The New York Yankees (67-57) and Tampa Bay Rays (61-64) tangle Tuesday in the opener of an abbreviated 2-game set in Tampa. The first pitch from George M. Steinbrenner Field is slated for 7:35 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Yankees vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Yankees lead 7-4
New York is continuing a road trip that opened with the club sweeping a 3-game series at the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend. A Yankees squad that was 6 games under .500 (9-15) from July 12-Aug. 10 is 5-1 over its last half-dozen games.
Tampa Bay is back at home after a 12-game road swing that saw the Rays go 6-6. Tampa, which owns a .333 winning percentage (14-28) since June 29, has played just 9 home games since the All-Star break.
Yankees at Rays projected starters
LHP Carlos Rodon vs. RHP Shane Baz
Rodon (12-7, 3.25 ERA) is making his 26th start. He has a 1.06 WHIP, 3.6 BB/9 and 10.1 K/9 through 146 2/3 innings.
Last outing: Win, 7 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 5 K in 9-1 win vs. Minnesota Twins TuesdayCareer vs. Rays: 2-3, 4.00 ERA (45 IP, 20 ER), 36 H, 29 BB, 56 K in 9 starts
Baz (8-9, 4.93 ERA) is making his 25th start. He has a 1.33 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9 and 9.3 K/9 through 135 innings.
Last outing: Loss, 7 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 7 K in 6-0 loss at Athletics TuesdayCareer vs. Yankees: 0-0, 4.91 ERA (18 1/3 IP, 10 ER), 19 H, 14 BB, 19 K in 5 startsHas allowed at least 4 runs in 4 of his last 5 starts
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Yankees at Rays odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 10:51 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Yankees -140 (bet $140 to win $100) | Rays +118 (bet $100 to win $118)Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Yankees -1.5 (+120) | Rays +1.5 (-145)Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)Yankees at Rays picks and predictionsPrediction
Yankees 4, Rays 3
No interest. PASS.
Baz has pitched much better than what shows in an 8.08 ERA registered in the second half. He’s been undone by a .400 BABIP over that stretch. Rodon has battled some control problems since the All-Star break.
Both clubs have played in a lot of 1-run games. A RAYS +1.5 (-145) play is the value side here.
Tampa Bay does struggle against lefty pitching. Mix in some contrarian lean toward Baz, an inward breeze in the weather forecast and a pair of rested bullpens. The UNDER 8.5 (-115) makes sense on this one.
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