MLB matchup analysis

Yankees vs Orioles Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards · 6:35 PM ET

Pass

LyDia decision: Pass on Yankees vs Orioles

Lab Rating
2.6/10
Model lean
Yankees 56.5%
Market probability
51.5%
Model edge
+5.0%
Best moneyline
-108
Sportsbooks checked
9
LyDia model
56.5%
Market
51.5%

The case for New York Yankees

Late-inning bullpen advantage
Baltimore Orioles relievers have a 3.57 ERA over the last 7 days; New York Yankees relievers have a 1.83. If this is still close after six innings, that gap favors New York Yankees.

The case for Baltimore Orioles

Their bats are hot: +0.027 wOBA
Baltimore Orioles is outhitting its own season form over the last 15 days.

Why it is not official

Below the 61.0% official gate
Win probability is 56.5%. LyDia does not make a game official below 61.0%, no matter how good the price is. This is a value spot, not a high-confidence winner.
Setup quality below the bar
Lab Rating is 2.6/10, under the 8.0/10 required for an official pick.
Opponent is swinging it
The other lineup is +0.027 wOBA above its season form over the last 15 days.

Why the setup score is what it is

Conviction: 6.31/20
LyDia leans toward New York Yankees, but not strongly enough to earn full conviction credit.
Pitching plan: 0/20
No meaningful starting-pitcher edge favors New York Yankees in this matchup.
Offense: 4.53/40
New York Yankees's recent form does not clearly outpace Baltimore Orioles's.
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

MatchupNew York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles
DateTuesday, August 18, 2026
First pitch6:35 PM ET
VenueOriole Park at Camden Yards
Starting pitchersCarlos Rodón vs Shane Baz
WeatherGame-time forecast: 86°F, 1% precipitation chance, 2 mph wind from NW.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Carlos RodónYankees · LHP
vs
Shane BazOrioles · RHP
MetricYankeesOrioles
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings55⅔
ThrowsLR
LyDia pitcher score (higher is better)6664
ERA (lower is better)3.304.00
WHIP (lower is better)1.251.36
K/9 (higher is better)10.17.9
K-BB% (higher is better)13.4%12.5%
K% (higher is better)26.8%20.4%
BB% (lower is better)13.4%7.9%
BB/9 (lower is better)5.13.0
HR/9 (lower is better)0.60.6
Ground-ball rate43.4%44.5%
Fly-ball rate56.6%55.5%

Pitcher edge: LyDia gives Carlos Rodón a 2-point edge over Shane Baz, driven mainly by K/9 (10.1 vs 7.9) and ERA (3.30 vs 4.00).

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 →

Carlos Rodón strikeouts
7.8 LyDia projected Ks
No strikeout line posted when this page was generated
Shane Baz strikeouts
6.4 LyDia projected Ks
Qualifying projection: OVER 5.5K · +0.9K difference
Market 5.5K · O -148 / U +122 · 6 books

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

Both sides arrive in similar form. Yankees are 5-5 in their last 10, averaging 3.3 runs per game over the last 15 days, and hitting below their season form; Orioles are 5-5 in their last 10, averaging 4.8 runs per game over the last 15 days, and swinging above their season form. On the season Yankees carry the better run differential per game (+0.69 against -0.22).

MetricYankeesOrioles
Last 105-55-5
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)5-5 on the road5-5 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.6740.793
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.2970.346
Runs per game, last 15 days3.34.8
K% last 15 days (lower is better)26.4%24.1%

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 daysYankeesOrioles
OPS0.628 (-0.088 vs szn)0.732 (+0.012 vs szn)
Runs per game3.26 (-1.184 vs szn)4.42 (-0.129 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.279 (-0.036 vs szn)0.323
K% (lower is better)26.6% (+2.0% vs szn)24.4%

Over the last 30 days the Orioles have been the better offense, 0.323 wOBA to 0.279. Yankees are striking out at 26.6% over the window — something the opposing starter can lean on.

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricYankeesOrioles
Record69-5561-64
Run differential / game (team quality)+0.69-0.22
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.444.55
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)3.764.77
Season OPS0.7160.720
K% season (lower is better)24.6%24.3%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7130.722

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. Yankees and Orioles are highlighted.

Yankees
Combined risk
5.1 Normal
Fatigue
6.0 Normal
Efficiency
6.8 Effective
Orioles
Combined risk
7.4 Tired
Fatigue
7.6 Tired
Efficiency
5.5 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.

MetricYankeesOrioles
Fatigue6.0/10, Normal7.6/10, Tired
Efficiency6.8/10, Effective5.5/10, Effective
Combined risk5.1/10, Normal7.4/10, Tired
Relief innings, last 7 days19.722.7
Back-to-back arms66
7-day ERA1.833.57
7-day WHIP1.071.24

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
5.9
Market total
8.5
Projected away runs
1.3
Projected home runs
4.2
Over price
-105
Under price
-102
New York Yankees team total
1.3 projected
Line 4.5 · O +112 / U -125
Under research lean (-3.2)
Baltimore Orioles team total
4.2 projected
Line 3.5 · O -143 / U +117
Over research lean (+0.7)

The model projects 2.6 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.

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.