Orioles vs Rays MLB | Baltimore Ace Off Injured List

Orioles ace pitcher John Means, who threw a no-hitter earlier this season, is scheduled to return from the injured list and pitch for the first time in more than six weeks on Tuesday as Baltimore visits Tampa Bay, which is favored on the MLB odds.

How to Bet Orioles at Rays MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 7:10 PM ET
Where: Tropicana Field
Probable pitchers (away/home): John Means/Shane McClanahan
TV: MLB Extra Innings

Why Bet on Baltimore?

Orioles shortstop Freddy Galvis and third baseman Maikel Franco are both on the injured list. Galvis could return to the Orioles’ lineup by the end of month as he’s rehabbing at the Orioles’ complex in Sarasota, Florida. The 31-year-old been out since late June due to a right quad strain. Franco also should be back before the end of July if there are no setbacks with his sprained ankle.

The Orioles have used 47 different players this season (28 pitchers and 19 position players). An MLB-high 11 players have made their big-league debuts this season for the O’s. The club record for most MLB debuts in a season is 15, set in 2018.

The Orioles’ .9863 team fielding percentage is the fifth-best in the majors and fourth-best in the AL. Their 14 outfielder assists are tied for the sixth-most in the majors and tied for the third-most in the AL.

Baltimore is batting .270 against fastball pitches, the 10th-best mark in the league, according to Statcast. Against breaking balls and off-speed pitches combined, the Orioles are batting .193, which ranks 28th in MLB; their .196 team average against breaking balls ranks 22nd, while their .188 team average against off-speed pitches ranks 28^th.

It’s lefty John Means (4-2) on the mound. The 28-year-old was sporting an impressive 2.28 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 69/13 K/BB ratio in 71 innings (12 starts) before suffering a shoulder injury near the beginning of this June. Entering the start in which he suffered his injury, Means was one of seven American League pitchers to have thrown at least 70 innings, compiling a 2.05 ERA that was the sport’s sixth lowest. He led the AL in WHIP — walks plus hits per inning — at 0.80.

Means faced the Rays on May 19 and gave up four runs in 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision. Means worked four scoreless innings before giving up two homers in a three-run fifth. He bounced back with a scoreless sixth and then was pulled after allowing a one-out double in the seventh. The Orioles had a 6-3 lead at that point, but Adam Plutko blew that by giving up an RBI single and a two-run homer.

Why Bet on Tampa Bay?

Entering Monday’s opener, the Rays were 6-0 0 against the Orioles this season and had outscored them, 48-21 (+27). Dating back to Aug 25, 2020, the Rays are 12-1 in their last 13 games against the Orioles and have outscored them, 75-37 (+38), over that stretch. The Rays have won 10 consecutive home series against them, a stretch that began from July 24-26, 2017. The Rays have won the season series in four consecutive years.

Rays shortstop Wander Franco, the No. 1 prospect in the sport, got Monday off but was simply for rest. He homered Sunday but overall the 20-year-old phenom has struggled in his first taste of the major leagues, hitting .216/.275/.392 with three homers and two steals across 80 plate appearances.

Tampa Bay remains without right fielder Manuel Margot. He sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring strain on July 5 and probably won’t be back until late this month. The 26-year-old outfielder has recorded 9 home runs and 44 RBIs, slashing .252/.297/.404 along the way. The Rays have 12 players on the IL including 10 pitchers.

This season the Rays are batting .278 with runners in scoring position in their wins compared to .166 with RISP in their losses. Tampa Bay has 28 comebacks wins this season. That total is the second highest in the Majors, behind Boston’s 29.

It’s lefty Shane McClanahan (3-3) on the mound. McClanahan pitched four innings of one-run ball in his most recent start versus the Blue Jays. McClanahan needed 91 pitches, his new high as a major leaguer, to get through four innings. He has a 4.05 ERA after 13 starts, but because he doesn’t go deep into games he’s just 3-3. McClanahan born in Baltimore but grew up in Florida. This will be his first appearance against the Orioles.

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