The Yankees are -155 favorites on the moneyline with odds of 8.5 (-110o / -110u) in the Rays / Yankess matchup.
Right-hander Zack Littell of Tampa and left-hander Carlos Rodon of the New York Yankees pitched the starting pitchers in the series finale at Yankee Stadium.
Tampa Bay Rays
Littell has a 3-6 record with a 4.26 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 19 starts and is struggling this season. Stats: the right-hander has a 4.24 xERA and is in the 35th percentile or lower in xBA, average exit velocity and barrel velocity.
Those difficulties will likely continue against New York, against whom Littell has posted a 4.63 ERA in two career meetings. Nine or more runs have been scored in each of those two games.
Littell is followed by a bullpen that ranks 23rd in ERA, 27th in FIP and 26th in xFIP. Tampa’s lineup isn’t the most dangerous in the league, but it boasts a good record against Rodon.
The lineup has a .222 BA, .533 SLG and .370 wOBA in 53 combined appearances against the southpaw outfielder.
New York Yankees
Rodon is also struggling this year. In 20 starts, he has posted a 4.63 ERA and 1.28 WHIP.
Stats: 4.48 xERA and he’s in the 18th percentile or lower in average exit velocity, strikeout rate and hard-hit rate. Rodon approaches this matchup in particularly poor form, having allowed four or more runs in four of his last six starts.
The lefty is 0-5 with a 9.67 ERA. In four of those six starts, nine or more runs have been scored.
Presumably those struggles will continue against Tampa, a team Rodon is 0-3 in seven career meetings with. During that time, his ERA has totaled 5.34.
New York’s bullpen is poised to regress, as it ranks sixth in ERA and 17th in xFIP. “The Yankees possess one of the best lineups in the league, which is good news for pitching staffs.
They rank in the top five in points per game, OBP, SLG, OPS and home runs.
Rays vs/ Yankess predictions
We should expect fireworks in this matchup, 9 total runs are usually hard to come by. Both starting pitchers are struggling and are in the bottom half of the league in terms of xERA.
At the same time, both bullpens are in the bottom half of the league in terms of xFIP.
New York’s lineup will take advantage of this, it has a great record against Rodon. Tampa’s offense has much less power.
Rays vs/ Yankess Odds
| Rays Odds | Yankess Odds | ||||
| Spread | Total | Moneyline | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
| +1,5 -155 | 8,5 -112o/-108u | +140 | +1,5 +130 | 8,5 -112o/-108u | -166 |
