The Rays are off to a great start to this season, racing to an early lead in the AL East. But the Yankees, even while playing hurt, are nearly keeping pace, heading into the opener of a three-game series at the Trop Friday night. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Friday’s MLB betting odds opened Tampa and Glasnow at around -140 over New York and German, with an over/under of 7.5 runs. Early betting action then bumped that spread to -155.
Yanks vs. Rays Set-Up
New York just took three of four games at home from Seattle this week, winning Thursday’s series finale 3-1. Just before that the Yankees took two of three games at home from Minnesota.
So New York is 6-1 over its last seven series and 16-6 over its previous 22 games.
Tampa, meanwhile, just took two of three games at home from Arizona, missing out on the sweep by losing Wednesday’s series finale 3-2 in 13 innings. The Rays then had Thursday off.
Just before that Tampa split two games at Baltimore, and just before that they split four games at Kansas City. So the Rays are 3-0-2 over their last five series but only 4-4 over their last eight games.
At 23-13 overall Tampa leads the AL East by a game and a half over the 22-15 Yankees.
This series is the first meeting between these divisional rivals this season. Last year New York took the season series from the Rays 10 games to nine.
Friday’s Starting Arms
Glasnow is off to a fantastic start to this season. He’s 5/7 on quality starts so far, and only five outs away from being 7/7. Last Friday he held Baltimore scoreless on three hits through seven innings, with eight strikeouts and zero walks, in a 7-0 Rays win. And on the season he’s allowed just seven runs through 43 innings, with 46 whiffs.
Tampa is 6-1 with Glasnow this season, the only loss coming against Boston by a score of 4-3.
This will be Glasnow’s first start against the Yankees since 2017 when he was with Pittsburgh.
German, by our strict standards, is 3/6 on quality starts this season, and two for his last three. Last Sunday he limited Minnesota to one run and four hits through 6 2/3 innings of a 4-1 Yanks victory, and over his previous three starts, he’s allowed just five earned runs and 13 hits through 19 1/3 innings.
New York is 5-1 with German this season.
In two starts last year against Tampa Bay German allowed nine runs and 14 hits through nine innings. The Yankees split those two games.
Friday’s Batting Splits
New York is batting .259/.341/.451 this season against right-handed pitching. But this lineup is also still operating without several key sticks, including both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
Tampa Bay is batting .262/.339/.456 against RH pitching this season.
The Bullpens
The Yankees bullpen owns a 4.21 ERA this season and a 1.30 WHIP.
The Rays bullpen owns a 3.31 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.
Totals Report
- Overs are 20-17 in Yankees games this season.
- Unders are 20-15 in Rays games this season.
- Unders are 11-8 in games played at Tropicana Field this season.
- Unders are 5-1 with Glasnow this season.
- Unders finished 12-7 in Yanks-Rays games last season.
- Get more details: NY Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays MLB Match-up Stats
