The Baltimore Orioles are set to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday evening, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. PT at the iconic Dodger Stadium. This matchup has the potential to be a preview of the World Series, bringing excitement to baseball fans across the nation.
As of now, the Dodgers are favored at -190 on the moneyline, while the game’s total is projected at 8.5 runs.
Baltimore (76-56 SU, 73-59 RL, and 71-51-10 O/U) will send left-hander Cole Irvin to the mound. Irvin, 30, has a record of 6-5 with a 4.82 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP over 22 appearances this season, including 15 starts.
On the other side, Los Angeles (78-53 SU, 65-66 RL, and 68-60-3 O/U) will rely on right-hander Jack Flaherty. The 28-year-old boasts a record of 10-5, featuring a 3.00 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP across 22 combined starts with both Detroit and LA.
Current Injury Status
For the Orioles, 1B Ryan Mountcastle (wrist) and 3B Jordan Westburg (hand) are sidelined, while CF Cedric Mullins (quad) is listed as day-to-day.
The Dodgers are missing C Austin Barnes (toe) from their lineup.
Baltimore’s Road Performance
Baltimore recently split a four-game series at home against Houston, dropping the final game 6-3. They currently sit 1.5 games behind the Yankees in the AL East standings. With the season nearing its end, fans are eager to see if the Orioles can reclaim the division lead.
The Orioles are driven by key players such as SS Gunnar Henderson (.914 OPS and 7.6 WAR), C Adley Rutschman (.746 OPS and 2.9 WAR), and RF Anthony Santander (.821 OPS and 2.6 WAR). They rank 11th in on-base percentage (.316) and 5th in on-base plus slugging (.761), having hit 199 home runs, which places them second in the league. The pitching staff has an average ERA of 3.96, ranking 14th overall, with a WHIP of 1.23, placing them 11th.
Irvin will take the mound for the Orioles in this matchup. In his most recent outing, he allowed two runs on five hits over 4.1 innings against the Mets. On the road, he holds a 3-1 record with a 4.83 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP across 41 innings. At night, he has a 3-3 record with a 5.60 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP over 45 innings. Earlier this year, Irvin faced the Dodgers once, giving up two runs, four hits, and three walks in four innings.
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Dodgers’ Strength in Interleague Play
The Dodgers have been on a roll, winning six of their last seven games, including series victories over St. Louis, Seattle, and Tampa Bay. Since the All-Star break, they have posted a 22-12 record and have been nearly unbeatable at home, winning 43 out of 66 games at Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles is led by standout players such as DH Shohei Ohtani (.994 OPS and 6.6 WAR), SS Mookie Betts (.887 OPS and 4.2 WAR), and 1B Freddie Freeman (.856 OPS and 3.9 WAR). They rank 4th in on-base percentage (.330), 3rd in OPS (.765), and 3rd in home runs (179). The pitching staff is strong as well, with a 3.74 ERA (6th) and a WHIP of 1.21 (5th) this season.
Flaherty will be the starting pitcher for Los Angeles on Tuesday night. In his last outing, he allowed two runs (one earned) and five hits in a 5.2-inning win against the Mariners. Since joining the Dodgers, he is 3-0 with a 3.22 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP over four starts (22.1 IP). Interestingly, Flaherty has never faced the Orioles in his MLB career, adding a layer of intrigue to this matchup.
Key Betting Insights for Orioles vs. Dodgers
For this interleague showdown, betting on the Dodgers to win and cover the 1.5-run line at plus odds appears to be a solid choice.
While much attention has been focused on the rising performances of teams like Arizona and San Diego, the Dodgers have managed to maintain their edge with a commendable 22-12 record in the second half, including a 15-7 mark in August. This month, they are averaging 5.1 runs per game and have consistently excelled at home, averaging 5.0 runs per game. They have shown particular prowess against left-handed pitchers, holding a .262 batting average, .336 on-base percentage, .437 slugging percentage, and .773 OPS. Irvin, with a 5.74 xERA and .523 xSLG, may face challenges in this matchup. Furthermore, the Orioles’ bullpen has struggled in the second half of the season, adding to their woes.
On the flip side, the Orioles have struggled since the All-Star break, managing only 18 wins against 18 losses. This month, they are hitting .235/.300/.397/.697 and have been limited to three or fewer runs in four of their last five games. Flaherty has been effective all season, boasting a 3.22 xERA, and is expected to have the edge over Irvin on Tuesday, which could provide Los Angeles the advantage they need to cover the run line.
