The New York Yankees (19-16, 8-7 away) and Tampa Bay Rays (19-18, 7-11 home) continue their three-game series with game two on Wednesday night. New York took game one, with a 3-1 victory over the Rays.
Wednesday night’s first pitch is a 7:10 p.m. EST inside Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL. The Yankees are a heavy favorite (-210) with their ace on the mound, while the run total is 7.
What to Know – New York Yankees
New York extended its winning streak to three games with Tuesday’s victory and won eight of its last ten games. The Yankees are playing game two of ten consecutive road contests. Tuesday’s win and a Red Sox loss moved the Yankees within two games of the American League East standings.
All-star Gerrit Cole (4-1, 1.61 ERA, 0.72 WHIP) toes the rubber for the visiting Yanks. The right-hander continues to give hitters fits, surrendering only eight earned runs over 44.2 innings of work with 66 strikeouts. In his last start, the 30-year old fired 7.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts in a no-decision.
The Yankees plate 4.1 runs per game while sporting a .222 team batting average. Designated Hitter Giancarlo Stanton has heated up in May, hitting .370 this month with three home runs and nine RBI. Stanton leads the Yankees this season in batting average (.293), home runs (9), and runs driven in (24).
New York is 16-19 against the spread this season, including 7-8 ATS on the road. The Yankees are 18-14 when favored and 6-4 over its last ten games.
What to Know – Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays snapped a five-game winning streak over the weekend and have now dropped three of their last four games. The defending AL pennant winners have spent most of the season teetering on the .500 line record mark. Tampa Bay currently sits in third place in the AL East.
Tampa counters on the mound with 33-year old Collin McHugh (0-1, 7.36 ERA, 1.77 WHIP). The righty makes his first start of the season after tossing 7.1 innings out of the bullpen this season. McHugh, a former starter, twirled 2.0 innings of no-run ball during his last appearance, allowing no hits and punching out five.
Offensively, the Rays score 4.25 runs per game and bat .222 as a team. Designated hitter Austin Meadows and catcher Mike Zunino have seven home runs apiece, and Meadows and outfielder Manual Margot have each driven in 17 runs.
Tampa is 21-16 ATS on the year, with an 8-10 mark at home. The Rays have had success with an 11-8 record as an underdog and sport a 20-14 mark against AL opponents.
The Pick is In
New York is on a roll with no signs of slowing down with their workhorse taking the mound. The Yankees lineup should have no problems scoring a few runs against McHugh, who will probably be used as an opener.
This might be a slow scoring contest, but we see the Yankees taking this one, 5-2.
The Pick: New York Yankees -1.5 (-130)
