An American League East showdown begins Thursday night when the Tampa Bay Rays (29-9, 10-6 away) visit the New York Yankees (21-17, 14-8 home). The Yankees are four games above .500, but still find themselves last in the American League East and are already eight games back of these Rays in first place. Below is my MLB pick for the Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees.

Tampa Bay Rays vs New York Yankees Betting Pick

The Pick: New York Yankees +106

This game will be played at Yankee Stadium at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2023.

Why Bet the New York Yankees:

✅ New York has been in good form lately having won four of their last five games played.

✅ The Yankees love being at home as they have won five straight in the Bronx.

✅ Against New York, the Rays have lost seven of their last 10 at Yankee Stadium.

Tampa Bay Rays Can Make It Late Early

Tampa Bay has been one of the best teams in baseball this season and they can make it late early for the New York Yankees. A four-game sweep would put the Yankees 12 games back, which is a big lead for this early in the season. The Rays are coming off a poor series that saw them lose two of three in Baltimore.

Drew Rasmussen is set to make his eighth start of the year and he will look to build off his 3.11 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.

Randy Arozarena has been leading the way for the Rays this season as he leads the team with a .319 batting average, nine home runs, and 30 RBIs.

The New York Yankees Need to Win This Series

New York needs to get it going and they had the perfect slump buster come to town early this week. The Oakland Athletics will be the worst team in baseball this season and they Yankees won three blowout games to sweep them right out of the Bronx. A needed sweep especially with the Rays losing two of three.

Domingo German will grab the ball for the eighth time this season and he will hope to improve on his 4.35 ERA and 0.94 WHIP.

Anthony Rizzo has been good at the dish as he leads the Yankees with a .302 batting average and six home runs. DJ LeMahieu has knocked in a team leading 18 RBIs.