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

Analyzing Friday’s New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays odds and lines, with MLB expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The New York Yankees (61-66) open a 3-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays (78-51) on Friday at Tropicana Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Yankees vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Rays lead 6-4

The Yankees lost 6-5 to the Washington Nationals Thursday. New York has lost 9 of its last 10 games and is last in the AL East, 18 games back of the division-leading Baltimore Orioles and 10 games back of the final AL Wild Card.

The Rays beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 Thursday to extend their win streak to 4 games. Tampa Bay has won 7 of its last 10 contests and is now only 2 games behind the Orioles in the division while holding a sizeable lead at the top AL Wild Card.

Yankees at Rays projected starters

RHP Gerrit Cole vs. RHP Zach Eflin

Cole (10-4, 3.03 ERA) makes his 27th start. He has a 1.07 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9 and 9.5 K/9 through 160 1/3 IP.

  • Last start: Loss, 4 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 4 K in an 8-1 home loss to the Red Sox Saturday
  • 2023 road stats: 3-2, 2.62 ERA (68 2/3 IP, 20 ER) in 11 starts
  • Career vs. Rays: 3-7, 3.72 ERA (109 IP, 45 ER) in 18 starts

Eflin (13-7, 3.58 ERA) makes his 25th start. He has a 1.03 WHIP, 1.2 BB/9 and 8.8 K/9 through 138 1/3 IP.

  • Last start: Win, 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K in an 18-4 road victory vs. Los Angeles Angeles Saturday
  • 203 home stats: 10-3, 3.05 ERA (82 2/3 IP, 28 ER) in 14 starts
  • Career vs. Yankees: 3-0, 1.57 ERA (23 IP, 6 ER) in 4 starts

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Yankees at Rays odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:10 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Yankees +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Rays -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Yankees +1.5 (-190) | Rays -1.5 (+155)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 7 (O: -125 | U: +105)

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Yankees at Rays picks and predictions

Prediction

Rays 5, Yankees 4

Moneyline

The RAYS (-135) are the pick in this AL East showdown even with Cole on the mound for the Yankees. Besides the recent woes of the Yankees, Tampa Bay is 43-22 at home compared to New York producing a 25-33 record on the road this season.

Run line/Against the spread

While a duel between Cole and Eflin should remain close, I’ll AVOID betting on the run line in this contest. Taking the Yankees to keep the game within 2 runs isn’t worth the risk at nearly -200 odds.

Over/Under

OVER 7 (-125) is how I’d wager on the run total despite Cole and Eflin pitching on Friday. The Over is 7-3 in the first 10 meetings this season.

The Yankees are 6-4 to the Over in their last 10 games overall and the Rays are 8-2 to the Over in their last 10 contests.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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