Saturday’s MLB slate is an enticing one with all 30 teams in action and several enticing pitching matchups. The Orioles offense will look to remain hot against right-handed pitching in their matchup with Taijuan Walker and the Phillies, while Ryan Pepiot looks to continue his recent strikeout production in an advantageous matchup. Let’s dive in!
Baltimore Orioles first 5 innings team total over 2.5 (-115)
Baltimore Orioles first 7 innings team total over 3.5 (-120)
Taijuan Walker is a pitcher I often look to bet against, and the Baltimore Orioles lineup is one of my favorites to bet on. The Phillies signed Walker to a lucrative contract in December of 2022, but the results have not been there as numerous replacement level arms have outperformed him during his tenure. Last season saw Walker toss 172.2 innings with a 4.38 ERA and 4.53 FIP. Those marks have regressed through 43.1 innings this season, as Walker’s 5.40 ERA is shadowed by a 5.12 FIP. His 1.45 WHIP is the result of a BABIP that is likely to decrease with a larger sample of innings, but this matchup is not the one where we should expect positive regression.