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Rays vs. Orioles Prediction and Pick for Sunday, June 19 (Can Corey Kluber Keep Pitching At High Level?)

By Matt De Saro

Tampa Bay Rays v Texas Rangers
Tampa Bay Rays v Texas Rangers / Tim Heitman/GettyImages
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The Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles close out a three-game set this afternoon at Camden Yards in a battle between AL East foes. The Orioles stole a win in the series opener 1-0 thanks to a fantastic day from their entire pitching staff. It was a welcome change for Baltimore after getting swept by the Rays in their only other series this year.

Despite taking Game 1, the Orioles are not a good team and will need a strong performance from a shaky pitcher. I’m not sure I like Baltimore’s chances to pull out a win in this series finale. 

Here are the odds for this game from consensus sportsbooks.

Rays vs. Orioles Odds, Run Line, and Total

Run Line:

  • Rays: -1.5 (+120)
  • Orioles: +1.5 (-145)

Moneyline:

  • Rays: -137
  • Orioles: +127

Total:

  • 8 (Over -120/Under +100)

Rays vs. Orioles Prediction and Pick

Corey Kluber continues to annoy me as a predictor of MLB games by pitching great in games he has no business dominating. His last game against the New York Yankees is a good case in point. He managed to hold them to four hits and no runs over six innings. The 36-year-old hasn’t had a bad game all month with a 2.12 ERA and strikeout to walk rate of 12:2. I keep waiting for the veteran to come crashing back to earth, but the guy just keeps looking better and better. Still, I have this voice in my head screaming at me not to trust him. But, he is playing the Orioles and a whole choir of voices is telling me to avoid them whenever possible. 

The Orioles are bad enough as it is but will have to deal with Jordan Lyles on the mound today. Lyles is 4-5 with a 5.10 ERA and 1.52 WHIP in 13 starts. Furthermore, Lyles made one horrific start against the Rays already this year after giving up five runs in five innings. The current Rays lineup is hitting a decent .220 against Lyles with three extra-base hits in 34 at-bats. 

While I don’t feel good about siding with Kluber, he has been the far better pitcher of the two starters today. The Rays, in general, are a superior team top to bottom and we’re getting them at decent odds here. 

Pick: Rays ML -137

Follow all of Matt De Saro’s betting picks HERE

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