New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays: Odds, Prediction
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Kevin Thompkins
Tuesday, the New York Yankees (50-40) will face the Tampa Bay Rays (52-38) in the second game of a four-game set that will go a good way toward some closing momentum before the All-Star break.
The Yankees have been free-falling in the AL East, giving up the division lead over the last week with their June and July swoon, which has seen them lose 13 of their last 18 games.
Meanwhile, the Rays have lost three straight following a nine-game winning streak that got them multiple games up on the Yankees for the division lead, including a 5-1 loss in the first game of this series.
This game is the second game of this four-game series between the top two teams in the AL East, so let’s break it all down.
Tampa Bay is a -120 favourite to win on the MLB odds, with the total set at 8.0.
MLB Betting Odds and Trends
This one has been pretty easy to track with the recent downturns on both teams. The Yankees, in their 5-13 stretch over the last few weeks, just cannot score. They’re averaging just a shade under three runs per game as a team over that timeframe, and even if you get pristine pitching, it provides little wiggle room if the Yankees’ pitching falters. Clearly, it’s no shock the Yankees’ game total has gone under in four of their last five games. The Rays are in a bit of the same boat, with the total going under in five of their last six contests.
New York Yankees
The entire Yankees lineup (of course, without Aaron Judge) has been in a quagmire during this recent stretch. Ben Rice, their most potent home run bat, has seen his average plummet from .293 at the start of this 5-13 stretch, down to .267. He’s still top-20 in RBI in baseball, but has driven in just four runs in those 18 games.
In fact, in their win on Monday over Tampa, it was two Jose Caballero home runs that provided the only offence for the Bronx Bombers. Over the last week, the team has a collective .550 OPS and is hitting .169 as a team. That’s not going to get it done, no matter who they play.
Tampa Bay Rays
On the Tampa Bay side, their winning ways, and just their offence in general, have been primarily fuelled by a Junior Caminero home run binge. He’s got 10 home runs in his last 10 games and is up to fourth in MLB with 26 home runs and a .928 OPS. Somehow, only 23 years old, Caminero is already one of baseball’s best bats and brightest stars.
It’s the stellar pitching from the Rays that has carried them this far to the top of the division, with four starters sporting an ERA under 3.60. They’re also baseball’s best home team with a robust 31-13 clip. Despite the Yankees taking one from Tampa at home on Monday, the Rays are poised to bounce back.
MLB Prediction: Who Will Win Yankees vs. Rays?
The Yankees will send out right-hander Will Warren to the mound for Tuesday’s game and he’s sporting a 3.73 ERA with a 7-3 record in 17 starts this season. Opposing him is Ian Seymour, who has stretched out a bit following a relief role that bled into the early part of June. He’s been excellent as of late, with just one earned run allowed in 12 ⅔ innings pitched.
For this game, we’ll go with Seymour and the Rays to take the second game of the series at Tropicana Field.
Best Bet: Rays ML (-120)
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