The New York Yankees (53-47) and Tampa Bay Rays (60-42) play the finale of a three-game set Thursday at Tropicana Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Yankees vs. Rays odds with MLB picks and predictions.
RHP Gerrit Cole is the projected starting pitcher for the Yankees. He is 10-5 with a 2.74 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 12.0 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 over 125 innings across 20 starts.
Cole allowed 3 runs, 6 hits and 2 walks with 8 strikeouts across 5 innings in a loss at the Boston Red Sox Friday. It snapped a modest two-start win streak.
The right-hander has had mixed results against the Rays this season, going 1-2 with a 3.26 ERA and 29 strikeouts across 19 1/3 innings in three outings.
RHP Luis Patino is the projected starting pitcher for the Rays. He is 1-2 with a 5.26 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 9.8 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 over 25 2/3 IP across five starts and two relief appearances.
Patino has had a disastrous July, going 0-1 with a 7.59 ERA in two outings. He has also allowed 4 or more runs in each of his past three starts, coughing up 13 earned runs in 14 innings during the span.
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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 5:04 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 (+125) | Rays +1.5 (-150)
- Over/Under: 7.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Prediction
Yankees 5, Rays 2
Money line (ML)
The YANKEES (-140) are a great play behind Cole in this pitching mismatch against Patino and the Rays.
It’s actually rather surprising that this line is so low, even on the road. New York should be able to roll in this series finale.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
NEW YORK -1.5 (+125) is a strong play in the getaway day game at the Trop as the Bronx Bombers look for the series sweep. New York outscored Tampa Bay 7-4 in the first two outings, covering the run line as an underdog in each game.
Over/Under (O/U)
The UNDER 7.5 (-115) is the lean here, ever so slightly.
The Under has connected in each of the first two games in this series, and six straight for New York. The Under is also 8-2-1 across the past 11 for the Yankees.
The Under has cashed in each of the past four for the Rays, too, while going 7-3 in the past 10 head-to-head meetings in this series.
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