Tampa Bay Rays (1-0) vs Baltimore Orioles (0-1)
Game Info: Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 1:10 pm (Tropicana Field)
Drew Rasmussen (0-0) (0.00) vs Jordan Lyles (0-0) (0.00)
Betting Odds: Tampa Bay Rays -263 / Baltimore Orioles +185 --- Over/Under: 8.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Baltimore Orioles face the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, April 9th, 2022 at Tropicana Fiels for game two of a three-game series.
The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Baltimore Orioles by the final score of 2-1 in the first game of this series, and the first game of the season for these two clubs. Both starters pitched through four innings and the bullpens pitched well also. A Francisco Mejia sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 8th gave the Rays the go-ahead and eventual game-winning run and Tampa's Brooks Raley was able to earn the save in the 9th.
The Orioles are projected to start Jordan Lyles in game two of this series. Lyles is not on his 7th career team after pitching in Texas last season with the Rangers. Lyles has a career ERA above 5.00 and did not pitch very well in 2021. Lyles will have a big role on this young Orioles team as a veteran starter at the top of this rotation.
The Rays are projected to send Drew Rasmussen to the bump to take on the O's. Rasmussen pitched very well in a Rays uniform last season, owning a 4-1 record and a 2.84 ERA in 2021. Rasmussen shouldn't be expected to pitch more than 5.0 innings, especially in his first start of the season. The Rays, more than any team in the league, are very comfortable utilizing their bullpen.
Although the Rays failed to cover the run line in the first game of this series, I like for them to put on a show in front of the home crowd and earn a blowout win on Saturday. Lyles has not been trustworthy in the starting pitcher role, and I am not in love with the available arms the Orioles will have in the bullpen for this one either. Baltimore had one of the worst pens in the MLB in 2021 and it hurt them in games similar to this one. I expect Tampa's bats to be sharper on Saturday in a comfortable win at the Trop.
Ron’s Pick Tampa Bay Rays -1.5
AUTHOR: Ron Romanelli
Follow Ron Romanelli on Twitter @RonnieRomanelli