The New York Yankees (79-52) have a divisional clash with the Tampa Bay Rays (72-57) Friday in the 1st game of a 3-game set at Tropicana Field. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Yankees vs. Rays odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: Yankees lead 8-5
The Yankees are tumbling again, losers of 4 of 5 games to inferior teams in the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels. Injuries to position players and meltdowns in the bullpen have really stung them. New York is 11-19 over its last 30 games, and what was once a staggering lead in the AL East is now just 6 games.
The Rays are the team in striking distance. They’ve won 3 contests in a row and are 8-2 and 14-6 over their last 10 and 20 games. Tampa has allowed just 31 runs over its last 10 games as the pitching has been brilliant. This is the biggest series of the season, but they really need a sweep because 2 of 3 just subtracts a game from the lead.
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Yankees at Rays projected starters
RHP Domingo German vs. LHP Jeffrey Springs
German (2-2, 3.19 ERA) makes his 9th start. He has a 1.11 WHIP, 1.9 BB/9 and 6.6 K/9 through 42 1/3 IP.
- Has allowed 1 ER in his last 14 IP over 2 starts
- Aug. 17 vs. Tampa: 4 2/3 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB and 6 K
Springs (6-4, 2.76 ERA) makes his 19th start. He has a 1.11 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9 and 9.8 K/9 through 101 IP.
- Aug. 16 vs. Yankees: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB and 4 K
- Was lit up for 5 ER on 8 H and 1 BB in 6 IP with 8 K against the Boston Red Sox last time out Saturday
Yankees at Rays odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:54 a.m. ET.
- Money line (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 (-200) | Rays -1.5 (+160)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: +110 | U: -135)
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Yankees at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 4, Yankees 3
Money line
Springs has thrown 11 innings against the Yanks this season and allowed just 3 ER for a 2.45 ERA. The Yankees have scored 43 runs over the last 10, but 13 of them came in one game. That’s 3.33 runs per game over those other 9. Tampa sets the tone and wins the opener.
Take the RAYS (-135).
Run line/Against the spread
The books have us cornered with -200 on the Yankees. Three of their last 4 losses have been 1-run defeats. Considering how Tampa is pitching and New York is struggling, it’s not as crazy as it sounds to go with YANKEES UNDER 3.5 TOTAL RUNS (-135) for a HALF-UNIT.
Over/Under
This number has been steamed up from 6.5 this morning, and I was leaning toward the Over there with some hesitation. As the number has shifted, so has my take, as I am going to LEAN UNDER 7.5 (-135).
The Yankees have scored 4 or more runs just once in the last 6 games. It’s still a small number on 2 good teams, but I prefer the Under.
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