Yankees vs Rays Odds & Prediction: New York Favored In Series Opener

The New York Yankees (31-13) and Tampa Bay Rays (26-17) open a four-game series in the Sunshine State tonight. It’s the first meeting of the season between these teams, but they will get to know each other quite well over the next month by playing 10 head-to-head games. See below for a Yankees vs Rays prediction, as well as more analysis and insight.  

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Yankees vs Rays Odds & Analysis

Sportsbook Odds

The Rays find themselves as underdogs for the first time in their last nine games. The Yankees have had success in Tampa recently, winning five of the last seven contests at Tropicana Field. The total opened at 7.5 and the UNDER is 4-2 in their last six head-to-head matchups.

Get the best Yankees vs Rays odds and lines available from our recommended sportsbooks for your favorite picks of the night.

Starting Pitchers

Nestor Cortes gets the ball for the Yankees tonight. He has been lights-out so far with a 3-1 record and an ERA of 1.80 that’s the fifth lowest in baseball. He is coming off his worst start of the season, though, giving up three earned runs for the first time to Chicago. Cortes went 0-1 in two starts vs Tampa last season, although he pitched well in both.

The Rays will send Ryan Yarbrough to the mound. He’s in search of his first win of the season in just his fourth start. Yarbrough has one career start vs the Yankees and it was a good one. He went the distance in a 9-2 win, striking out six batters while not giving up any free passes.    

Injuries Continue To Pile Up For The Yankees

The hits keep coming for New York, both on and off the field. The league’s best team has been depleted by injuries and illnesses recently. The latest setback involves slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who is now on the injured list with a sore ankle and will miss the entire series.

The Yanks are also without two of their best relievers in Aroldis Chapman (Achilles) and Chad Green (elbow). Meanwhile, DJ LeMahieu and Josh Donaldson are both questionable for tonight’s game.

One player who will be in the lineup is Aaron Judge. He is tearing a strip off the ball these days, hitting .313 with a majors-best 17 home runs to go along with 34 RBIs. He currently has the second-best odds to win American League MVP at +450, behind only Shohei Ohtani of the Angels.  

Rays Getting Contributions From Up And Down The Lineup

Tampa has won two straight and five of its last seven games, thanks to the fact the Rays are hitting by committee. It seems like every night somebody different is the offensive hero.

But this team will only go as far as their pitching takes them. They currently have the fifth-lowest team ERA in baseball at 3.30. They have given up just 112 walks, tied for third fewest of any team.

The Rays are 15-9 at home in 2022 and have won five of their last six games at the Trop. Only the Yankees have more wins in their own ballpark. 

Yankees vs Rays Pick & Insights

Yankees: Keys To Victory

Offense from someone other than Aaron Judge. Yarbrough and the Rays will likely try to pitch around No. 99. Joey Gallo, who is hitting just .171 this season, doesn’t have a hit in his last 18 at-bats and is due. He just returned to the lineup last night after contracting COVID-19. If he can contribute with the bat, then the smart bet may be to take the favorites in this one.

Rays: Keys To Victory

Get to Cortes early and be patient. As mentioned, the White Sox got to the Yankees starter his last time out, so the Rays can learn from that. He depends quite heavily on the strikeout, so if they can get runners on base and make him uncomfortable, then taking the underdog when making your Yankees vs Rays pick could earn you some cash.   

MLB Computer Pick: Yankees -125

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