BALTIMORE vs CINCINNATI
When: 1/3/2021 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: 13.5
PREDICTION: CINCINNATI , BALTIMORE

Oddsmakers currently have the CINCINNATI listed as 13.5 point favorites versus the BALTIMORE, while the game’s total is sitting at 44.

The Baltimore Ravens will look to punch their ticket for a third straight trip to the playoffs with a win Sunday over host Cincinnati, which has won two straight games.

The Ravens (10-5) clinch a spot in the AFC playoffs by beating the Bengals (4-10-1), or if the Cleveland Browns (10-5) lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3), or via a loss by the Indianapolis Colts (10-5) to the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-14).

The Ravens could also get in with a tie, if the Dolphins (10-5) lose to the Buffalo Bills (11-3) or if the Tennessee Titans (10-5) lose to the Houston Texans (4-11). If the Ravens and the Colts or Browns also tie, the Ravens would advance.

“You try not to look too far elsewhere, but we control our own fate, and that’s a great feeling,” Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said. “We’re just trying to get better and win this game, and the cards will fall how they fall.”

The Bengals are seeking to end the season on a three-game winning streak by defeating the Ravens for the first time in five meetings dating back to a 34-23 win in Cincinnati on Sept. 13, 2018.

The Ravens, who are coming off a victory over the New York Giants on Sunday, have won four straight games to control their postseason destiny.

“Obviously, we still have another one that we have to win,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “So, we’re still in the process of trying to finish this thing out the right way and get into the playoffs.”

Lamar Jackson has fueled the Ravens’ surge, throwing for 2,644 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has also rushed for a team-high 908 yards and seven touchdowns, leading a rushing attack that also features Gus Edwards (663 yards, six TDs) and rookie J.K. Dobbins (645 yards, seven TDs).

The Ravens are the only team in the NFL history — based on data since 1932 — with three players who have rushed for at least 600 yards and six touchdowns in a season.

The Bengals have played their two best games of the season in consecutive weeks, following a 27-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15 with a 37-31 win at Houston on Sunday.

Quarterback Brandon Allen threw for a career-high 371 yards, two touchdowns and a 126.5 passer rating against the Texans.

Tee Higgins, who is questionable for Sunday’s game (hamstring), had six catches for 99 yards and a score and Samaje Perine added 13 carries for 95 yards and two touchdowns as Cincinnati posted 540 yards of total offense. Perine will start against the Ravens after head coach Zac Taylor said Joe Mixon, the team’s leading rusher with 428 yards, remains sidelined with a foot injury suffered in Week 6.

Allen was forced into action after Joe Burrow, the top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, tore his left ACL and MCL and also suffered partial tears to his PCL and meniscus during a 20-9 loss to Washington on Nov. 22.

“Winning two games in a row is really insignificant in this NFL, but it is significant for us right now, just everybody seeing what we’ve been through,” Taylor told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “It means a lot to these guys and something to build off of.”

The Ravens had nine players sit out practice Wednesday including receiver Willie Snead (ankle), defensive backs Jimmy Smith (ribs, shoulder), Marcus Peters (calf) and Marlon Humphrey (shoulder), running back Mark Ingram (illness) and defensive end Calais Campbell (calf). Punter Sam Koch was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and his availability for Sunday’s game is unclear.

Cincinnati linebackers Logan Wilson (ankle) and Jordan Evans (hamstring), receiver Tyler Boyd (concussion) and center B.J. Finney (abdomen) all missed practice Wednesday after not playing against the Texans last week.

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NY GIANTS vs BALTIMORE
When: 12/27/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -10.5
PREDICTION: BALTIMORE , NY GIANTS

Oddsmakers currently have the BALTIMORE listed as -10.5 point favorites versus the NY GIANTS, while the game’s total is sitting at 43.5.

The Baltimore Ravens look to continue their late-season charge toward a playoff spot when they host the New York Giants on Sunday.

The Ravens (9-5) are taking aim at a fourth straight victory as they navigate what is essentially a four-team derby to claim the three AFC wild-berths.

Baltimore sits outside the playoff race and will need some help over the final two weeks to land a spot. The Miami Dolphins are also 9-5 but hold the tiebreaker edge over Baltimore for the final spot.

“Being honest, we’re just going to let it take care of itself,” Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said. “We’re not focused on the outside, or other teams and stuff like that. We’re focused on ourselves because we can’t peak too early and we can’t peak too soon at anything right now.

