Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees odds, picks and predictions

The Tampa Bay Rays (48-49) and New York Yankees (59-40) meet Saturday for the 2nd game of a 4-game series. First pitch from Yankee Stadium is set for 1:05 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Rays vs. Yankees odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: New York leads 6-4

New York routed Tampa Bay 6-1 as a -156 home favorite in the series opener Friday. RHP Gerrit Cole allowed 1 ER on 6 hits and 1 walk with 8 K’s in 6 innings, and RF Juan Soto went 4-for-4.

The Rays have lost 2 of their last 3 games overall and scored a total of just 1 run over their last 2 meetings with the Yankees.

Rays at Yankees projected starters

RHP Taj Bradley vs. LHP Nestor Cortes

Bradley (4-4, 2.90 ERA) makes his 13th start. He has a 1.11 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 11.2 K/9 in 68 1/3 innings.

• Last start: Win, 7 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 8 K in 2-0 home victory over Cleveland Guardians July 12
• Career vs. Yankees: 0-1, 1.50 ERA (6 IP, 1 ER), 4 H, 2 BB, 7 K in 1 start, a 2-0 home loss May 10

Cortes (4-8, 3.67 ERA) makes his 21st start. He has a 1.12 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9 and 8.6 K/9 in 115 1/3 innings.

• Last start: Loss, 4 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 4 K in 5-4 setback at Rays July 11
• Career vs. Tampa Bay: 2-5, 4.59 ERA (66 2/3 IP, 34 ER), 1.19 WHIP, 8.0 K/9 across 10 starts and 5 relief appearances

Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.

Rays at Yankees odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Rays +136 (bet $100 to win $136) | Yankees -162 (bet $162 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays +1.5 (-162) | Yankees -1.5 (+134)
• Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

Rays at Yankees picks and predictions

Prediction

Yankees 4, Rays 3

BET YANKEES (-162).

New York is 3-1 in its last 4 games overall and 2-1 in its last 3 at home, while the Rays have dropped 4 straight on the road.

The Yankees are also 2-1 in the last 3 meetings between these teams and 3-1 in the last 4 in New York.

Be aware that laying -162 when betting into a 26-cent line always comes with a fair amount of risk.

PASS.

I slightly lean towards the Rays covering here as +1.5 (-162) underdogs, but the line is not worth the risk of betting on, as Tampa has only lost by exactly 1 run against the Yankees in 1 of its last 6 setbacks to New York. Bet on the moneyline and/or total instead.

BET UNDER 8.5 (-105).

The Under has hit in each of Tampa Bay’s last 4 games and is 7-2-1 in its last 10. For New York, the Under is 3-1 in its last 4 games overall and has hit in each of its last 2 at home. The Under has also hit in 2 of the last 3 meetings between these teams and is 3-1 in the last 4 in the Big Apple.

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