Having been on a roll for virtually all of the start of this campaign, the New York Yankees aim to stay as successful when they welcome the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.
These clubs last came in contact in May, splitting a four-game series. This should be one of the most exciting MLB matchups of the day.
The Yankees (44-16) have won 11 of their last 12, the most recent being an 18-4 dispatching of the visiting Chicago Cubs on Sunday. That triumph completed a series sweep, something the Bronx Bombers have accomplished three times this month alone.
Tampa Bay (35-25) salvaged the last leg of a three-game bill at Minnesota on Sunday. Currently, in third place in the American League East, they’ll be seeking to gain some ground on the division-leading Yanks. Nine games separate these clubs in the MLB standings going into this one.
Over the last week, first baseman Ji-Man Choi has put up a .400 batting average in 20 plate appearances. During that time, he scored five runs and picked up six RBIs. Right fielder Manuel Margot has done well, too, recording three doubles and accounting for six runs.
Against New York this year, only Margot is hitting better than .250 for the Rays. Right fielder Randy Arozarena and shortstop Wander Franco both have marks below .185, which won’t get it done against a high-powered Yankees order.
Margot, Franco, and Arozarena are Tampa Bay’s best trio swinging the bat on the road. They’ve collaborated for 39 runs driven in during away contests this season.
Rays at Yankees Odds
MLB odds favor the Yankees to have the upper hand here. New York is -1.5 on the run line at -110, while the Rays have the same chances to cover the spread.
On the moneyline, the Yankees are -230 and Tampa Bay a +190 underdog. The total has been set at eight runs, with the over being -112 and the under -108 at the time of this writing.
MLB betting trends will point to a ferocious Yankees offense as the reason for their start. Right fielder Aaron Judge might carry the biggest bat in the majors. He has a league-high 24 home runs, and his 48 RBIs are the third-most of any MLB player.
He’s gotten a lot of help from the second baseman Matt Carpenter, who’s played in 10 matchups since joining the group. So far, he’s scored ten runs, belted six long balls, and totaled 13 RBIs.
For a dugout that also includes designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, the low-risk addition has paid dividends.
For all the fireworks, credit has to be given to the New York pitching staff, whose 2.86 team ERA is better than anybody else’s.
Matchup Information
Rays at Yankees Betting Preview
Heading to the mound for the hosts will be Gerrit Cole. With a 5-1 record to this point, he’ll look to do much better than he did in his last start, which came against Minnesota last Thursday.
In that one, he only went 2.1 innings, giving up five dingers and allowing eight hits as a whole. Still, his team found a way to earn the victory, though.
Interestingly, Cole had only conceded four knocks in the 13 frames that he pitched before taking the mound against the Twins.
Trying to outduel him will be the Rays’ Corey Kluber, who has won both of his June outings. He has a 3.88 ERA and a 3-2 mark thus far.
Against New York toward the end of May, he went six innings and let the Yankees record only three hits.
Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees Picks and Predictions
MLB picks today see this as an intriguing pitching matchup. While Cole struggled the last time we saw him, it’s not often that he piles up bad performances. Kluber, a solid hurler in his own right, will help keep it close, doing his best to stifle a scary lineup.
When betting on baseball today, go with Tampa Bay to cover the spread.
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