“We’ve just got to focus on the Giants because that’s a good team that we’re going to face on Sunday. It’s about finishing for us right now.”

Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., who was named a Pro Bowler for the second time earlier this week, doesn’t want to hear anything about scenarios or how oddsmakers rate Baltimore’s chances.

“My focus is on the Giants and going out there and playing the best game of my career,” Brown said. “We understand the playoffs are there, and getting there is important. But it’s important that we win the next game.”

No disputes there as a loss to the Giants (5-9) would leave the Ravens in a dire situation heading into the final week.

New York is one game behind the Washington Football Team in the NFC East but has scored just 13 total points while losing its last two games.

Colt McCoy filled in at quarterback in the 20-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 15, but the Giants are hopeful starter Daniel Jones will return Sunday.

Jones is dealing with hamstring and ankle injuries and was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice. Coach Joe Judge said he would like to see how Jones progresses before making a decision.

“Look, in a perfect world, I’d love to have an answer as soon as possible,” Judge said. “I’m not going to go ahead and set a time mark on this. But we’ll come out of Friday, Friday after practice, with some kind of an answer.”

Jones said he is itching to play after sitting out two of the past three weeks. He sees time running out on the season and feels the urgency.

“I’m doing everything I can to get back out there,” Jones said. “Every week you want to play. I did all I could last week, and that’s certainly my approach this week. I’m working as hard as I can. I really do want to be out there with the guys and go after a win on Sunday.”

Tight end Evan Engram (calf) also was limited on Wednesday. Engram, who has a team-leading 54 receptions, was named a Pro Bowler for the first time earlier this week.

Standout linebacker Blake Martinez (128 tackles) leads the New York defense, and the big question on his mind is how to stop Jackson, who has passed for 2,461 yards and 21 touchdowns while also rushing for 828 yards and seven scores.

“Oh yeah, he’s one of those special guys, and I think everyone knows it,” Martinez said. “It’s one of those things you obviously as a competitor, for me, you want to go against guys like that. But it just adds the extra heightened awareness to make sure that you’re extremely perfect in all fundamental aspects of your game going into that.”

Baltimore’s defensive stars include cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who leads the NFL with eight forced fumbles and was named a Pro Bowler for the second time.

Defensive end Calais Campbell (calf) and cornerback Marcus Peters (calf) are among the nine Ravens who missed practice on Wednesday.

No matter who is cleared to play, Baltimore’s focus will remain on itself as it looks to notch a pivotal victory.

“The focus really for us is going to be on taking care of our business,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “It doesn’t matter what anybody else does if we don’t take care of our job. Our job is to win. We’ve got to find a way to win this week. We can control how we play.”

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CLEVELAND vs BALTIMORE
When: 9/13/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -9
PREDICTION: BALTIMORE , CLEVELAND

Oddsmakers currently have the BALTIMORE listed as -9 point favorites versus the CLEVELAND, while the game’s total is sitting at 48.

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ARIZONA vs BALTIMORE
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 15, 2019
Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Ravens -13.
O/U: 44.5.
PREDICTION: Ravens 35, Cardinals 24

Oddsmakers currently have the BALTIMORE listed as -13 point favorites versus the ARIZONA, while the game’s total is sitting at 44.5.

The Baltimore Ravens’ new offense with Lamar Jackson firmly installed under center looked like the best unit in the league while dominating the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. Jackson and company will try to prove that was no fluke when they host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

The thought prior to the start of the regular season was that Jackson might be a candidate to break Michael Vick’s record for rushing yards in a season by a quarterback but instead he went 17-for-20 for 324 yards and five touchdowns through the air in a 59-10 thrashing of the Dolphins. “He’s definitely better,” Baltimore coach John Harbaugh told reporters of Jackson after watching his quarterback become the youngest players in NFL history (22) to record a perfect passer rating of 158.3. “He was a rookie last year. He didn’t practice much throughout the course of the year. So, he’s had a chance to be with the No. 1 offense on a daily basis and he did a great job with it.” The Cardinals have their own former Heisman Trophy winner under center in No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray, who led his team back from a 17-0 deficit in his NFL debut before settling for a tie against the Detroit Lions. “That would’ve been terrible if we had not done anything at all (on offense),” Murray told reporters. “That would’ve left a bad taste in our mouth. The fact we can kind of feel decent with what happened. … It’s something to build on going forward.”

