MLB matchup analysis

Orioles vs Rays Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Monday, August 17, 2026 at Tropicana Field · 6:05 PM ET

Pass

LyDia decision: Pass on Orioles vs Rays

Lab Rating
6.2/10
Model lean
Rays 65.0%
Market probability
59.2%
Model edge
+5.9%
Best moneyline
-155
Sportsbooks checked
9
LyDia model
65.0%
Market
59.2%

The case for Tampa Bay Rays

Bats are hot: +0.025 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

Their bats are hot: +0.016 wOBA
Baltimore Orioles is outhitting its own season form over the last 15 days.

Why it is not official

Setup quality below the bar
Lab Rating is 6.2/10, under the 8.0/10 required for an official pick.
Own bullpen carries risk: 8.6/10
The Tampa Bay Rays bullpen comes in high risk. A lead after six innings is less safe than usual.
Opponent is swinging it
The other lineup is +0.016 wOBA above its season form over the last 15 days.

Why the setup score is what it is

Pitching plan: 5/20
Shane McClanahan rates 5 points better than Brandon Young on LyDia's pitcher score — a real edge, but well short of the gap that earns full credit here.
The verdict LyDia passes. The combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.
Read the full model output

The combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.

Game information

MatchupBaltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays
DateMonday, August 17, 2026
First pitch6:05 PM ET
VenueTropicana Field
Starting pitchersBrandon Young vs Shane McClanahan
WeatherGame-time forecast: 90°F, 5% precipitation chance, 10 mph wind from W.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Brandon YoungOrioles · RHP
vs
Shane McClanahanRays · LHP
MetricOriolesRays
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings5⅔5
ThrowsRL
LyDia pitcher score (higher is better)6974
ERA (lower is better)3.333.09
WHIP (lower is better)1.321.12
K/9 (higher is better)7.48.3
K-BB% (higher is better)10.7%13.7%
K% (higher is better)19.1%22.2%
BB% (lower is better)8.4%8.6%
BB/9 (lower is better)3.23.2
HR/9 (lower is better)1.00.6
Ground-ball rate47.5%49.0%
Fly-ball rate52.5%51.0%

Pitcher edge: LyDia gives Shane McClanahan a 5-point edge over Brandon Young, driven mainly by WHIP (1.12 vs 1.32) and HR/9 (0.64 vs 0.95).

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 →

Brandon Young strikeouts
3.8 LyDia projected Ks
No K play · +0.3K difference is below LyDia's 0.7K threshold
Market 3.5K · O -124 / U -103 · 1 book
Shane McClanahan strikeouts
5.8 LyDia projected Ks
No K play · +0.3K difference is below LyDia's 0.7K threshold
Market 5.5K · O +117 / U -150 · 1 book

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

Orioles are 5-5 in their last 10, averaging 4.3 runs per game over the last 15 days, and swinging above their season form; Rays are 7-3 in their last 10, averaging 5.8 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 (+0.42 against -0.21).

MetricOriolesRays
Last 105-57-3
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)6-4 on the road4-6 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.7630.804
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.3340.351
Runs per game, last 15 days4.35.8
K% last 15 days (lower is better)24.7%14.9%

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
OPS0.709 (-0.009 vs szn)0.765 (+0.027 vs szn)
Runs per game4.35 (-0.194 vs szn)4.85 (+0.307 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.3140.334 (+0.009 vs szn)
K% (lower is better)24.9% (+0.6% vs szn)18.4%

Over the last 30 days the Rays have been the better offense, 0.334 wOBA to 0.314. They are running hot against their own season line (+0.009 wOBA). Orioles are striking out at 24.9% over the window — something the opposing starter can lean on.

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricOriolesRays
Record61-6374-49
Run differential / game (team quality)-0.21+0.42
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.544.54
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)4.754.12
Season OPS0.7180.738
K% season (lower is better)24.3%18.8%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7200.761

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
8.8 High risk
Fatigue
8.3 High risk
Efficiency
4.1 Below average
Rays
Combined risk
8.6 High risk
Fatigue
7.5 Tired
Efficiency
2.8 Struggling

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
Fatigue8.3/10, High risk7.5/10, Tired
Efficiency4.1/10, Below average2.8/10, Struggling
Combined risk8.8/10, High risk8.6/10, High risk
Relief innings, last 7 days22.724.3
Back-to-back arms66
7-day ERA5.167.03
7-day WHIP1.501.60

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
8.7
Market total
8.0
Projected away runs
5.3
Projected home runs
3.1
Over price
+103
Under price
-118
Baltimore Orioles team total
5.3 projected
Line 3.5 · O -104 / U -122
Over research lean (+1.8)
Tampa Bay Rays team total
3.1 projected
Line 4.5 · O +122 / U -156
Under research lean (-1.4)

The model and market are close. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.

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