The Tampa Bay Rays (25-12) and New York Yankees (20-14) play the rubber game of their heated three-game series at Yankee Stadium Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Rays-Yankees MLB betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Tuesday: New York snapped Tampa Bay’s six-game win streak with a 5-3 victory, but it ended with some unnecessary drama. Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman buzzed Rays PH Michael Brosseau with a 101-mph, head-high brush-back pitch moments before the final out. In the first inning, Rays 3B Joey Wendle, just the third batter of the game, was hit by a pitch from Yankees SP Masahiro Tanaka.
After the final out, the AL East rivals emptied the benches, but fortunately no punches were thrown. However, there was no holding back from Rays manager Kevin Cash in his postgame presser.
“Somebody’s got (to) be accountable,” Cash said, according to The Associated Press. “The last thing I’ll say on this is I got a whole damn stable full of guys that throw 98 mph. Period.”
Yankees skipper Aaron Boone replied, “That’s a pretty scary comment,” when told of Cash’s comments. Yankees 2B DJ LeMahieu added, “Obviously that’s a pretty serious threat. … It sounds like they’re going to try and throw at us tomorrow. We’ll be ready.”
Unless the umpires can step in front of this before Wednesday’s first pitch, there could be more fireworks as the two clubs meet for the final time in their regular-season series – which the Rays have dominated, winning seven of nine games.
Rays at Yankees: Projected starting pitchers
RHP Charlie Morton vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery
Morton is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA (16 2/3 IP, 10 ER) in 4 starts this season.
- Last start: No-decision, 2 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 K vs. Yankees Aug. 9, left in third inning with shoulder inflammation – Rays won 4-3
- Career vs. Yankees: 4-2, 3.99 ERA (49 2/3 IP, 22 ER) in 9 starts, including 3-1 since 2017
Montgomery is 2-1 with a 4.44 ERA (24 1/3 IP, 12 ER) in 5 starts.
- Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 6 K vs. New York Mets Friday – Yankees lost 6-4
- Career vs. Rays: 1-1, 3.54 ERA (20 1/3 IP, 8 ER) in 5 starts – last meeting a no-decision in 2019
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Rays at Yankees: Key injuries
(Get the latest injury news here.)
Rays
- RP Nick Anderson (forearm) out
- 3B Yandy Diaz (hamstring) out
- C Mike Zunino (oblique) out
Yankees
- RF Aaron Judge (calf) out
- OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring) out
- 2B Gleyber Torres (hamstring) out
Also see: BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
Rays at Yankees: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 8 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Rays 4, Yankees 3
Moneyline (ML)
The RAYS (+105) are the STRONGEST PLAY. They’re coming in angry after Tuesday’s theatrics and that spells doom for Montgomery and the Yankees (-118).
New to sports betting? Every winning $1 bet on the Rays will profit $1.05. Every $1.18 bet on the Yankees profits a $1 if they win.
(Strongest-play wagers should be 1½ times your usual bet.)
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
SKIP. The Yankees (+1.5, -189) are 21-13 vs. the RL overall and 12-8 vs. the RL at home, but the price is a bit costly. The Rays’ RL odds (-1.5, +155) offer decent value, but I’ll PASS and stick with them on the moneyline.
Over/Under (O/U)
The UNDER 9 (-110) is worth a small wager. The first two games of this series finished Under, both 5-3 finals. Plus, the Rays’ 3.77 ERA ranks eighth in the majors. (Small-play wagers should be half your usual bet.)
Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire. com.
| Johnny’s 2020 MLB record | 40-21-1 |
| 2020 overall record (all sports) | 80-49-2 |
| Strongest plays (all sports) | 41-18 |
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