Yankee Stadium hosts an MLB battle between the New York Yankees and the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.

For the Yankees, Bartolo Colon gets the ball, charged with keeping the Rays hitters off the base paths. He'll face Jeff Niemann, 11-7 on the year.



View Tampa Bay vs NY Yankees Odds and Stats.

Power Rankings:
The Yankees - Rays odds would favor the Yankees if the lines were set according to our power ranks. New York is rated No. 1 in the current American League Odds Shark poll, while Tampa Bay is at No. 5 in the American League.



How They Match Up:
Scoring stats point to some edges in this matchup. The game features New York's American League No. 2-ranked scoring average of 5.3 runs per game, against a Rays offense rated No. 9 and scoring 4.3 runs per game in the league. The Yankees have averaged 9 hits per game to date this season, more than the Rays hitters have managed (8.1 per nine innings).

New York owns the American League's No. 3 defense, allowing 4 men per game to cross the plate. That contrasts with Tampa Bay's American League No. 1-rated defense.

Tampa Bay lost its last outing, a 4-2 result against the Yankees on September 21. Bettors who backed the Yankees at -165 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (6) sent UNDER bettors to the payout window. The Rays were saddled with a loss last time out in Jeremy Hellickson's start, as they lost 4-2 against New York on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.




Tampa Bay Rays Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing Toronto are 6-4
After playing NY Yankees are 3-7
After a loss are 5-5

New York Yankees Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing Boston are 5-5
After playing Tampa Bay are 7-3
After a win are 7-3

A few Rays at Yankees trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Tampa Bay's last 8 games when playing NY Yankees
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees
NY Yankees are 10-1 SU in their last 11 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of NY Yankees' last 8 games when playing Tampa Bay
NY Yankees are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
NY Yankees are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games


Next up:
Tampa Bay home to Toronto, Friday, September 23
NY Yankees home to Boston, Friday, September 23