The biggest remaining series in the AL East this season starts Thursday night from Baltimore as the first-place Orioles host the second-place Tampa Bay Rays. If the O’s win the series, the division title is essentially locked up.

Nitrobetting checks out the game in this preview. Get a complete look at the game information, team and player statistics, and the latest MLB odds. We also deliver timely betting trends and predictions that help you secure the best picks.

Rays vs. Orioles Game Information

We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/2xdq9ySyO7

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 13, 2023

• When: Thursday, September 14, 2023, 7:15 PM ET
• Where: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD
• TV: FOX
• Radio: WDAE 95.3 FM (Rays) // 98 Rock FM (Orioles)
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• MLB Odds: Rays (+118) // Orioles (-139)

READ MORE: Rangers vs. Blue Jays MLB Odds, Preview and Prediction – September 13, 2023

Why bet on the Tampa Bay Rays?

The Rays avoided disaster on Tuesday when All-Star first baseman Yandy Diaz took a foul tip in the man zone and it resulted in a testicular contusion. Yet he was back in the lineup Wednesday. His 17 games with 3+ hits pace all AL batters and his 49 multi-hit games are second most. They are the most multi-hit performances by a Rays batter since Corey Dickerson had 51 multi-hit games in 2017.

The last thing the Rays needed was another major issue as their rotation has been gutted by season-ending injuries and All-Star shortstop Wander Franco probably doesn’t play again in 2023 due to some off-field issues.

Outfielder Jose Siri was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a right hand fracture suffered Monday night. Siri was hit by an inside 89 mph sinker from Twins reliever Dylan Floro in the fifth inning and went down in pain. He’s a streaky offensive player but is amidst a respectable second full season at the big league level. Siri has rather quietly popped 25 home runs and is slugging .494 over 364 trips to the plate. Fellow outfielder Manuel Margot has been on the shelf since undergoing a procedure to remove loose bodies in his right elbow in mid-August but might be activated at some point in this series.

It’s right-hander Aaron Civale (7-3, 2.96 ERA) on the mound Thursday. Civale did not factor into the decision last Saturday, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks over five innings against the Mariners. He struck out three. Civale struggled right out of the gate but settled in and held Seattle scoreless over his final three innings of work. The 28-year-old hadn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his 12 starts since June 25, accumulating a 5-1 record with a 2.51 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and a solid 62:12 K:BB across 68 innings during that stretch.

Civale is 2-0 in two career starts against Baltimore, but he has produced a 7.36 ERA (11.0IP, 9ER) while allowing opposing hitters to bat .340 (16-for-47) in those games, which came within a two-week span from 6/5-16, 2021 while with Cleveland He was provided with 12.27 runs of support per 9.0 IP in those outings.

Why bet on the Baltimore Orioles?

Baltimore remains without All-Star closer Felix Bautista (33 saves, 1.48 ERA) as he’s dealing with a partial tear of his UCL, but the Orioles maintain hope that the right-hander will be able to pitch again in 2023. The team will continue to see how Bautista’s elbow responds as the All-Star closer gradually ramps up the intensity of his throwing, but the 28-year-old is without a clear target date to return from the 15-day injured list. Surgery is still possible but would wait until the offseason.

It’s ace right-hander Kyle Bradish for the Orioles. Bradish (11-6) picked up the win last Friday, giving up two runs on four hits over six innings in an 11-2 rout of the Red Sox. He struck out nine without walking a batter. It was his fourth straight win and fifth straight quality start, and Bradish’s nine strikeouts were his most since he fanned 10 Brewers on June 8. He hasn’t taken a loss since late July, posting a 5-0 record with a 2.38 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 50:12 K:BB through 41.2 innings since the beginning of August.

Bradish has a 1-2 record with a 6.53 ERA (15 ER/20.2 IP) in four career outings against Tampa Bay and a 4-10 record with a 6.00 ERA (72 ER/108.0 IP) with seven quality starts in 22 starts against the AL East.

The Orioles have gone 86 consecutive series of at least two decisions (no ties) without being swept, the fourth-longest streak in MLB history. They aren’t going to be swept this weekend, either. The O’s are likely to clinch a wild card birth in this series at a minimum.

Rays vs. Orioles Betting Trends

• Tampa Bay is 5-1 SU in the last 6 games.
• Rays are 10-5 SU in the last 15 games on the road.
• The total went over in 5 of Tampa Bay’s last 6 games.
• Baltimore is 8-3 SU in the last 11 games.
• Orioles are 7-3 SU in its last 10 games played in September.
• The total went over in 9 of Baltimore’s last 11 games.

Rays vs. Orioles Betting Prediction

Orioles 5, Rays 4.

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