Friday MLB Betting Preview – Rays at Yankees
Tampa Bay looks to continue its success against divisional foes on the road in the second half of the season, after posting a 10-1 mark against the AL East away from Tropicana Field in the first half of the season. The Rays also hold a 3-2 series lead against the Yankees this season. This series will be different from any other between the two clubs, as emotions will run high at Yankee Stadium with the recent passing of New York’s owner George Steinbrenner. “It’s really all about the Yankees,” said Rays manager Joe Maddon. The Rays are in a money-grabbing spot tonight being 22-8 against left-handed starters this season (+1,140).
Rays starting pitcher James Shields is 7-9 with a 4.87 ERA in 19 appearances (18 starts) this season (-610), as the right-hander has managed to tally just two wins since May 20. He picked up a loss in his last outing, allowing four earned runs and six hits over 6.1 innings of work. Shields has posted a 6-4 record and 4.20 ERA in 10 road outings this year, but has garnered an impressive 4-to-1 strikeout ratio in those games (48K/12BB). In 11 career starts versus the Yankees, he has compiled a losing 2-7 mark and 5.54 ERA. He did pick up a victory against the Bronx Bombers on May 20 at Yankee Stadium, surrendering four runs (three earned) and eight hits over 7.1 frames.
New York finished the first half with the best record in baseball at 56-32 (+740), but will have more than winning on its mind to start the second half. With the recent passing of public address announcer Bob Sheppard and Steinbrenner, the club has been given extra motivation in repeating as World Series champions. The Yankees have cost bettors as a home favorite of -175 to -200 this season (6-5, -340), but are an impressive 9-2 during the month (+610).
Yankees starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia is 12-3 with a 3.09 ERA in 19 starts this year (+270) and is coming in with a eight-game winning streak. In fact, the left-hander has given up just two home runs in that span, with both allowed in his first start of the streak. He brings a perfect 6-0 record and 2.37 ERA in eight home starts (+100), allowing opposing hitters a combined .183 batting average. Sabathia has been virtually untouchable this month, going 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA in three starts.
With no clear advantage in choosing sides in this contest, bettors may elect on focusing in on the total. The Yankees are 7-14 O/U when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season, while the Rays are 28-32 O/U in the same situation the last three years.
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