The Tampa Bay Rays (2-4) host their 2021 home opener when the New York Yankees (3-3) visit Friday. First pitch at Tropicana Field is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Yankees vs. Rays odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Both teams had Thursday off. The Rays – who beat the Yankees 3-2 in a best-of-5 AL Division Series last fall – enter this series on a 4-game skid. The Yankees just took 2 of 3 from the visiting Baltimore Orioles but lost 4-3 in 11 innings Wednesday.
RHP Corey Kluber is the Yankees’ projected starter. He is 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 11.3 K/9 and 6.8 BB/9 in 1 start this season. In that outing, he yielded one earned run in 4 innings on 5 hits and 3 walks with 5 K’s in a no-decision vs. the Toronto Blue Jays Saturday.
- Career vs. Rays: 5-2, 2.67 ERA (64 IP, 19 ER) in 10 starts, last facing Tampa Bay in 2018
LHP Rich Hill is slated to toe the rubber for the Rays. After one start, he is 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9. He faced the Miami Marlins Friday, surrendering 4 runs in 4 innings on 5 hits and 2 walks with 4 K’s.
- Career vs. Yankees: 1-2, 4.79 ERA (20 2/3 IP, 11 ER) in 11 appearances, including 3 starts with his last outing in 2016
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Yankees at Rays odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 1:51 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Yankees -140 (bet $140 to win $100) | Rays +115 (bet $100 to win $115)
- Against the spread/ATS: Yankees -1.5 (+115) | Rays +1.5 (-140)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Prediction
Rays 5, Yankees 3
Money line (ML)
TAMPA BAY (+115) is the STRONGEST PLAY – 1½ times your usual wager. Hill is a better-than-average pitcher (3.01 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 10.4 K/9 in 91 games across the previous five seasons), the Rays are at home and BetMGM is offering plus money (+115). Yes, thank you!
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
PASS on Rays +1.5 (-140), but BET the alternate line of TAMPA BAY -1.5 (+220) for a QUARTER UNIT.
ATS records: Yankees 3-3 | Rays 1-5
Over/Under (O/U)
Back the UNDER 8.5 (-110) to win a QUARTER UNIT (Ex: $27.50 to win $25). The Yankees lead the majors with a 1.74 ERA and are scoring 4.17 runs per game. The Rays feature a 5.87 ERA and score 3.83 runs per game. With Hill projected to have a quality start, UNDER 8.5 gets a slight nod.
O/U records: Yankees 1-5 | Rays 5-1
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Bet on this game now at BetMGM Sportsbook. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
| JOHNNY PARLAY’S RECORD | W-L | SP | ROI |
| 2021 MLB | 5-10 | 1-3 | -5.8125 |
| 2020 MLB | 80-59-1 | 39-21 | +24.79 |
| 2021 record (all sports) | 107-95-1 | 50-44 | +7.2375 |
| *–SP: Strongest plays; ROI: Return on investment | |||
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