The New York Yankees (52-47) and Tampa Bay Rays (60-41) continue their three-game series at Tropicana Field with Game 2 Wednesday. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Yankees vs. Rays odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: Rays lead 8-6
New York held on for a 4-3 win in Tuesday’s opener after building a 3-0 lead through 5½ innings.
LHP Nestor Cortes is Wednesday’s projected starter for the Yankees. He is 0-0 with a 1.95 ERA (27 2/3 IP, 6 ER), 1.01 WHIP, 11.1 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 2 starts and 8 relief appearances.
- Last outing: 2 relief innings, 3 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 3 K at Boston Red Sox Friday
- Last start: No-decision, 4 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 B, 2 K at Houston Astros July 9 – Yankees won 4-0
- Career vs. Rays: 0-0, 5.56 ERA (11 1/3 IP, 7 ER), 11 H, 7 BB, 13 K in 5 relief appearances
RHP Michael Wacha is projected to start for the Rays. He is 2-2 with a 5.16 ERA (66 1/3 IP, 38 ER), 1.34 WHIP, 7.7 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 12 starts and 5 relief appearances.
- Last outing: No-decision, 5 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 2 K in 5-4 home win vs. Baltimore Orioles last Wednesday
- Career vs. Yankees: 1-1, 4.55 ERA (27 2/3 IP, 14 ER), 1.23 WHIP, 10.1 K/9 in 4 starts and 2 relief appearances
MLB betting offers/promotions
BetMGM Sportsbook offers available in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA, WV and Washington D.C. New customer offers, terms and conditions apply.
- Bet just $1 on either team’s money line, WIN $100 (in free bets) if either team hits a home run during the game. Bet now!
- RISK-FREE FIRST BET. Place your first bet, if it loses you’ll get up to $600 in free bets. Bet now!
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 7:46 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Yankees +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Rays -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Yankees +1.5 (-180) | Rays -1.5 (+150)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Prediction
Rays 5, Yankees 3
Money line (ML)
The RAYS (-135) are the STRONGEST PLAY – 1½ times your usual wager.
Unfortunately, my Tuesday plays lost, backing Tampa Bay’s ML and spread, but I’m not afraid to get back on the horse as the trends favor the Rays.
They are 25-11 as home favorites and 30-19 overall at home,
New York is 6-7 as a road underdog and 25-24 overall away from Yankee Stadium.
Wacha already beat New York this season, pitching 6 scoreless innings of 1-hit ball with 2 walks and 9 strikeouts in an 8-2 road victory April 16.
FANTASY BASEBALL: Serious about winning your league? Sign up for BaseballHQ.com to dominate the competition. Subscribe now!
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Bet a HALF UNIT on TAMPA BAY -1.5 (+150).
When the Rays beat the Yankees they win by at least 2 runs. All eight of Tampa Bay’s victories in this season’s head-to-head series have been by 2 or more runs.
In 2020, the Rays went 11-4 vs. the Yankees, including a 3-2 best-of-5 AL Division Series victory. Eight of the 11 wins were by more than 1 run.
Tampa Bay’s 56-45 ATS record ranks third in the majors this season. New York is 29th at 43-56.
Over/Under (O/U)
PASS due to conflicting trends.
Tampa Bay tends to cash Over tickets and New York is mostly an Under team.
The O/U is a 7-7 in the 14 Rays-Yankees meetings this season, including 3-4 at Tropicana Field.
O/U records: Yankees 43-54-2 | Rays 54-44-3
PLAY: Free, daily sports pick’em contests. Play now!
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 |
| SINCE JULY 8 | 8-5 | 2-3 | +1.75 |
| *–SP: Strongest plays; ROI: Return on investment | |||
Follow @JohnnyParlay11 on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]