Rays vs Yankees MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
Fresh off a two-out-of-three game series win, the Yankees will host AL East rivals, the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of a three-game set starting Tuesday night in the Bronx.
TAM: James Shields (6-3, 3.95 ) v NYY: Andy Pettitte (2-2, 3.49)
Date/Time: Tuesday, June 5 – 7:05 PM EST
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
Broadcast: Sun Sports/ YES
LINE: Yankees -125
TOTAL: 8.5
The Rays (31-23) took two of their three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend, leapfrogging one game ahead of the O’s into to first place.
The most amazing thing is, they did it with nine players on the disabled list.
Injuries however, didn’t stopped the Rays from matching their season-high for runs at home, while hitting .165 and going 2-4 during their home stand. They struck out 52 times and drew 16 walks, while plating 11 runs in the two wins and only seven in the four losses.
The will try and keep that offense going in an effort to provide run support for 33-year old right-hander James Shields, who will take the mound in Game 1 in the Big Apple.
Shields turned in his worst outing since his season debut on Tuesday night against the White Sox. He allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits over six innings of work in the 7-2 loss. In two starts against New York this season, Shields has gone 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Something the Yankees (29-24) will look to duplicate.
New York seemed to break out of its issues with timely hitting and another weak showing from the middle to back end of their rotation on Sunday, as they scored two runs in the first inning in a win over the Tigers, and now have scored in the first inning in five straight games.
They have weathered through countless injuries in their bullpen too, and still sport a very good 3.41 (4th) collective ERA.
Helping to accomplish that and looking for his third win of the season will be veteran Andy Pettitte who will start opposite of Shields.
The 33-year old lefty ran into some trouble against the Angles his last time out, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and no walks over seven innings, resulting in a 5-1 loss.
Pettitte has been all that was expected of him and more in his first four starts for the Yankees since coming out of retirement, and although he hasn’t been perfect he has recorded plenty of strikeouts en route to two wins.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Tampa Bay- The Rays seemed to have pulled it all together for the moment. And while things still may be a little shaky, I just think things are shakier for the Yankees, especially with Pettitte starting on the mound.
