Rays vs. Yankees Odds
| Rays Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
-110 | 8 -120 / -102 | -1.5 +146 |
| Yankees Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
-106 | 8 -120 / -102 | +1.5 -176 |
It's one of the biggest days of the season across Major League Baseball, as 6 p.m. ET is the trade deadline. Both the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees are considered to be buyers, and while the trade market is very important, what happens on the field tonight is also a big deal.
The Tampa Bay Rays have crashed hard after their hot start to the season and now find themselves a game and a half back in the division. They are not going away quietly, however, as they've already bolstered their rotation before the deadline.
As for the New York Yankees, seeing what direction this team goes is interesting. New York is a one-man show, and Aaron Judge finally returned this past weekend. While he may be their biggest deadline addition, is he enough to propel the Yankees back into the playoff picture?
Let's dive in and see what side to take in tonight's action on the field. Find a betting preview, pick and prediction for Rays vs. Yankees below.
Tampa Bay Rays
As I mentioned in the open, the Rays' lineup has experienced some sizable regression since their historic April. Over the past 30 days, they are second to last in runs scored and are just 21st in wRC+.
To make matters worse, a deeper look into the Rays' hitting statistics points to even more regression. They rank 13th in xwOBACON and are no longer an elite lineup in terms of making hard contact.
Their team batting average of .255 and team slugging percentage of .447 are both expected to drop significantly, and that regression should continue tonight as they face Carlos Rodon.
Rodon has not looked great in his first few starts in pinstripes. His command has been shaky, which has limited his ability to work deep into games and put hitters away like he did during his time in San Francisco.
However, the results were better in his last start against the Mets. The walks were still there, and he gave up his fair share of hard-hit balls, but we need to give him the benefit of the doubt as his track record is extensive and dominant.
We should see Rodon turn in a quality outing against a scuffling Rays lineup.
New York Yankees
The Yankees' struggles without Aaron Judge were well documented as they ranked among the worst lineups in baseball. However, Judge's return has not made an immediate impact on their place in the standings.
New York is 1-3 since last Friday, and while Judge's return was much needed for this Yankees team, their stretch without him proved that there are much bigger issues than a missing star. There is nothing to stop teams from limiting Judge's impact, as no one else in the order has proven they can protect him.
If we can identify that, you know the savvy Rays pitching staff can as well. Tonight the Yankees will have to contend with Zach Eflin, who is having a career year thus far as he enters his 21st start with a 3.64 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.
We should see Eflin's success continue tonight as he has become a tremendous groundball pitcher, with his groundball rate sitting seven percentage points higher than league average. Much of that stems from his excellent command, which forces hitters to swing at his arsenal that fades below the strike zone.
Rays vs. Yankees Betting Pick
This matchup has all the makings of a low-scoring contest. Each lineup has struggled mightily and is showing no immediate signs of improvement. Both starters are trending up and have profiles to have plenty of success tonight.
In addition to the starters likely having a strong night, they have quality arms behind them for the later innings. New York's bullpen has the best ERA in the majors at 3.10. The Rays are not far behind at 3.86, which is good for 11th.
The under is the play tonight.
Pick: Rays-Yankees Under 8.5 (Play to 8) |
