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The New York Yankees (26-14) and Tampa Bay Rays (19-20) meet Saturday for Game 2 of a 3-game series. First pitch from Tropicana Field is set for 4:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Yankees vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: New York leads 3-1
New York picked up the 2-0 win in Friday’s series opener while covering as a -124 road favorite. Each of New York’s runs came thanks to 1B Anthony Rizzo, who hit both a 1-run RBI and a solo HR. RHP Clarke Schmidt was credited with the win as he pitched 6 2/3 innings with 5 H, 0 ER. 2 BB, and 6 K.
Tampa Bay threw 93 strikes to New York’s 87, but the Rays also allowed 9 hits and only struck out 9 batters to New York’s 11 in the loss. The Rays were also held to only 6 hits and 6 total bases Friday as they have now lost back-to-back games.
Yankees at Rays projected starters
LHP Nestor Cortes vs. RHP Zack Littell
Cortes (1-3, 3.72 ERA) makes his 9th start. He has a 1.03 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9 and 8.6 K/9 through 48 1/3 IP.
- Last start: No-decision, 6 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K in a 5-2 win over the Detroit Tigers Sunday
- Career vs. Tampa Bay: 2-3, 3.95 ERA (57 IP, 25 ER), 49 H, 13 BB, 50 K across 8 starts and 5 relief appearances
Littell (1-2, 3.00 ERA) makes his 8th start. He has a 1.31 WHIP, 1.2 BB/9 and 9.7 K/9 through 39 IP.
- Last start: No-decision, 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K in a 3-1 win over the New York Mets Saturday
- Career vs. Yankees: 1-0, 6.00 ERA (6 IP, 4 ER), 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K in 1 start
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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 at 11:20 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Yankees -125 (bet $125 to win $100) | Rays +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Yankees -1.5 (+140) | Rays +1.5 (-165)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Yankees at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Yankees 3, Rays 2
Moneyline
LEAN YANKEES (-125).
New York has won back-to-back games and is 2-1 in its last 3 road games. The Yankees have also won consecutive matchups vs. Tampa Bay, being 3-1 in the last 4 matchups overall.
This is only a lean because each team is 5-5 in the last 10 head-to-heads.
Run line/Against the spread
PASS.
This will likely be a close game, meaning that I like the Rays to cover here as +1.5 (-165) underdogs. However, the line is simply set too heavily to risk betting on, so bet on the moneyline and/or O/U instead.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 8 (-115).
The Under has hit in back-to-back games for New York and is 4-1 in its last 5 road games. For Tampa Bay, the Under is 3-0 in its last 3 outings. The Under has also hit in 3 of the last 4 New York-Tampa Bay matchups overall and is 2-1 in the last 3 meetings in Tampa Bay.
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