Rays try to play role of spoiler vs. Yankees
On paper, Tampa Bay would appear to be the only AL East team with nothing for which to play down the stretch. Yet Kevin Cash’s club could delight in making life miserable for many division rivals.
The Rays visit the Yankees tonight, with a 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch in the Bronx. Online sports book BetDSI gives Joe Girardi’s bunch odds of -121 to hold serve in the Empire State. Conversely, the visitors check in as +111 underdogs. The over/under run figure holds steady at 8.5.
After a brief lull last week, New York enters the series on an absolute tear. Thanks to tremendous work on the mound and some timely hitting, the squad has won four in row. Yesterday’s 2-0 defeat of Toronto pulled the Yanks within 2 1/2 games of the AL’s second wild-card spot.
CC Sabathia (8-12, 4.20 ERA) obviously wants to keep the momentum going this evening. The venerable southpaw holds a 14-14 record with a 1.25 WHIP in 40 career starts vs. Tampa Bay. Most recently, he absorbed a 2-0 loss to Baltimore.
MLB Quick Links: Scores & Matchups | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Betting Trends | ATS Stats
As for Cash, he counters with Alex Cobb (0-0, 3.60). The 28-year-old’s first assignment since returning from Tommy John surgery went about as well as could be expected, as he held the Blue Jays to just two runs and four hits over five innings last week. Cobb’s 5-2 with a 1.93 ERA in 10 previous clashes with the Yankees.
Despite the fact that the Bronx Bombers continue to post woeful run support for Sabathia, we have to recommend them here. They’re 40-28 at home, and Tampa Bay’s just commencing a brutal 11-game road trip. Expect New York to do what’s necessary to remain relevant in the playoff chase.
THURSDAY MLB FREE PICK: RAYS/YANKEES OVER 8.5 RUNS