The Tampa Bay Rays (96-61) square off against the New York Yankees (90-67) in the third of their four-game series on Wednesday night.

The postseason picture has settled for both teams, as the Rays have clinched the AL East and the Yankees have secured home-field in the Wild Card series. This matchup, therefore, carries much less gravitas with nothing left to play for in terms of postseason seeding and positioning.

Before Wednesday’s first pitch between the Rays and host Yankees, let’s run down the betting angles, review both teams and then make a prediction for this game.

The Bronx Bombers are -145 favourites to win on the MLB odds, with the total set at 6.5.

MLB Betting Odds and Trends

With two solid hurlers on the mound, it seems wild that the over/under for this game is set at just 6.5 runs.

Keeping key players and pitchers healthy is paramount, so I like the over on the run total for that specific reason.

There’s no need for the Yankees to get high-leverage relievers or Gerrit Cole deep into the game. And the same is true on the Rays’ side of things, as they’ll get some rest and see who they play out of the Wild Card series.

Tampa Bay Rays

For Tampa Bay, they’ve just been a team of streaks this season, as they’re currently winners of 13 of their last 17 games. 

Their offence in general has been solid, with the Rays 11th in runs scored and seventh in OPS, but they’ve been absolutely carried by MVP candidate Junior Caminero.

Currently second behind Houston’s Yordan Alvarez in the MVP odds, Caminero is hitting the cover off the ball, with an .886 OPS, plus 41 HR and 97 RBI.

Not to be outdone is steady veteran Yandy Diaz, who is hitting a robust .291, with an .802 OPS, plus 22 HR and 85 RBI. Add in first baseman Jonathan Aranda (.277, 22 HR, 92 RBI), and you’ve got a potent trio of sluggers ready to make some playoff noise.

It’s the stellar pitching from the Rays that has carried them to the top of the division, with four starters sporting an ERA under 3.65 and the seventh-best ERA in MLB. Besides Drew Rasmussen and Shane McClanahan, it might be baseball’s most under-the-radar and unassuming rotation, with journeyman Nick Martinez and Wednesday’s starter Ian Seymour backing them up.

New York Yankees

With Aaron Judge injuring his calf, it’s unlikely that the Yankees will get his services before the Division Series. That is, if they get there. 

They’ve won 90 games with Judge featuring in just 66 of those, with breakout star Ben Rice (.884 OPS, 3.4 WAR, 39 HR, 95 RBI) catching the eye alongside some solid contributors like Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jose Caballero, Paul Goldschmidt, and Spencer Jones.

It’s the pitching that’s ultimately carried them this far, with likely AL Cy Young winner Cam Schlittler and his 1.94 ERA, 234 strikeouts, and his 14-8 record helping to usher the Bronx Bombers to the second-best record in the American League.

Of course, we can’t forget Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, and Gerrit Cole, who will be incredibly formidable for any team in the postseason to face. If the Yankees get enough consistent offence, they will be tough to stop.

MLB Prediction: Who Will Win Rays vs. Yankees?

It’s been peaks and valleys for Yankees starter Gerrit Cole, as he likely takes his final regular-season turn in the rotation. 

Cole cruised through two sub-3.00 ERA months in July and August only to show up in September with a 5.56 ERA through five starts. His best outing was his last one, where he allowed just two earned runs through six innings against Arizona last Friday.

Ian Seymour takes the bump for the visiting Rays, and he’s entering his roughest stretch as a starter this season, with a 5.79 September ERA in three starts. Still, the lefty has pitched very well for Tampa Bay this season and will be heavily relied on in the postseason.

Wednesday’s game should be a great one and we are going with the OVER on the game total, as two sides with little left to play for in the regular season look set to go out swinging.

Best bet: Over 7.0 runs (-107)

RAYS

Away

6

YANKEES

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