MLB matchup analysis

Orioles vs Rays Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Friday, August 14, 2026 at Tropicana Field · 7:10 PM ET

Watchlist

LyDia prediction: Tampa Bay Rays moneyline

Lab Rating
6.9/10
Model lean
Rays 63.3%
Market probability
60.0%
Model edge
+3.3%
Best moneyline
-154
Sportsbooks checked
9
LyDia model
63.3%
Market
60.0%

The case for Tampa Bay Rays

Starting pitcher edge: 8 points
LyDia gives Steven Matz a 8-point edge over Chris Bassitt, driven mainly by WHIP (1.23 vs 1.63) and K-BB% (10.6% vs 5.7%).
Late-inning bullpen advantage
Baltimore Orioles relievers have a 6.30 ERA over the last 7 days; Tampa Bay Rays relievers have a 3.43. If this is still close after six innings, that gap favors Tampa Bay Rays.
Bats are hot: +0.019 wOBA
Tampa Bay Rays is outhitting its own season form over the last 15 days. Recent form is context, not a model input, but it points the same way here.

The case for Baltimore Orioles

The case is thin
The model finds little going Baltimore Orioles's way — it trails on the pitching plan, bullpen, and recent form. The main path to a Baltimore Orioles win is variance.

Why it is not official

Setup quality below the bar
Lab Rating is 6.9/10, under the 8.0/10 required for an official pick.

Why the setup score is what it is

Pitching plan: 8/20
Steven Matz rates 8 points better than Chris Bassitt on LyDia's pitcher score — a real edge, but well short of the gap that earns full credit here.
The verdict Worth monitoring, nothing more. The setup has pieces but does not add up to a bet at today's price.
Read the full model output

Tampa Bay Rays remains on the watchlist. Lab Rating 6.9/10: conviction 30.38, pitching plan 8, bullpen 13.33, offense 17.66. LyDia projects 63.4% against a 60.0% no-vig market number, a 3.3% model edge at -154. Tampa Bay Rays owns the starting pitcher edge by 8 points. Bullpen read: Elevated volatility. Tampa Bay Rays's pen efficiency: Effective (6.0/10). Lineup check: Tampa Bay Rays is swinging a hot bat (+0.055 OPS); Baltimore Orioles is near its season form (+0.002 OPS).

Game information

MatchupBaltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays
DateFriday, August 14, 2026
First pitch7:10 PM ET
VenueTropicana Field
Starting pitchersChris Bassitt vs Steven Matz
WeatherGame-time forecast: 78°F, 22% precipitation chance, 13 mph wind from E.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Chris BassittOrioles · RHP
vs
Steven MatzRays · LHP
MetricOriolesRays
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings4⅔4⅔
ThrowsRL
LyDia pitcher score (higher is better)4553
ERA (lower is better)5.275.46
WHIP (lower is better)1.631.23
K/9 (higher is better)5.96.9
K-BB% (higher is better)5.7%10.6%
K% (higher is better)14.2%18.1%
BB% (lower is better)8.4%7.5%
BB/9 (lower is better)3.52.9
HR/9 (lower is better)1.01.7
Ground-ball rate50.8%43.5%
Fly-ball rate49.2%56.5%

Pitcher edge: LyDia gives Steven Matz a 8-point edge over Chris Bassitt, driven mainly by WHIP (1.23 vs 1.63) and K-BB% (10.6% vs 5.7%).

How to read this: the scorecards above name the starters; every number lives in this table. Highlighted cells mark a gap big enough to matter. K% and BB% are strikeout and walk rate as a share of batters faced -- K-BB% is the two combined into one skill number. HR/9 is home runs allowed per nine innings. Ground-ball and fly-ball rate are neither good nor bad on their own: high ground-ball pitchers trade strikeouts for double plays and fewer home runs, and on this data source the two rates are complementary (they add to 100%), not independent reads.

Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →

Chris Bassitt strikeouts
2.3 LyDia projected Ks
No K play · -0.2K difference is below LyDia's 0.7K threshold
Market 2.5K · O -179 / U +145 · 4 books
Steven Matz strikeouts
4.4 LyDia projected Ks
No strikeout line posted when this page was generated

Same data source as the Pitcher Matchup Tool, where every starter on the slate is compared side by side.

Orioles are 4-6 in their last 10 and averaging 3.5 runs per game over the last 15 days; Rays are 9-1 in their last 10, averaging 5.5 runs per game over the last 15 days, and swinging above their season form. On the season Rays carry the better run differential per game (+0.52 against -0.30).

MetricOriolesRays
Last 104-69-1
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)5-5 on the road6-4 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.7170.794
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.3170.345
Runs per game, last 15 days3.55.5
K% last 15 days (lower is better)26.7%15.9%

Last 15 days only. Hot and cold streaks for all 30 teams live on the Stats page.

30-day offense

Full offense tool →
Last 30 daysOriolesRays
OPS0.688 (-0.027 vs szn)0.754 (+0.015 vs szn)
Runs per game4.00 (-0.488 vs szn)4.77 (+0.194 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.307 (-0.010 vs szn)0.329
K% (lower is better)25.6% (+1.3% vs szn)18.6%

Over the last 30 days the Rays have been the better offense, 0.329 wOBA to 0.307. Orioles are striking out at 25.6% over the window — something the opposing starter can lean on.

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricOriolesRays
Record58-6374-46
Run differential / game (team quality)-0.30+0.52
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.494.58
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)4.794.06
Season OPS0.7150.739
K% season (lower is better)24.3%18.8%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7110.763

Season-long team quality, not recent form. Run differential and run environment come from the season standings; splits for all 30 teams live on the Stats page, including the run environment table.

Every team on today's slate, on any two axes you pick. Orioles and Rays are highlighted.

Orioles
Combined risk
6.7 Tired
Fatigue
5.9 Normal
Efficiency
3.5 Below average
Rays
Combined risk
5.2 Normal
Fatigue
5.7 Normal
Efficiency
6.0 Effective

Risk is what the model actually uses: fatigue blended with how well the pen has pitched. High fatigue with high efficiency is a tired pen that is still getting outs.

MetricOriolesRays
Fatigue5.9/10, Normal5.7/10, Normal
Efficiency3.5/10, Below average6.0/10, Effective
Combined risk6.7/10, Tired5.2/10, Normal
Relief innings, last 7 days20.021.0
Back-to-back arms46
7-day ERA6.303.43
7-day WHIP1.450.95

Fatigue measures workload. Efficiency measures recent run prevention. Combined risk is what the moneyline and totals systems use.

Run total projection

Full Totals Projections →
LyDia projection
9.2
Market total
8.0
Projected away runs
4.6
Projected home runs
3.9
Over price
-110
Under price
-102
Baltimore Orioles team total
4.6 projected
Line 3.5 · O -108 / U -110
Over research lean (+1.1)
Tampa Bay Rays team total
3.9 projected
Line 4.5 · O +105 / U -125
No team-total lean

The model projects 1.2 runs above the market total. A research lean still requires a setup rating of at least 7.0/10. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.

More games today

All matchups →

Every LyDia pick, graded in public

Free daily model card by email, or open today's full slate. Membership adds delivery before first pitch.

Today's picks Membership

Model outputs are not guarantees. LyDia provides analysis and education only. Every official pick remains visible on the Results page. 21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.