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (0-0-1): Arizona is young at quarterback and coach with first-year head coach Kliff Kingsbury learning the NFL after a long stint in the college ranks but there is plenty of veteran help around with Larry Fitzgerald on offense and Terrel Suggs on defense. Suggs spent the first 16 seasons of his career in Baltimore before leaving in the offseason and recorded a pair of sacks in the opener to push his career total to 135 1/2. “I have no clue what’s going to happen on Sunday,” Suggs told reporters. “I don’t know what kind of reception; I don’t know how I’m going to feel. This is a very unique situation for me. This is something that in 17 years I’ve never experienced.”

ABOUT THE RAVENS (1-0): Arizona won’t be the only team with a rookie first-round pick from Oklahoma on the field Sunday as Baltimore wide receiver Marquise Brown takes the field for his second game. Brown made an immediate impact in his debut with a 47-yard touchdown grab on his first catch and an 83-yard TD reception on his second catch. “We knew it was there,” offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley told reporters of the connection between Jackson and Brown. “Everybody was kind of, ‘Wait till the game to really see that thing happen.’ But we knew what those guys are capable of and the connection they had just being out in the locker room and stuff. It was good to see it translate to the field.”

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ravens CB Jimmy Smith will miss several weeks but is not expected to need surgery after suffering a knee sprain in Week 1.

2. The Cardinals placed RT Marcus Gilbert (knee) on injured reserve and signed OL Jordan Mills.

3. Arizona WR Michael Crabtree, who spent last season in Baltimore, is expected to make his team debut on Sunday after being inactive for Week 1.

PREDICTION: Ravens 35, Cardinals 24

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BALTIMORE vs MIAMI
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 8, 2019
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Ravens -6.5.
O/U: 38.5
PREDICTION: Ravens 20, Dolphins 13

Oddsmakers currently have the MIAMI listed as 4.5 point favorites versus the BALTIMORE, while the game’s total is sitting at 37.

The Baltimore Ravens are committed to moving forward behind quarterback Lamar Jackson and plan on competing for an AFC North title and another run deep into the playoffs. The Miami Dolphins, who host the Ravens in the season opener on Sunday, look like a team fully in rebuilding mode after bringing in a new coach and getting very active on the trade market.

Baltimore spent its offseason rebuilding its offense to suit the talents of Jackson and imported Mark Ingram from New Orleans to take on some of the rushing duties, but Jackson is still expected to pull the ball down and run often. “Hopefully that it’s the best offense they’ve ever seen,” Jackson told reporters when asked what people will think of the new offense. “That’s what I’m going for.” The Dolphins traded away star left tackle Laremy Tunsil, wide receiver Kenny Stills and leading tackler Kiko Alonso in the latest round of trades toward the end of camp, leading to question about the team’s intentions for the season. “It’s always important to win. I’ve always believed that,” first-year head coach Brian Flores told reporters in reference to tanking questions. “I think to take any other approach, that’s just not how you coach the game. That’s not how you play the game. To take any other approach is disrespectful to the game, so it’s very important.”

ABOUT THE RAVENS (2018: 10-6, FIRST IN AFC NORTH): Baltimore is convinced that Ingram, 29, has plenty left in the tank after splitting carries for years with the Saints. “He’s a proven back in the National Football League,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters. “He seems very healthy. (There is) not a lot of wear and tear on Mark. He’s a downhill, physical runner. He fits our style.” Ingram will run between the tackles while Jackson takes off around the outside and goes after Michael Vick’s record for rushing yards by a quarterback (1,039).

ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (2018: 7-9, SECOND IN AFC EAST): Miami traded for former first-round pick Josh Rosen in the offseason, but veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick won the battle in camp and will get the start on Sunday, becoming the first quarterback to start for eight different teams. “You know it is (rewarding),” Fitzpatrick told reporters. “It’s something that’s never been done before. Just in terms of who I am and the career I’ve had and the different places I’ve been, this means a lot to me. I think being able to do it here with a younger group where it’s going to rely so much on communication and I’ve got to make sure I’m at my best on every single play, whether it’s during the play or before at the line of scrimmage.” Running back Kenyan Drake survived the team’s offseason purge and is expected to take on a bigger role in the offense after averaging 4.5 yards per rush in 2018.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ravens CB Brandon Carr (hip) is questionable for Sunday.

