Baltimore Orioles at Cleveland Guardians odds, picks and predictions

The Baltimore Orioles(95-57) and Cleveland Guardians (72-81) start a 4-game series Thursday with 1st pitch from Progressive Field at 7:15 p.m. ET (FOX). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Orioles vs. Guardians odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Guardians lead 2-1

The Orioles had their 4-game win streak snapped on Wednesday in 2-1 loss to the Houston Astros. They look to make it 6 straight road series victories when they travel to Cleveland this weekend. Baltimore currently sits 2 1/2 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East.

Cleveland returns home after being swept by the Royals in Kansas City. They allowed at least 6 runs in each of those games. The Guardians begin a 7-game homestand where they are 39-36 on the season.

Orioles at Guardians projected starters

RHP Grayson Rodriguez vs. TBD

Rodriguez (6-4, 4.53 ERA) makes his 22nd start. The rookie has a 1.34 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 9.5 K/9 in 111 1/3 innings.

• Last start: Win, 8 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 7 K in 8-0 home victory against the Tampa Bay Rays
• 2023 road stats: 3-2, 4.13 ERA (52 1/3 IP, 24 ER), .240 OBA over 10 starts
• Never faced the Guardians as a starter

When the article was published, the Guardians had not named a starter

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Orioles at Guardians odds

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 10:55 a.m. ET.

Orioles at Guardians picks and predictions

Prediction

Orioles 7, Guardians 3

PASS.

The Orioles will likely win this game, but I’m not putting up nearly 2 units to win back 1. It’s never a good bet.

BET ORIOLES -1.5 (-110).

The -110 is not crazy appealing, but I don’t mind taking it in this one.

I believe Rodriguez has figured it out at the big league level. He has the tools to be a dominant starter, but struggled to get a handle on things in the majors. He manhandled the Rays in his last start over 8 innings and they are a much better team than the Guardians.

PASS.

We do not know the starter for the Guardians in this one and that is why I’m going to just avoid this bet completely. I really want to know the starters if I’m even going to look at the total.