2012 Baltimore vs Tampa Bay Betting Preview
The Baltimore Orioles started the season red hot, but they are coming back to the pack in a hurry. Tampa Bay’s win over the Orioles last night took Baltimore out of the top spot in the American League East.
Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays MLB Betting Preview
Starting Pitchers: Baltimore (Matusz) vs. Tampa Bay (Hellickson)
Date/Time: June 2, 4:10 p.m. EST
MLB Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
Moneyline: Tampa Bay (-170) Baltimore (+150)
Runline: Rays -1.5 (+125) Orioles +1.5 (-145)
Total: 8
The Rays are now the leader in this highly competitive division.
Tampa Bay is tough to beat at home.
Baltimore stormed out of the gates with a red hot offense, but the Orioles have been dropping a lot of close contests in the past couple weeks. The games that this team was pulling out earlier this year are the ones they are losing now.
Adam Jones is having a breakout season for the Orioles offensively. Jones is quickly becoming a superstar in this league. He has a .314 average and 16 homers so far this year. Matt Wieters is struggling mightily with the bat. Wieters has just three hits in the team’s last ten games.
They need much more from him. Brian Matusz is 2-2 with a 5.09 ERA away from home this season. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Jeremy Hellickson has been dominating at home this year. Hellickson is 3-1 with a sparkling 1.68 ERA in 38 innings at home in 2012. Hellickson has only allowed more than three runs in a game once all year.
Fernando Rodney has arguably been the best closer in baseball this year, and that has really helped this team get off to a great start. Rodney has 16 saves in 17 chances, and he has a terrific 1.08 ERA. Offensively, the Rays are very short-handed right now. Without Evan Longoria and Desmond Jennings, the team isn’t going to pile up runs too often.
Matt Joyce has been a clutch hitter for the team once again this year.
David Price shut down the Orioles yesterday, and I don’t see any reason to believe Baltimore will have much more success against Hellickson.
The Rays should extend their division lead with a win here.
MLB Free Pick: Rays -1.5
