Tommy Brunson
Monday comp play will be the Yankees over the Rays.
Because of Hurricane Irma, this series is being contested at Citi Field - home of the Mets - and while the Rays are officially listed as the "home" team, you can assume the Yankees will not only have more fans in the stands, but they also get the luxury of sleeping in their own beds this week....BIG advantage New York!
The Yankees just slugged their way to a pair of wins in their 3-game weekend set in Arlington against the Texas Rangers, and they have now won 7 of their last 10 games overall to grab a firm grip on the first wild-card spot in the A.L.
The Rays snapped a 3-game slide with the Sunday win over Boston, but have lost 5 of their last 8 as they have dropped a little further back in the chase for the second wild-card spot in the A.L.
Sabathia and Odorizzi will go, and the Yanks are 8-0 the past 8 times CC has started against Tampa Bay.
Odorizzi has won his last 2 starts, but did lose his season debut this year to the Yankees, and is just 5-6 for his career with a 4.40 ERA versus New York.
Have to lay it with the Yankees tonight.
5* N.Y. YANKEES
OC Dooley
Pirates +160
For both regular fans and the entire Pittsburgh organization there is excitement regarding tonight's starter Steven Brault who won "pitcher of the year" honors at the Triple-A level where his ERA in twenty-one games (1.94) was spectacular. The money line offshore has been moving against the Pirates since the team they are facing this evening (Milwaukee) just swept the Cubs during the weekend (now just two games out in the National League Central) but one can argue that puts them in an emotional letdown situation tonight. I am aware that Brandon Woodruff (1.52 ERA in four major league starts) has been spectacular for Milwaukee but the Brewers did come up on the "losing" side in his most recent mound assignments where he received just 2 runs of support. With the team just getting swept by St. Louis during the weekend, this series becomes vital for Pittsburgh who is now on the fringes of the Wildcard chase