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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