The Baltimore Orioles (40-34, +5.98 Units) have a really tough road ahead on Monday. They're playing a doubleheader on Sunday, and they'll be counting on a pitcher who doesn't exactly have a history of going deep into games the very next day against the Texas Rangers (38-38 SU, +12.80 Units).
PITCHING MATCHUP
Of all of the days to have to count on Bud Norris to start... This certainly isn't the ideal situation for Norris to be in. Fortunately, the Orioles didn't need to use their bullpen a ton on Sunday in the double dip against Cleveland, and it's a really good thing.
Norris hasn't gone further than six innings in five straight starts, and he has allowed at least four runs in three of those five. The righty is incredibly inefficient, averaging throwing over 17 pitches per inning thus far this year. Not surprisingly, his ERA is telling at 6.70.
Wandy Rodriguez was chased after allowing eight runs in his last start, but we know that he is still a solid option in the middle of the Texas rotation.
The big thing that Rodriguez is going to have going for him in this duel is the fact that he keeps the ball down. He's always been a ground ball pitcher, and this year is no exception. His ground ball rate is 53.1 percent, the best mark on the team, and that could really come in handy against men like Adam Jones and Chris Davis who are bona fide mashers trying to get the ball out of the park every time they're at the plate.
ADVANCED STATS
Even though Rodriguez isn't the greatest strikeout pitcher in the world, he could be in for a good one in this game. Baltimore is one of the six teams in the majors to have a strikeout rate of over 20 percent. That number increases to 24.2 percent against lefties, a shockingly high number.
The Baltimore offense also isn't going to generate all that many runs. Manny Machado has some wheels, as does Jones, but these men haven't been put into gear all that often. The Orioles have only stolen 23 bases all season long, proving that they play station-to-station ball.
That hasn't stopped the O's from posting one of the best slugging percentages in the game, though. Baltimore is always capable of blowing up live bettors no matter who the pitcher is, but that .426 slugging percentage will almost certainly be reduced by Rodriguez.
TALKING BULLPENS
The one thing that we aren't afraid of in this game is the blown save. Zach Britton and Shawn Tolleson have been excellent this year.
The knock on Britton last season was that, in spite of the fact that he had a great save percentage, he wasn't striking out enough men. This year, his K/9 is 10.19 alongside a BB/9 of just 1.93. Granted, Britton has been unlucky as well to go with his 22 saves this season. He has a BABIP of .321, a number which theoretically should be around the .250 mark by standard closer marks.
Tolleson meanwhile, is a perfect 10-for-10 since taking over the closer's role from the committee situation the Rangers were in prior to that.
It's a little bothersome that Tolleson hasn't struck out men at the same rate as a closer as he was as a setup man, and only having one strikeout in his last seven outings can be troubling. However, he also rarely allows strong contact and gets out of innings in a hurry.
Live bettors should be able to rest easily in the ninth inning with either closer on the mound.
The MLB lines for this Monday contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker's live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Need to fund your account before the big game but don't have your computer? No problem! BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don't miss out on getting paid because you couldn't bet. Click here, and deposit at BookMaker now! The ballgame pitting the Texas Rangers versus the Baltimore Orioles will commence Monday, June 29, 2015 at 7:05 p.m. ET at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, MD. You can watch the contest live on ESPN.