2. Dolphins CB Xavien Howard tied for the league lead with seven interceptions last season.

3. Baltimore beat Miami by a combined 78-6 in the last two meetings – 2016 and 2017.

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DETROIT vs BALTIMORE
GAME: Detroit Tigers (19-32) at Baltimore Orioles (17-37)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, MASN 2 (Baltimore)
LINE: -110
PREDICTION: Tigers 4, Orioles 3

Oddsmakers currently have the BALTIMORE listed as -110 point favorites versus the DETROIT, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.

Not even a visit from the major league-worst Baltimore Orioles could snap the Detroit Tigers out of their funk. The Tigers, who dropped 12 of their last 13 games, will try to avoid another setback when they visit the Orioles in the second of a three-game series on Tuesday.

Detroit has managed three or fewer runs in nine of its last 12 setbacks and was held to three runs on eight hits in a 5-3 loss in Monday’s series opener, with a pair of errors leading to two unearned runs against left-hander Daniel Norris. The Tigers, who planned on a rebuilding year, fell to 19-32 with Monday’s loss despite a soft part of the schedule that included three games at home against the National League-worst Miami Marlins – all losses – and a trip to the struggling New York Mets before the visit to Baltimore. The Orioles are winners of two of their last three games after dropping 14 of their previous 16 contests. Baltimore will send right-hander Dylan Bundy to the mound on Tuesday, while Detroit left-hander Matthew Boyd tries to turn his team’s fortunes.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (4-4, 3.11 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (2-5, 4.67)

Boyd has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 10 of his 11 starts and is coming off six scoreless innings against Miami on Thursday. The 28-year-old scattered five hits and issued one walk while striking out seven but was not a part of the decision in a game Detroit went onto lose 5-2. Boyd was held out of the decision in his lone start against Baltimore last season when he yielded one run and two hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Bundy has failed to complete six innings in any of his last three starts and was reached for three runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the New York Yankees on Thursday. The Oklahoma native owns 52 strikeouts in 52 innings but has surrendered 12 home runs. Bundy is facing Detroit for the first time since 2017 and is 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA in two career games – one start – against the Tigers.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Orioles traded RHP Yefry Ramirez to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for a player to be named or cash on Monday.

2. Detroit RF Nicholas Castellanos is 10-for-23 with five extra-base hits in the last five games.

3. Baltimore DH Mark Trumbo (knee surgery) is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie this week.

PREDICTION: Tigers 4, Orioles 3

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DETROIT vs BALTIMORE
GAME: Detroit Tigers (19-31) at Baltimore Orioles (16-37)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 27 – 1:05 PM EST
WHERE: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, MASN2 (Baltimore)
LINE: -110
PREDICTION: Tigers 6, Orioles 4

Oddsmakers currently have the BALTIMORE listed as -110 point favorites versus the DETROIT, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.5.

The two coldest teams in the major leagues meet Monday when the Detroit Tigers visit Baltimore for the first of three games against the Orioles. The Tigers fell to 1-11 over their last 12 games with a 4-3 loss at the New York Mets on Sunday.

Nicholas Castellanos had a solo homer and a two-run single to provide all the offense for Detroit, which is last in the American League in runs and has been held to four or fewer in each defeat during the 1-11 slide. The Orioles dropped eight of their last nine and the past four setbacks have come by a total of six runs as the bullpen continues to falter. The Colorado Rockies rallied for two runs against three Baltimore pitchers in the bottom of the ninth Sunday afternoon to steal an 8-7 win. Gabriel Ynoa makes his first start of the year for the Orioles on Monday opposite Daniel Norris for the Tigers.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Daniel Norris (2-2, 4.30 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Gabriel Ynoa (0-1, 5.60)

Norris allowed two runs over six innings with five strikeouts and no walks in a no-decision against Miami on Wednesday. The Tennessee native is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in four career games (two starts) against the Orioles, all taking place in Baltimore. Sluggers Chris Davis and Trey Mancini are a combined 2-for-3 with two home runs and two walks against Norris.

Ynoa has made nine relief appearances since he was called up from Triple-A Norfolk on April 21, posting three outings of at least three innings. He has struggled of late, giving up 10 earned runs over 6 1/3 frames through his last four appearances. The Dominican Republic native, who turned 26 on Sunday, is 1-3 with a 4.02 ERA in seven career starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Orioles 2B Jonathan Villar went 6-for-14 with a home run, three doubles and five RBIs in the three-game series at Colorado.

