New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays odds, picks and prediction

Analyzing Thursday’s New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays odds and lines, with MLB picks and predictions.

The New York Yankees (20-16) go for a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays (19-19) Thursday at Tropicana Field with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Yankees vs. Rays odds with MLB picks and predictions.

Season series: Rays lead 5-3. They took five of the first six meetings, including a three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium in mid-April. New York hopes to return the favor Thursday after taking the first two games of this series 3-1 and 1-0.

Yankees SS Gleyber Torres didn’t play Wednesday as he awaits COVID-19 test results, and it’s unknown if he’ll be available for the series finale. The club had seven confirmed COVID-19 “breakthrough” cases involving three uniformed coaches and four non-coach support staffers.

RHP Jameson Taillon is projected to start for the Yankees. He is 1-2 with a 5.02 ERA (28 2/3 IP, 16 ER), 1.12 WHIP, 10.7 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 6 starts.

  • Last outing: No-decision, 6 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K vs. Washington Nationals Friday – Yankees lost 11-4
  • Career vs. Rays: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6 1/3 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 4 K in 1 start back in 2017 with the Pittsburgh Pirates

LHP Rich Hill is expected to start for the Rays. The 17-year veteran is 1-1 with a 5.17 ERA (31 1/3 IP, 18 ER), 1.12 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 7 starts.

  • Last outing: No-decision, 6 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K at Oakland A’s Friday – Rays lost 2-1
  • Career vs. Yankees: 2-2, 5.06 ERA (26 2/3 IP, 15 ER), 1.46 WHIP, 11.1 K/9 in 4 starts and 12 relief appearances

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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 7:40 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: Yankees -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Rays +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Yankees -1.5 (+110) | Rays +1.5 (-135)
  • Over/Under: 8 (O: -115 | U: -105)

Prediction

Rays 5, Yankees 3

Money line (ML)

TAMPA BAY (+120) is the STRONGEST PLAY – 1.25 times your usual wager. While the Yankees have won 4 in a row and 9 of 11, the value play is with the plus-money on the home team.

Plus, the Rays have a slight edge in the pitching matchup.

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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)

PASS. The Yankees are 4 games under .500 ATS this season, including 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games. The Rays are 8-2 ATS in their last 10, but instead of backing the +1.5 (-135) line, I’ll bet a QUARTER UNIT on RAYS -1.5 (+240) alternate line.

ATS records: Yankees 16-20 | Rays 21-17

Over/Under (O/U)

PASS. There are just too many conflicting trends here.

Under tickets cashed in the first two games of this series, but the Over is 5-2 in Hill’s starts for the Rays this season and 4-2 in Taillon’s starts for the Yankees.

Meanwhile, the Under is 5-2 when projected plate umpire Doug Eddings is calling balls and strikes.

O/U records: Yankees 13-22-1 | Rays 20-18

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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’S RECORD W-L SP ROI
2021 MLB 36-40-2 9-12-1 -7.72
2020 MLB 80-59-1 39-21 +24.79
2021 (all sports) 139-125-3 58-53-1 +5.83
*SP: Strongest plays; ROI: Return on investment

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