Rays vs. Orioles Monday MLB probable pitchers, odds: Baltimore only team unbeaten in series openers this season

The Baltimore Orioles are the only team in Major League Baseball yet to lose a series opener so far this year and could set a team record for consecutive wins in Game 1 of a series tonight at Camden Yards against Tampa Bay. The Rays, though, have the best record in the majors and start ace lefty Shane McClanahan as -178 favorites at Caesars Sportsbook.

Baltimore's 11-game winning streak in series openers to start a year is tied for the third-longest such streak by any MLB team with the 1883 and 1890 Philadelphia Athletics, 1959 Cleveland Indians, and 1973 San Francisco Giants. The 1919 New York Giants' 12-game run is second, and the 1907 Chicago Cubs won their first 19 series openers. The 11-game run is tied for the longest streak at any point in a season in O's history, accomplished three times prior: Aug. 30-Sept. 30 in 1974; May 23-June 20 in 1978; and May 16-June 18 in 1980.

Tampa Bay was the last team to lose a game this season, starting 13-0, but has dropped two series openers: April 14 in Toronto and April 17 in Cincinnati. The Rays are fresh off what might end up being their most unlikely win of the season. They were down 6-0 in the sixth inning Sunday and facing Yankees ace and Cy Young favorite Gerrit Cole, but rallied for an 8-7 victory in 10 innings.

The Baltimore-born McClanahan is 6-0 (most wins in MLB) with a 2.03 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 51 strikeouts 40.0 innings pitched. The Rays have won each of McClanahan's seven starts, and he has allowed two runs or fewer while lasting at least five innings in all seven outings. He's a +700 third favorite at DraftKings to win the AL Cy Young. McClanahan was 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in three starts last year vs. the Orioles.

They counter with Kyle Gibson (4-1, 4.61), who is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA at home compared to 2-1 with a 6.04 ERA on the road. He is 6-5 with a 4.35 ERA in 70.1 career innings vs. the Rays, last facing them on June 4, 2021, while with the Rangers.

This is the first meeting of the season between the Rays and Orioles.

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