MLB Picks: Baltimore Orioles vs. Oakland Athletics

The Baltimore Orioles are 24-5 following a loss dating back to last season, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks Thursday, as they open up a four-game series against the Oakland Athletics at the O.co Coliseum.

Sports bettors will find that the Orioles are +115 road underdogs in the pro baseball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 8 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this American League matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way.

Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles finished their nine-game homestand with a 6-3 record, but suffered a 6-5 setback to the Toronto Blue Jays as +118 underdogs Wednesday.

Orioles starting pitcher Jason Hammel is 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA in two road starts during the 2013 campaign.

Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics return home after dropping five of six games on the road, including a 6-5 defeat to the Boston Red Sox as +142 underdogs Wednesday.

Athletics starting pitcher Jarrod Parker is 0-2 with a 12.96 ERA in two home starts this season.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Baltimore Orioles in the first five innings Thursday night, as they've won five of seven series openers this season.

MLB Pick: Baltimore Orioles First Five Innings +115

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