New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg
When: Thursday, September 22, 2016, 8:10 PM ET
Line: New York Yankees (+118) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (-128); total: 8.0 – view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
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Betting on the New York Yankees (+118)
The Yankees are still hoping they could catch a ride to the postseason. With Luis Cessa on the mound for them later tonight, the Yankees look to complete a three-game sweep of the Rays.
Cessa has a 4-2 record and a 4.44 ERA in six starts this season. He was last seen taking abuse from the Red Sox, as he yielded three earned runs on six hits in five innings of a 7-4 loss at Fenway Park last week. While the Rays are a less frightening team to pitch against than Boston, Tampa Bay managed to get to Cessa on September 11, when the Rays made four runs opposite the righty in a 7-6 victory.
Cessa is going to need the Yankees’ bats to lighten the pressure. Gary Sanchez is one of those relied upon by Cessa to deliver the goods at the plate. Sanchez is 11-for-26 with two doubles and five homers in his last six games, including the one he lofted against Blake Snell in the Yankees’ 7-5 win against Tampa Bay on September 9.
The Yankees are 5-1 in their last six games against Tampa Bay.
Betting on the Tampa Bay Rays (-128)
The Rays are going nowhere this season but they’re still motivated not to get swept by New York in this series. They’ll have their last shot at the Yankees with Blake Snell (5-8, 3.87 ERA) handling the starting duties.
The Rays won Snell’s last start against Baltimore last week. He didn’t perform well in that game, though, giving up four earned runs on six hits in 4.1 innings of a 7-6 win. The offense rescued Snell in the Orioles game and he’s hoping he’ll be receiving ample amount of runs against the Yankees.
Snell has been getting 8.31 RS/9 in three starts this month, the most by any starter on the team. He is 1-1 with a high 5.54 ERA this September.
Among those performing well at the plate lately for Tampa Bay are Evan Longoria and Brad Miller. Longoria is 11-for-25 with four homers in his last six games, while Miller is 6-for-22 with two blasts and five RBIs during the same span.
Tampa Bay is 3-2 in Snell’s last five home starts.
Writer’s Prediction
New York (+118) wins, 5-3.
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