2. Castellanos is 11-for-30 during his seven-game hitting streak.

3. Detroit has lost four of its last five at Camden Yards.

PREDICTION: Tigers 6, Orioles 4

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NY YANKEES vs BALTIMORE
GAME: New York Yankees (30-17) at Baltimore Orioles (15-33)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 22 – 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), MASN (Baltimore)
LINE: 205
PREDICTION: Yankees 8, Orioles 3

Oddsmakers currently have the BALTIMORE listed as 205 point favorites versus the NY YANKEES, while the game’s total is sitting at 10.

The New York Yankees have crafted a well-earned nickname as the Bronx Bombers, but nowhere does that moniker apply more in the current era than at Camden Yards in Baltimore. After pounding the Orioles into submission with three homers in each of the past two nights, the Yankees will look to flex their muscles again when the teams continue their four-game set on Wednesday night.

Catcher Gary Sanchez has made himself right at home at Camden Yards with back-to-back games of one homer and four RBIs to give him six blasts in five games in Baltimore and nine overall versus the Orioles this season. Clint Frazier went deep twice and drove in five runs as New York improved to 12-3 in its last 15 following Tuesday’s 11-4 rout, giving the team at least 10 runs and three homers in three straight games for only the second time in franchise history. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde called the series opener, in which his team blew a pair of big leads, “hard to watch” but Tuesday’s game was equally as painful as the Yankees built a nine-run lead after 4 1/2 innings. Stevie Wilkerson clubbed a three-run shot for Baltimore, which fell to 6-17 at home and had the dubious distinction of becoming the first club to surrender 100 homers this season.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (2-1, 2.97 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Dan Straily (1-3, 8.51)

Sabathia is coming off his longest outing of the season, pitching six innings and giving up one run and six hits in a no-decision against Tampa Bay on Friday. Although the 39-year-old has permitted more than three runs in only one of his seven starts, he has had issues keeping the ball in the park, surrendering nine home runs in his last five trips to the mound. Sabathia had problems with the long ball against the Orioles in 2018, allowing five in only 21 innings while going 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA in four starts.

Straily could be pitching to keep his spot in the rotation after he was rocked in each of his last three turns, although he escaped with a no-decision despite allowing four runs and six hits over 3 1/3 innings at Cleveland. It marked the fourth consecutive outing in which he failed to pitch beyond 4 1/3 innings and stretched his winless drought to five starts since beating Boston on April 15. Frazier is 2-for-2 with a homer off Straily, who was shelled by the Yankees for five runs in 1 1/3 innings on April 7.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Yankees have homered at least three times in five straight games in Baltimore, matching the longest streak by a team at any park in major league history.

2. Orioles 2B Hanser Alberto is 6-for-8 in the series to extend his hitting streak to four games.

3. Yankees LHP James Paxton threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is expected to pitch a simulated game Friday.

PREDICTION: Yankees 8, Orioles 3

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BALTIMORE vs CLEVELAND
GAME: Baltimore Orioles (14-29) at Cleveland Indians (23-19)
DATE/TIME: Friday, May 17 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Baltimore), STO (Cleveland)
LINE: -170
PREDICTION: Indians 5, Orioles 2

Oddsmakers currently have the CLEVELAND listed as -170 point favorites versus the BALTIMORE, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

The Cleveland Indians opened a season-long, 11-game homestand with an offensive show and look to remain hot with the bats when they host the American League-worst Baltimore Orioles for the second of a four-game set Friday. The Indians ended their last road trip by scoring nine times against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday before pounding the Orioles 14-7 one day later as Jason Kipnis homered twice and knocked in six runs.

