NY Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays Betting Odds

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Tampa Bay Rays (+113)
Game Total Line: 9 under (-130)
Run Line: NY Yankees -1.5 (+123)
(wagering lines available at 5Dimes)

The New York Yankees are in Florida this week to take on the American League East rival Tampa Bay Rays in a crucial divisional showdown. Tonight’s Game 1 from Tropicana Field is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

New York’s 7-2 victory over Toronto on Sunday as a 118 road favorite salvaged a 2-2 split in the four-game weekend series. The Yankees are now 55-37 overall and trail Boston in the division by a game and a half. They are 30-19 at home and 25-18 on the road.

This lineup remains near the top of the AL in scoring with an average of 5.15 runs per game, but has struggled with consistency during the month of July. Derek Jeter returned from the DL right before the All-Star break, but Alex Rodriguez went on the list earlier in the month with a knee injury. Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson remain the biggest bats for the Bronx Bombers this year with a combined 134 RBI and 50 home runs.

A.J. Burnett is slated to get the start for New York. He is 8-7 this season with a 4.15 ERA. It has been a rough go for Burnett over these past two months, giving up an average of 5.28 earned runs over his last seven starts. He is 12-8 against the Rays with an ERA of 3.41.

Tampa is coming off an exhausting 1-0 loss to Boston last night as a 129 home underdog in a game that lasted 16 innings. It was the Rays fourth loss in their last five games and they now trail the Red Sox by seven with an overall record of 50-43. They are 28-20 on the road, but just 22-23 at home this year.

It has been feast or famine for Tampa when it comes to scoring lately as it has scored four or more runs in five of its last seven games, but has been blanked in three of its last 10. The Rays are ranked 12th in the AL in hitting with a team batting average of .244 and eighth in runs scored with 394.

Alex Cobb will be on the mound tonight for Tampa Bay. He was called up from Triple-A Durham to replace an injured Wade Davis and has gone 2-0 with a 3.41 ERA in five previous starts in the Majors this year. Cobb’s last start was on June 18 against the Marlins and he lasted 6.1 innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits to get the win.

New York is 43-24 this season as a favorite. The total has stayed ‘under’ in six of its last eight games and is 38-45-9 on the year.

Tampa Bay is 18-18 as an underdog. The total has stayed ‘under’ in three of its last five games and in 52 of 93 games overall.

Head-to-head this season, they split the two previous games at Tropicana Field, but the Yankees have won three of five overall. The total has stayed ‘under’ in three of the games.

MLB Betting Pick

Stick with New York in this one, as despite the fact that it is the travelling team, last night’s 16 inning marathon will have a lingering effect on the Rays. Take the Yankees -133 at 5Dimes and get reduced Juice and 5 Cent MLB Overnight Lines!!