Orioles at Rays 9/17/20 - Game 2- MLB Picks & Predictions

The Baltimore Orioles play the second game of a doubleheader on Thursday on the road against American League East rival the Tampa Bay Rays. Baltimore dropped to 21-27 following its 5-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. The Orioles have lost six of their last seven and are in fourth place in the AL East 10 games behind the first-place Rays.

Second baseman Hanser Alberto is batting .294 to lead Baltimore and has a team high 52 hits. First baseman Renato Nunez is leading in home runs with 11 and on-base percentage at .316, while right fielder Anthony Santander is leading in RBIs with 32. On Thursday, Baltimore will send Alex Cobb to the mound. The right-hander is 1-4 with an ERA of 5.03, 29 Ks and 13 BBs. 

Tampa Bay improved to 31-17 following its 6-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. Tampa Bay has won three of its last four and is in first place in the AL East by four games over the second-place New York Yankees and leads by 4 ½ games over the third-place Toronto Blue Jays. Ryan Yarbrough snapped his winless streak of 16 straight games with a victory against the Nationals on Tuesday.

Shortstop Willy Adames is batting .274 to lead Tampa Bay and has team highs in hits with 40 and on-base percentage at .358. Second baseman Brandon Lowe is leading in home runs with 12 and RBIs with 30. Tampa Bay has not yet announced its starting pitcher for Thursday's second game of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles.