Rays vs Yankees Prediction, Pick and Preview, October 1 (10/1): MLB

Rays vs Yankees Prediction, Pick and Preview, October 1 (10/1): MLB

Credit: photo by Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

 
Odds
Time 1:00 p.m. EST
Rays money line +108
Rays run line +1.5 (-160)
Yankees money line -130
Yankees run line -1.5 (+135)
Over / under 9 (-115)

 

Key stats
  Rays Yankees
Record 98-61 91-68
Road / home record 46-32 45-33
Last 10 record 6-4 8-2
Streak 1L 1W
Over / under record 82-69-8 68-87-4
Runs / game 5.31 4.42
Runs allowed / game 4.06 4.12

 

Preview

Tonight we have the Rays traveling to the Bronx to take on the Yankees. The Rays enter this game atop the AL East as they sit 7 games ahead of the Yankees with the best record in the American League, securing their postseason spot. The Yankees enter this game with a 2 game lead for the top AL wildcard spot and with a couple more wins they will be able to solidify their posteason spot. This is a big series and I am sure that the Rays will do everything they can to beat the Yankees and eliminate their chances of making the postseason.

Pitching matchup

Rays

Shane McClanahan (10-6, 3.44 ERA) will be on the mound for the Rays when they take on the Yankees. McClanahan enters this game with a 1.28 WHIP and 3.62 XFIP. This season he carries a 26.9% strikeout rate along with a 7.5% walk rate. The rookie right hander has been pretty solid for the Rays this season. He's been hit extremely hard this year but hasn't been punished for it, evidenced by his average exit velocity of 91 mph. He's able to attack hitters with a mid to high 90's fastball followed up with a slider as those are his main pitches. He could have his hands full tonight against a dangerous Yankees lineup that hits left handed pitching well and has been getting hot at the right time.

Yankees

Nestor Cortes (2-2, 2.85 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Yankees when they host the Rays. Cortes enters this game with a 1.08 WHIP and 4.31 XFIP. This season he carries a nice 28.3% strikeout rate along with a 6.5% walk rate. Cortes has been solid when called upon for the Yanks. He does have homerun issues as he has allowed a long ball in 10 straight games. He is a fly ball pitcher that gives up some power to both sides of the plate, his strikeout ability and low walk rate is the reason he hasn't been totally punished when he does give up the homeruns. He could have his hands full against a Rays team that struggles with left handed pitching but at the same time boasts some good power numbers in the split. 

Prediction

In these playoff like games I like to target the total as teams really start to look at matchups when it comes down to the bullpens. The Rays would love to be the reason the Yankees miss the postseason so I see this series being close every game and a bit lower scoring due to both bullpens. I'll side with talented arms over bats everytime.

PICK: Under 9 (-105)

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