The Tampa Bay Rays (30-10) play the 3rd game of a 4-game series against the New York Yankees (22-18) on Saturday at Yankee Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rays vs. Yankees odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Rays lead 3-2
The Rays lost 6-5 to the Yankees Friday but won the series opener 8-2 Thursday. Tampa Bay has lost 3 of its last 4 games but remains 4 games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles for 1st place in the AL East.
Yankees 1B Anthony Rizzo hit a 2-run home run in the 8th inning — his 2nd homer of the game — to give New York its 1-run victory. The Yanks are 7-3 in their last 10 contests.
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Rays at Yankees projected starters
LHP Shane McClanahan vs. LHP Nestor Cortes
McClanahan (7-0, 1.76 ERA) makes his 9th start. He has a 1.13 WHIP, 3.9 BB/9 and 11.3 K/9 through 46 IP.
- Hasn’t allowed more than 2 ER in any of his first 8 starts
- Has 6-plus K’s in 7 of his 8 starts
- Owns a 1-3 record with a 3.26 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 11.0 K/9 in 6 career starts against the Yankees
Cortes (3-2, 4.74 ERA) makes his 8th start. He has a 1.24 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9 and 9.2 K/9 through 38 IP.
- Has given up 3-plus ER in 3 of his last 4 starts
- Has struck out 6-plus batters in 4 of his first 7 starts
Rays at Yankees odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:26 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rays -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Yankees +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays -1.5 (+135) | Yankees +1.5 (-160)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Rays at Yankees picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 6, Yankees 3
Moneyline
Taking the RAYS (-135) is an easy choice on Saturday with McClanahan on the mound. Tampa Bay is a perfect 8-0 in the games that he starts this season and he’s been credited with 7 wins.
Run line/Against the spread
RAYS -1.5 (+135) has great value with McClanahan pitching. While Cortes has been solid to begin the season for the Yankees, Tampa Bay’s lineup has a league-best 157 wRC+ against left-handed hurlers thus far.
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Over/Under
LEAN OVER 8 (-115).
Even with 2 talented pitchers on the bump for Saturday’s AL East tilt, we seem to get high-scoring contests between the Rays and the Yankees often. The Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in New York and 6-1 in the last 7 meetings overall.
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