Yankees vs. Rays Prediction
The top two teams in the AL East will square off this weekend as the Tampa Bay Rays play at the New York Yankees in a three-game series. Will Tampa Bay notch the win in the opener tonight?
Game Snapshot
915 New York Yankees at 916 Tampa Bay Rays
Friday, May 17, 2019
Yankee Stadium at 7:05PM ET
TV: MLB Network
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Yankees are a -117 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Rays are a +107 underdog, while the over-under is set at 9.5 runs. As of Friday morning, exactly 50 percent of public bets are siding with visiting Tampa Bay and host New York. Check out our MLB Public Betting Page for the latest info.
Rays use seven relievers in win
Tampa Bay swept a quick two-game series at Miami with a 1-0 victory Wednesday night to improve to 26-15 overall and 14-5 on the road. The Rays scored their lone run in the top of the second inning on an Anthony Bemboom RBI double that scored Willy Adames. Bemboom ended the contest 2-for-2 with the RBI double. Adames was 1-for-2 with two walks and the run scored. Yandy Diaz finished 1-for-3. Jalen Beeks picked up the win in relief as he allowed four hits and struck out four over three innings. Ryne Stanek will be the opener tonight for Tampa Bay as he comes in with a 1-0 record, 2.45 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 22 strikeouts over 22 innings.
Yankees sweep doubleheader
Gleyber Torres hit three home runs Wednesday in a doubleheader sweep at home for New York versus Baltimore, with the second contest a 3-1 victory. Torres was 1-for-4 with a solo homer in the nightcap. Luke Voit finished 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Thairo Estrada went 1-for-3 with a double and a run. Domingo German earned the win as he allowed one earned run on six hits with eight strikeouts and one walk over seven innings. CC Sabathia will start tonight for the Yankees as he enters with a 2-1 record, 3.26 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 23 strikeouts over 30 1/3 innings.
MLB Betting Trends
Tampa Bay
The Rays are 6-1 in their last seven series openers. Tampa Bay is 23-8 in its last 31 road games.
New York
The Yankees are 20-7 in their last 27 games overall. New York is 27-9 in the last 36 Sabathia home starts.
Prediction:
Both teams come in playing strong baseball and New York somehow keeps churning along despite so many injuries. But with the Rays going with Yonny Chirinos as their bulk reliever tonight, I’m going with the underdog visitors. Chirinos has a 0.92 WHIP and will be backed by a Rays offense that hits lefties hard. Tampa Bay doesn’t have its record by accident. Look for a statement in the series opener.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: TAMPA BAY RAYS +107