MLB Betting – Rays vs Yankees Preview & Pick
Did the Tampa Bay Rays just spontaneously decide that they want back in the American League East race?
THE BEST SPORTSBOOK FOR AMERICA’S PASTTIME! – CLICK HERE NOW + BET ON MLB TODAY!
MLB Betting – Rays vs. Yankees Preview & Pick
Date: Saturday, August 13, 2011
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Broadcast: FOX
Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees Betting Lines from BetOnline.com
Money Line: NY -135
Over/Under: 9.5 -115
CLICK here for INDEPTH MLB ATS Stats for this matchup —>
Bet now at BETONLINE —>
Talk smack about MLB Baseball Today In Our Forums –>
Tampa Bay Rays (63-54 through August 11)
Jeremy Hellickson (10-7, 3.05)
Through Thursday, they’d won four straight, having swept the Kansas City Royals, and seven of nine overall.
The Rays’ pitching has obviously been a big reason for their success; they’ve allowed one earned run or fewer in three of their last four games. But some bats are coming around, too. Rookie Desmond Jennings has been a massive addition to the lineup, batting .333 with three homers, three triples, four doubles, 12 RBI and eight steals in 19 games. He looks like the total package.
The Rays’ other top rookie, Jeremy Hellickson, takes the hill in the Bronx on Saturday. His strikeout rate has been surprisingly low but opponents are batting just .208 off him. Hellickson has turned in eight quality starts in his last 10 outings. He beat the Yankees on July 19, holding them to two runs in seven innings.
New York Yankees (71-45 through August 11)
Phi Hughes (2-4, 7.11)
The New York Yankees continue to do their thing, winning seven of their last 10 as they do battle with the Boston Red Sox. They continue to swing heavy sticks, leading the majors in homers. Alex Rodriguez is due back from injury soon but the Bronx Bombers haven’t really needed him. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Curtis Granderson’s numbers look like vintage A-Rod; he leads the team with 32 homers and 93 RBI but has also scored 105 runs and stolen 22 bases. He’s making a real run at the AL MVP.
The big question for the Yankees: can their rotation hold up in the playoff series opposite Lester/Beckett or Weaver/Haren or other star-studded staffs? C.C. Sabathia is a rock but, with respect to Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon, New York desperately needs Phil Hughes to step up.
He’ll get his shot on Saturday. Hughes been better in the second half but has still left much to be desired, posting a 4.76 ERA since the All-Star break.
MLB Trends
Over is 6-2 in TB last 8 road games.
Over is 6-2 in TB last 8 on grass.
Over is 5-2-2 in TB last 9 Sat. games.
NYY are 24-9 in their last 33 Sat. games.
NYY are 10-4 in their last 14 overall.
Over is 20-9-2 in NYY last 31 Sat. games.
Over is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings in New York.
TB are 31-65 in the last 96 meetings in New York.
MLB Free pick:
To me, the best betting strategy is to make Hughes prove he’s worth a later bet. He’s winless with a 9.16 ERA at Yankee Stadium this season. Frightening. I’d steer clear of him until he shows he’s figuring things out.
Rays vs Yankees prediction: Rays 6, Yankees 4
