MLB Betting Previews- New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays
The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays will go at it one more time on Thursday night in the finale of this four-game AL East showdown at Tropicana Field. Game time is set for 7:10 p.m. and it will be broadcast nationally on the MLB Network.
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Bet On Baseball – Yankees vs. Rays
Date/Time: Thursday, July 21 7:10 p.m. (ET)
Venue: Tropicana Field, Tampa, FL.
Broadcast: MLB Network
Yankees at Rays lines by BetOnline.com
Moneyline: Yankees -155
Over/Under: 7
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New York drew first blood in this one with a 5-4 come-from-behind victory as a 134 road favorite on Monday night. The tables were turned in a 3-2 loss as a slight 105 favorite in Tuesday’s Game 2.
The Yankees head into Wednesday’s contest a game and half behind Boston in the division with an overall record of 56-38.
They are 30-19 at home and 26-19 on the road.
This year’s team has relied heavily on a lineup that is ranked second in the American League in scoring with an average of 5.12 runs a game. Fortunately, it may not need that many in this game with staff ‘ace’ C.C. Sabathia slated to get the start. He has been a perfect 7-0 in his last seven starts with an ERA of just 1.68.
On the year, Sabathia is now 14-4 with a 2.64 ERA. Lifetime against the Rays he is 9-5 with an ERA of 3.04.
Tampa Bay is holding on for dear life in the East with just four wins in its last 10 games. It is seven games in back of the Red Sox with an overall record of 51-44. The Rays are 28-20 on the road this year, but just 23-24 at Tropicana Field heading into Wednesday’s Game 3.
One of the recent problems with Tampa Bay has been its inability to win close games.
Prior to Tuesday night’s one-run victory, the Rays were on the wrong end of the scoreboard in six of their last seven one-run games. They will send James Shields to the mound in Thursday’s finale. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
The right-hander is 8-8 this season in 20 starts but has a 2.60 ERA. He gave up six earned runs to Boston in his last start after giving up just seven in his last six starts combined. Shields is 3-10 with a 4.47 ERA against the Yankees.
Head-to-head this season, the Yankees have a slight 4-3 advantage overall, but the series is tied 2-2 at Tropicana Field heading into Wednesday. The total has stayed ‘under’ in four of the seven games.
It is not to say that with Sabathia on mound this game is a lock for New York, but Shields’ past history against the Yankees does not paint too bright of a picture for the Rays.
MLB Gambling Trends:
Under is 18-7-1 in NYY last 26 road games.
NYY are 15-6 in their last 21 Thu. games.
NYY are 9-2 in Sabathias last 11 Thu. starts.
Under is 50-17-2 in TB last 69 home games.
Under is 36-17-1 in TB last 54 on astroturf.
Under is 15-3 in Shields’ last 18 home starts.
TB are 4-13 in Shields’ last 17 starts vs. NYY.
TB are 2-6 in Shields’ last 8 home starts vs. NYY.
Free MLB Baseball Pick: New York 5 vs. Tampa Bay 1
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