MLB matchup analysis

Rays vs Orioles Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Saturday, August 22, 2026 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards · 7:05 PM ET

Pass

LyDia decision: Pass on Rays vs Orioles

Lab Rating
5.8/10
Model lean
Rays 67.0%
Market probability
54.1%
Model edge
+12.9%
Best moneyline
-122
Sportsbooks checked
9
LyDia model
67.0%
Market
54.1%

The case for Tampa Bay Rays

Starting pitcher edge: 8 points
LyDia gives Shane McClanahan a 8-point edge over Brandon Young, driven mainly by WHIP (1.12 vs 1.35) and HR/9 (0.70 vs 1.15).
Bats are hot: +0.011 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: +0.015 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 5.8/10, under the 8.0/10 required for an official pick.
Own bullpen carries risk: 6.1/10
The Tampa Bay Rays bullpen comes in normal. A lead after six innings is less safe than usual.
Opponent is swinging it
The other lineup is +0.015 wOBA above its season form over the last 15 days.

Why the setup score is what it is

Conviction: 20/20
LyDia's win probability for Tampa Bay Rays (67.0%) is well clear of a coin flip -- this is a real, stated lean, not a guess.
Pitching plan: 8/20
Shane McClanahan rates 8 points better than Brandon Young on LyDia's pitcher score. A real edge, but well short of the gap that earns full credit here.
Bullpen: 7.78/20
Both bullpens are rated normal -- this is close to a wash, not an advantage either way.
Offense: 21.83/40
Tampa Bay Rays's recent offensive form clearly outpaces Baltimore Orioles's over the tracked windows.

Why the price is what it is

Team strength: 52.2%
Before any pitcher or bullpen adjustment, LyDia's team-strength model alone makes Tampa Bay Rays 52.2% to win. Everything below moves the price from this starting point.
Pitcher score gap: 8 points
The pitcher-score gap favors Tampa Bay Rays by 8 points. This is the biggest single mover of the price -- a large gap moves it a lot, a small gap barely moves it.
Bullpen adjustment: -0.03
The bullpen-fatigue gap between the two pens nudges the price toward Baltimore Orioles. This moves the price less than the starting pitchers do, since a starter covers more of the game than the bullpen.
Net effect: 52.2% -> 67.0%
Team strength alone had Tampa Bay Rays at 52.2%. After the pitcher and bullpen terms, the price is 67.0% -- the same number shown as Model Lean above.
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

MatchupTampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles
DateSaturday, August 22, 2026
First pitch7:05 PM ET
VenueOriole Park at Camden Yards
Starting pitchersShane McClanahan vs Brandon Young
WeatherGame-time forecast: 75°F, 15% precipitation chance, 10 mph wind from E.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Shane McClanahanRays · LHP
vs
Brandon YoungOrioles · RHP
MetricRaysOrioles
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings55⅔
ThrowsLR
LyDia pitcher score (higher is better)7365
ERA (lower is better)3.253.52
WHIP (lower is better)1.121.35
K/9 (higher is better)8.37.3
K-BB% (higher is better)13.9%10.7%
K% (higher is better)22.2%18.9%
BB% (lower is better)8.3%8.3%
BB/9 (lower is better)3.13.2
HR/9 (lower is better)0.71.1
Ground-ball rate48.8%47.6%
Fly-ball rate51.2%52.4%

Pitcher edge: LyDia gives Shane McClanahan a 8-point edge over Brandon Young, driven mainly by WHIP (1.12 vs 1.35) and HR/9 (0.70 vs 1.15).

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 →

Shane McClanahan strikeouts
5.0 LyDia projected Ks
No K play · +0.5K difference is below LyDia's 0.7K threshold
Market 4.5K · O +103 / U -125 · 5 books
Brandon Young strikeouts
3.3 LyDia projected Ks
No K play · -0.2K difference is below LyDia's 0.7K threshold
Market 3.5K · O -125 / U +110 · 5 books

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

Rays are 4-6 in their last 10, averaging 5.1 runs per game over the last 15 days, and swinging above their season form; Orioles are 5-5 in their last 10, averaging 4.5 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 (+0.34 against -0.26).

MetricRaysOrioles
Last 104-65-5
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)9-1 on the road4-6 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.7650.763
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.3350.332
Runs per game, last 15 days5.14.5
K% last 15 days (lower is better)16.4%24.3%

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 daysRaysOrioles
OPS0.726 (-0.010 vs szn)0.703 (-0.013 vs szn)
Runs per game4.59 (+0.046 vs szn)4.12 (-0.373 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.317 (-0.007 vs szn)0.309 (-0.008 vs szn)
K% (lower is better)18.3% (-0.5% vs szn)25.0% (+0.6% vs szn)

Over the last 30 days the Rays have been the better offense, 0.317 wOBA to 0.309. Orioles are striking out at 25.0% over the window — something the opposing starter can lean on.

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricRaysOrioles
Record76-5262-67
Run differential / game (team quality)+0.34-0.26
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.554.49
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)4.214.75
Season OPS0.7360.716
K% season (lower is better)18.8%24.4%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7590.713

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. Rays and Orioles are highlighted.

Rays
Combined risk
6.1 Normal
Fatigue
5.3 Normal
Efficiency
3.5 Below average
Orioles
Combined risk
5.1 Normal
Fatigue
5.7 Normal
Efficiency
6.2 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.

MetricRaysOrioles
Fatigue5.3/10, Normal5.7/10, Normal
Efficiency3.5/10, Below average6.2/10, Effective
Combined risk6.1/10, Normal5.1/10, Normal
Relief innings, last 7 days28.322.3
Back-to-back arms66
7-day ERA5.722.82
7-day WHIP1.691.03

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
7.2
Market total
8.0
Projected away runs
2.7
Projected home runs
4.5
Over price
-105
Under price
-109
Tampa Bay Rays team total
2.7 projected
Line 4.5 · O +116 / U -135
Under research lean (-1.8)
Baltimore Orioles team total
4.5 projected
Line 3.5 · O -113 / U -110
Over research lean (+1.0)

The model projects 0.8 runs below 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.

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