Orioles vs Dodgers Odds: Matchup with Flaherty's Debut

It’s a potential World Series preview and two of the best lineups in the majors facing off in a series opener on Tuesday night as the Baltimore Orioles visit the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are solid favorites on the MLB odds behind trade acquisition Jack Flaherty.

Baltimore at LA Dodgers: 2024 MLB Expert Analysis

Opening MLB Lines Subject to Change: Dodgers -214, Orioles +157 (total 9)
Expert Prediction: Dodgers 5, Orioles 3

Baltimore Orioles +157

The Orioles have not played that well since the All-Star break and now find themselves trailing the Yankees in the AL East, although it’s still very close. Baltimore hasn’t won three consecutive games since July 14-20, sandwiched around the All-Star break. On the flip side, the team hasn’t lost three in a row since July 21-24.

The Birds enter off a 6-3 loss at home to Houston on Sunday to split that four-game series and potential AL playoff preview. It was the fourth time in the past eight games the O’s were held to three or fewer hits.

“I think we’ve been struggling to put good at-bats together as a team,” said Ramon Urías, who is hitting .298 (14-for-47) with 13 RBIs over his past 16 games amid the offense’s overall scuffles.

Team Injuries

Regulars Cedric Mullins and Ryan Mountcastle were out of the lineup with minor injuries. Mountcastle Thursday night’s game with a sore wrist, and Mullins left Friday night’s game with a strained left quadriceps. On Sunday, the Orioles added Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Daniel Johnson to their taxi squad while Mullins continued to be evaluated.

Team Homers

Baltimore has eight players with at least 10 home runs, tied with the Astros for the most in MLB:

Anthony Santander (38)
Gunnar Henderson (33)
Colton Cowser (19)
Adley Rutschman and Jordan Westburg (18)
Mountcastle and Mullins (13)

Cole Irvin on the Hill

It’s lefty (6-5, 4.82 ERA) on the mound Tuesday. The Orioles called Irvin up from Triple-A Norfolk last Wednesday to make his first start with the big club since June 30. Irvin was charged with two runs over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Mets. The 30-year-old gave up five hits, including a third-inning solo shot to Mark Vientos and managed to work into the fifth inning to spare Baltimore’s bullpen. He struck out two and also issued a pair of walks.

Injuries have hit the Baltimore rotation hard recently, which has resulted in Irvin getting his third trial in a starting role despite the fact that he has produced an 8.80 ERA in 30.2 innings over his last nine outings in the majors. He’ll be at risk of moving to the bullpen — if not being removed from the 40-man roster — as soon as Zach Eflin (shoulder) and/or Grayson Rodriguez (lat) return from the injured list.

Irvin has made two career starts vs. the Dodgers and doesn’t have a decision with a 4.70 ERA in 7.2 innings.

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Los Angeles Dodgers -214

The Dodgers should win the NL West yet again even with Arizona and San Diego within striking distance. LA won for the sixth time in seven games Sunday, 3-1 over Tampa Bay. After Ohtani was hit on the left forearm by a sinker from Richard Lovelady in the bottom of the eighth and the score tied 1-1, Mookie Betts drove the first pitch he saw from the left-hander over the wall in left-center to put the Dodgers back on top.

Mookie Betts

It was Betts’ 13th homer of the season and his third since returning to the lineup after missing nearly two months due to a broken left hand.

Jack Flaherty on the Hill

It’s righty (10-5, 3.00 ERA, who pitched for the Orioles for a bit last year, on the mound for Los Angeles.

Jack Flaherty discussed his altercation with Randy Arozarena.https://t.co/O8rstGu41S
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 23, 2024

Flaherty then kept the Mariners off the board over the next three frames before allowing the first two men to reach in the sixth. Flaherty fell one out shy of his second quality start as a member of the Dodgers, but he did improve his streak of pitching at least five innings to 22 starts. He’s gone 3-0 in four starts since being acquired by his new club, posting a 3.22 ERA over that stretch.

This will be Flaherty’s first career start vs. Baltimore. He was 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA in nine starts last year for the Orioles and then signed with Detroit in free agency this past winter. The Tigers shipped him to the Dodgers at last month’s trade deadline.