MLB Saturday Preview – New York vs Tampa Bay
Before baseball gambling fans turn their attention to other sports betting events this week, we have the Thursday MLB game of the day pick for you. It’s time for our weekly baseball picks for online MLB betting action.
Season Record:
New York: 65-37 SU
Tampa Bay: 64-38 SU
Garza Makes First Start Since No-No.
MLB Betting – New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays
Javier Vazquez (9-7) vs. Matt Garza (11-5)
Vazquez vs. Rays Hitting
A scapegoat earlier in the season, Vazquez has emerged from his slump to provide some solid starts for the Yankees. In his last 10 starts, Vazquez is 6-2 and has allowed more than three runs in a game only twice. The ERA is a bit high (4.54), but it’s still a much better mark than the 6.00+ number he was sporting at the beginning of June. Vazquez had a brilliant season last year and seems to be getting more comfortable as this season goes on. That’s a scary proposition for the rest of the league.
Despite injuries to Ben Zobrist and B.J. Upton, the Rays offense is still a force to be reckoned with. Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford are both having great season and pace the potent offense. Carlos Pena may have a poor batting average but he can still rack up the home runs. The team is coming off a sweep of Detroit where the offense scored 19 runs in four games. Vazquez hasn’t faced Tampa since allowing eight runs in five innings in his season debut; however he’s a much better pitcher now.
Garza vs. Yankees Hitting
Matt Garza is coming off a no-hitter versus Detroit on Monday, the first of his career and the first in Tampa Bay history. Garza was very close to perfection, with a second-inning walk the only blemish on his scorecard. The no-no capped an interesting string of appearances for the right-hander. In his last seven outings, Garza has gone 4-0. In that span he threw a no-hitter and pitched a game where he allowed seven runs in six innings. He also made a surprise relief appearance (his first in three years) and recorded a save. An impressive month for Garza.
It gets harder against the juggernaut that is the Yankee offense. New York features a balanced attack; six batters have double-digit home runs, five regulars are hitting over .270, and four starters have over 60 RBI’s. They can beat you at the top and bottom of the order and seem to get massive production from different players every night. Garza has struggled against the likes of Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher in the past; no-hitter or not, it would be a good online bet that the trend will continue on Saturday.
Bullpen Comparison
The bullpen has been a major concern for the Yankees this season. Although Mariano Rivera is having another stellar year (21 saves, 0.98 ERA), the likes of David Robertson, Joba Chamberlain and Chan Ho Park have struggled to the point that New York is actively looking for major bullpen help at the deadline. They’re going to need it.
The Rays, however, have no such urgency. Rafael Soriano (28 saves, 1.82 ERA), Joaquin Benoit (0.76 ERA) and Grant Balfour (2.08) provide an excellent trio of relievers that can be heavily relied on. While the rest of the ‘pen isn’t great, it’s still better than New York’s.
Outlook
Garza’s no-hitter has given the right-hander some confidence, a trait that has been lacking all season for him. However, how long will that confidence last against a team like the Yankees? New York can beat the snot out of any pitcher, regardless of recent no-hitters. I’m betting Garza will go down the same path of Edwin Jackson and Dallas Braden and struggle in their post-no-hitter fame.
Pick: Yankees
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Poolside Rants hails from beautiful Bozeman Montana by way of Toronto, Canada. (Blame his wife for the move). He’s a Dallas Cowboys football honk. But please….don’t hold that against him. The man knows his sports and has uncanny knowledge when it comes to picking games.
