three other clubs for the most in the majors.

The original starting pitcher for Friday was to be touted young prospect Shane Baz, but on Thursday he was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to July 11, with a right elbow sprain. That’s not good as Baz required arthroscopic surgery on that same elbow in March. He had logged six starts for the Rays since his return from the IL on June 11, posting a 5.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 30/9 K/BB ratio in 27 innings. The plan calls for Baz to rest and rehab for at least the next four weeks. The team called up reliever Luke Bard from Triple-A Durham to take his spot.

It’s the second unfortunate bit of pitching news the Rays have gotten in the past 24 hours lefty Josh Fleming could be out as long as six weeks due to an oblique strain. The Rays have 17 players on the injured list, most in the majors over the Reds (16) and most in the AL over the Twins (12). The Rays have 12 pitchers on the injured list, most in the AL and tied with the Reds for most in the majors. Tampa has five position players on the injured list, more than the other four AL East clubs combined (3).

However, the Rays are poised to activate pitcher Luis Patino (0-1, 13.50 ERA) on Friday and he’s expected to start. The 22-year-old made just one appearance this season, allowing a run in 0.2 innings vs. Oakland on April 11 and went out with an oblique injury. Patino made six rehab starts in June and early July but faced a setback early this month due to a blister.