The Tampa Bay Rays (11-10) and New York Yankees (14-6) wrap up a 3-game interleague series at PNC Park on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Red Sox vs. Pirates odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tied 1-1; Yankees won series opener 5-3 on Friday, while Rays won 2-0 in 10 innings as a slight underdog (+112). The Under has cashed in both meetings
The Rays have alternated wins and losses in each of the past 9 games, while Tampa Bay is 5-2 in the past 7 outing on the road. The Under has cashed in 3 in a row, with the offense doing for 3 or fewer runs in 6 of the past 9 contests.
Tampa Bay has split its 6 games inside the American League East Division, and the Over-Under has also split 3-3 inside the division.
For the Yankees, the Under is 7-4 in the past 11 outings since April 8. New York is 4-3 inside the AL East, while the Over has hit at a 4-3 clip inside the division, too.
Rays at Yankees projected starters
RHP Aaron Civale vs. RHP Luis Gil
Civale (2-1, 2.74 ERA) makes his 5th start in 2024. He has a 0.91 WHIP, 1.6 BB/9 and 10.2 K/9 in 23 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K in 6-5 road win vs. New York Yankees on Aug. 20, 2023
- 2024 road splits: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 IP, 4 R (0 ER), 3 H, 3 BB, 9 K and .158 opponent batting average in 3 relief appearances
- Career vs. Yankees: 1-3, 4.78 ERA, 26 1/3 IP, 16 R (14 ER), 28 H (3 HR), 10 BB, 23 K, 1.443 WHIP in 5 starts
Gil (0-1, 3.86 ERA) makes his 4th start in 2024. He has a 1.43 WHIP, 9.0 BB/9 and 12.9 K/9 in 14 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 7 BB, 6 K in 3-1 road loss vs. Toronto Blue Jays on Monday
- Last home start: No-decision, 4 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 8 K in 8-3 win vs. Toronto Blue Jays on April 7
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Rays at Yankees odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:27 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rays +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Yankees -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays +1.5 (-185) | Yankees -1.5 (+150)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Rays at Yankees picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 6, Yankees 4
Moneyline
The RAYS (+110) are a decent play as short ‘dogs on the road in this series finale. The Yankees (-135) are using Gil, who has issued 14 walks in 14 IP, including 7 free passes issued in 5 IP on Monday in Toronto.
While Civale hasn’t been dominant, he has been very good, limiting the damage and picking up 2 wins in his 1st 4 starts.
Run line/Against the spread
The Rays +1.5 (-185) are priced just a little too high if you require insurance, and can’t bet Tampa Bay straight up.
The Yankees -1.5 (+150) cannot be trusted with the walk-happy Gil on the bump, especially after issuing 7 bases on balls last time out.
AVOID.
Over/Under
OVER 8.5 (-115) is worth a look in this matinee game.
The Over has a slight 5-3 edge for the Rays in the past 8 games, although the Under has hit in the first 2 meetings with the Yankees, so be careful. The Over has cashed in 3 of Civale’s 4 starts this season, too.
For the Yankees, the Over has a slight 4-3 edge in the past 7 games, but the Under is 5-0 in the past 5 home games, so tread lightly.
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