Yankees vs. Rays: New York Yankees Favored to Win Crucial Two-Game Series

In an upcoming matchup at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees will take on the Tampa Bay Rays in a crucial two-game series. With a record of 67-57, the Yankees will be looking to gain the series lead against the Rays, who are sitting at 61-64. Carlos Rodon, with a 12-7 record and 3.25 ERA, will take the mound for the Yankees, while Shane Baz, boasting an 8-9 record and 4.93 ERA, will start for the Rays. The Yankees have been successful in recent matchups against the Rays, winning 6 out of their last 10 games. Tune in to see which team comes out on top in this Yankees vs. Rays prediction.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Yankees -136 | Rays +118
Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+125) | Rays +1.5 (-145)
Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that New York will win straight-up is 58%.

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees have rebounded from a recent slump with five wins in their last six games. They are currently in third place in the AL East standings, half a game behind Boston and 5.5 games behind the division-leading Blue Jays. In addition, they hold the final AL Wildcard spot, 3.5 games ahead of Cleveland. New York will look to continue their momentum and stay in the playoff race with a win on Tuesday.

Offensively, the Yankees average 5.11 runs per game, which is third in the league, with a .250 batting average and a .330 on base percentage. Aaron Judge has been a key player for the team, leading in batting average, home runs, and RBI.

Defensively, the Yankees are giving up 4.33 runs per game, with opponents batting .229 against them. Their pitching staff has a 4.02 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. In his last start, Rodon had a strong performance against Minnesota, and will look to continue his success against Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays recently had their three-game winning streak come to an end in a loss to the Giants, but they were still able to secure the series win. They currently hold the fourth spot in the AL East, trailing the New York Yankees by 6.5 games. The Rays will look to bounce back from their latest loss and close the gap in the standings with a victory on Tuesday.

Offensively, the Rays are averaging 4.48 runs per game, ranking 13th in the league, with a .250 batting average (12th) and .313 on-base percentage (19th). Their .398 slugging percentage places them 16th in the league. Jonathan Aranda boasts a team-leading .316 batting average, while Junior Caminero leads with 35 home runs and 85 RBI.

On the defensive side, the Rays are allowing 4.14 runs per game (ninth in the league) and opponents are hitting .237 against them (seventh in the league). Their 3.92 ERA ranks 15th, while their 1.21 WHIP is fifth. In his most recent start, Baz struggled, giving up six hits and five runs over seven innings in a loss to the Athletics. He holds a 0-0 record with a 4.91 ERA in five games against New York.

New York Yankees Poised for Victory Against Struggling Tampa Bay Rays

The New York Yankees have demonstrated their dominance on the road by winning four out of their last five games, whereas the Tampa Bay Rays have struggled at home, losing four out of their last six games. New York's advantage is further solidified by their strong performance against right-handed pitchers, which bodes well as they face Baz, who has been struggling on the mound with a total of 14 runs surrendered in his last three starts. In contrast, Tampa Bay's offensive capabilities may be hindered due to their difficulties against left-handed pitchers. Rodon, who has only given up seven runs in his last three starts, will pose a challenge to the Rays' offense. Given these factors, the smart choice would be to bet on the New York Yankees to win.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]

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