MLB Pick: Rays ML (-155) at Bet365
Picks Summary:
- Rays ML (-155)
- White Sox ML (-130)
- Mariners ML (-150)
The Baltimore Orioles haven’t lost a series-opening game yet this season, but that may change Monday when the Birds host the MLB-best Tampa Bay Rays. Where does the OddsTrader computer lean in that matchup and two others?
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles
Monday, May 08, 2023 – 06:35 PM EDT at Camden Yards
If I told you that one of these two teams had yet to lose Game 1 of a series this season, you’d surely think that’s Tampa Bay with its MLB-best 28-7 record, but Tampa Bay has lost two series openers. Baltimore is 11-0 in them. That’s a franchise record to open a season and tied for the third such longest all-time streak behind 12 in a row by the 1919 New York Giants and 19 straight by the 1907 Chicago Cubs. It is tied for the longest streak at any point in a season in Orioles history, done three times prior.
It’s the first matchup of the season between these rivals, however, and it’s Rays ace lefty Shane McClanahan (6-0, 2.03 ERA), who is +700 at the MLB odds to win the AL Cy Young Award. McClanahan, who actually was born in Baltimore, leads the majors in wins and hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any outing. Last year against Baltimore, he was 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in three starts spanning 17.1 innings. Orioles batters hit only .206 off him. Ryan Mountcastle is just 1-for-15 off McClanahan. Austin Hays 3-for-18.
Baltimore plays its first home game since April 26. Few batters in the AL are hotter than Anthony Santander, who has six straight multi-hit games. It’s Kyle Gibson (4-1, 4.61 ERA) on the mound. He was shelled for six runs in Kansas City last time out and has played with fire numerous times this year.
Tampa Bay has a clear pitching advantage and is projected to win 5.4-4.
MLB Pick: Rays ML (-155) at Bet365
Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals
Monday, May 08, 2023 – 07:40 PM EDT at Kauffman Stadium
Show me a possible World Series contender that has had worse luck than the White Sox over the past three seasons or so. There isn’t one. Back on the injured list now is DH Eloy Jimenez, who will miss 4-6 weeks following an appendectomy on Saturday night at Cincinnati’s Good Samaritan Hospital. Obviously, nothing the White Sox can do about that. All-Star closer Liam Hendriks has yet to pitch in the majors this year as he recovers from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma but is getting close. So, while the Pale Hose has a lousy record, they have had some lousy luck.
Right-hander Dylan Cease was the 2022 Cy Young runner-up but has been wildly inconsistent so far this year at 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. The 27-year-old is still striking guys out with 43 but also 19 walks. Cease has been better on the road at 1-0 with a 2.93 ERA. Last year overall, he was 1-1 with a 1.53 ERA in 17.2 innings against the Royals.
Kansas City, which has just three home wins, starts former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke, who probably will be traded this summer because there’s no reason for him to stay with the Royals in rebuild mode. Greinke doesn’t have much of a market right now, though, at age 39 and with a 1-4 record and 5.25 ERA. Greinke has struck out 997 different batters and is three shy of joining Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, and Roger Clemens as the only pitchers in major league history to fan 1,000 different batters. That’s total batters mind you not total strikeouts.
The computer has Chicago prevailing 4.4-4.0.
MLB Pick: White Sox ML (-130) at WynnBet
Texas Rangers vs. Seattle Mariners
Monday, May 08, 2023 – 09:40 PM EDT at T-Mobile Park
Really nowhere to go but down offensively for the Rangers in this game considering they scored 16 and 10 runs in the previous two in Anaheim. The AL-West leading Rangers have put up at least 15 runs in a game four times already this season. And that’s playing a large chunk of it without injured All-Star shortstop Corey Seager. Manager Bruce Bochy said Seager (left hamstring strain) is on track to begin a rehab assignment late this week. Outfielder Travis Jankowski (.309) was removed from Sunday’s series finale against the Angels due to right hamstring tightness.
Jon Gray (1-1, 4.40 ERA) is on the mound Monday. The right-hander hasn’t been great the past three outings, allowing 11 runs and 18 hits over 16.2 innings. Gray has gone 1-2 with a 5.53 ERA in five carer games vs. Seattle. A.J. Pollock has good splits off him, batting 10-for-28 with six doubles. Eugenio Suarez is 6-for-19 with three homers and seven RBIs.
Seattle counters with Logan Gilbert (1-1, 4.01). He comes off a no-decision in Oakland, allowing two runs and three hits over six. Last year against Texas, Gilbert was 1-0 with a 1.90 ERA in four starts. Marcus Semien is just a 1-for-14 career off him. The Rangers’ leadoff hitter hasn’t gotten a game off in a while and might be due for one.
The computer has Seattle winning 4.6-4.3.
MLB Pick: Mariners ML (-150) at BetMGM