Kipnis was batting .172 with three RBIs through May 5, but is 11-for-39 over his past nine contests, and outfielder Jordan Luplow has added some pop to the Cleveland lineup while going 8-for-24 with four homers over the past seven games. Jefry Rodriguez hopes to get similar offensive support when he takes the mound for the Indians on Friday night and fellow right-hander Dylan Bundy attempts to register his third quality start in five outings for Baltimore. The Orioles have lost seven of their last eight contests and permitted at least seven runs in four of those setbacks after surrendering 14 hits and allowing Cleveland to go 7-for-16 with runners in scoring position Thursday. Baltimore’s Trey Mancini homered for the third time in six games to take over the team lead with nine and tops the Orioles with a .313 batting average while knocking in 20 runs – second only to Dwight Smith Jr. (27).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (1-5, 5.31 ERA) vs. Indians RH Jefry Rodriguez (1-2, 2.92)

Bundy won his first game of the season with 7 1/3 scoreless frames against Tampa Bay to open his slate in May, but followed that up by giving up three runs over five innings in a loss to the Los Angeles Angels last Saturday. The 26-year-old Oklahoma native allowed two homers in his last start to push his season total to 11 while striking out 40 over 40 2/3 innings. Kipnis is 4-for-9 with a homer versus Bundy, who beat Cleveland with six innings of one-run ball last year.

Rodriguez posted his third straight quality start last Sunday with six innings of three-run ball against Oakland in a 5-3 triumph. The 25-year-old Dominican permitted just five runs combined across 18 2/3 innings in his first three starts this season, but picked up a pair of losses in which the Indians were shut out. Mancini has homered against Rodriguez, who yielded five runs over five innings in a no-decision versus Baltimore in his major league debut last year while with Washington.

WALK-OFFS

1. Baltimore 1B-3B Rio Ruiz homered Thursday and is 5-for-13 with four walks over his last five contests.

2. Cleveland SS Francisco Lindor is 30-for-94 with four homers 12 RBIs in 23 career games against the Orioles.

3. The Orioles activated LHP Richard Bleier (shoulder) on Thursday and he allowed two runs over 1 2/3 innings.

PREDICTION: Indians 5, Orioles 2

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BALTIMORE vs CLEVELAND
GAME: Baltimore Orioles (14-28) at Cleveland Indians (22-19)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 16 – 6:10 PM EST
WHERE: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio

TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
LINE: -300
PREDICTION: Indians 5, Orioles 2

Oddsmakers currently have the CLEVELAND listed as -300 point favorites versus the BALTIMORE, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

The Cleveland Indians enjoyed a rare day off on Wednesday while the Baltimore Orioles worked double duty in the form of a doubleheader in the Bronx. The well-rested Indians look to take advantage of the scheduling quirk on Thursday when they open an 11-game homestand with the first contest of a four-game series against the Orioles, who have lost six of their last seven contests.

Perhaps the day off came at an inopportune time for Cleveland, which finally ignited its sputtering offense and recorded season highs in homers (five) and runs scored on Tuesday afternoon in a 9-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Jordan Luplow might also be sad to see the White Sox go after posting his second two-homer performance against the club in a six-day span, although he is hitting .314 with four homers and six RBIs since returning from Triple-A Columbus on April 28. The Orioles are no stranger to seeing balls leave the park, as the club surrendered five homers in their doubleheader sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees to ratchet that total to 89 on the season. Baltimore has allowed more homers than any other team in the majors.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Dan Straily (1-3, 8.23 ERA) vs. Indians RH Trevor Bauer (4-2, 3.02)

Straily fell to 0-3 in his last four trips to the mound on Friday after allowing a season-high six runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings of an 8-3 setback versus the Los Angeles Angels. The 30-year-old has yielded 11 runs on 14 hits in his last two outings and has failed to work his way out of the fifth in each of his last three. Carlos Santana is 0-for-7 and Jason Kipnis is 1-for-6 versus Straily, who owns an 0-1 mark with a 3.86 ERA in two career starts against Cleveland.

Bauer allowed just two runs on as many hits and matched a campaign-best 10 strikeouts in seven innings on Saturday before walking away with a no-decision at Oakland. The 28-year-old hopes to carry over that momentum into his encounter with Baltimore, against which he owns 1-4 mark with a 5.45 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in six career starts. Chris Davis (4-for-13, homer) has been pesky at the plate versus Bauer, who sports a 1-1 record with a 4.42 ERA at home as opposed to 3-1 with a 2.40 ERA on the road.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland SS Francisco Lindor had hit safely in eight straight games before going 0-for-5 on Tuesday.

2. Baltimore OF Joey Rickard went 3-for-7 in Wednesday’s doubleheader to improve to 6-for-16 in his last five games.

3. Santana has hit safely in five of his last seven games.

PREDICTION: Indians 5, Orioles 2

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