ODDS ANALYSIS
After a slow start that had many wondering if the Yankees’ aging group of veterans was past its prime, the old guys just needed a while to get going. Following a 3-6 start the Yanks got going by sweeping the Rays in Florida in a three-game set to start a stretch where they won 18 of 25 games. New York’s four-game win streak in Tampa ended Tuesday with a 4-2 setback but the Yanks are still up 3.59 units in the five games and 7.97 units for the season. Tuesday’s game was the first of five to finish under the total with the over going 17-14-3 in the Yankees’ 34 games.
Backed by its underrated pitching staff Tampa Bay is lingering right behind the Yankees in the AL East standings. The Rays have thrown a group of unknowns together to form the fourth-best staff in the AL with a 3.55 ERA, much needed with an offense that ranks near the bottom of nearly every category. Accordingly the under is 13-4 in Tampa Bay’s last 17 games and 20-14 overall. Strangely, though, the over is 4-1 in the first five games between these clubs at the Trop and there is a good chance they’ll exceed the total Thursday with starters that were touched up last time out.
PITCHING MATCHUP
After two solid outings New York’s Chase Whitley (1-1, 3.06 ERA) served up three home runs in a losing effort against the Orioles on Saturday. He allowed five runs on six hits with five strikeouts in 5.2 innings after 12 innings of one-run ball over his first two starts of the year.
Whitley is facing the Rays for the second time in his four starts. He made his season debut against Tampa Bay on Apr. 20 in New York, picking up the win by throwing five innings with six hits and one run.
Erasmo Ramirez (0-1, 8.38 ERA) has allowed just two runs – a two-run home run by Mark Teixeira on Monday – in his last five relief appearances spanning nine innings. In his two starts this season he has allowed a combined 10 runs – nine earned – in 7.1 innings.
Ramirez will be facing the Yankees for the fourth time this season making his first start. He threw two innings in relief Monday giving up Teixeira’s homer that broke an 11-inning scoreless streak.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I’ll play just like every time. Every time they ring the phone and say, ‘Ramirez, you go in,’ it’s the same call. You have to be prepared to throw strikes - they have aggressive swingers and are a good team. I just have to go and do my job. I’m happy for the chance.” – Rays pitcher Erasmo Ramirez on getting the start Thursday
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
With Erasmo Ramirez getting the nod for the Rays Thursday after throwing 21 pitches in a two-inning relief stint Monday, expect manager Kevin Cash to keep a close eye on his pitch count. The fifth spot in the rotation was left vacant by injuries and Ramirez got the call due to his ability to bounce back, according to Cash. The Rays would like him to eat some innings, which would be a bonus, but don’t count on it. The Rays will likely use a bullpen by committee following Ramirez, who is unlikely to pitch deep into the game, and that could be adventuresome with the fluctuations in the pen and guys being sick. The Yankees could take advantage.
PROP TALK
The Yankees have the sluggers in Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran, but the guy that makes the offense work is centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who’s having a monster season so far. Ellsbury had two of New York’s eight hits Tuesday and tops the club with a .346 average and 26 runs scored. He’s hit safely in 13 of 14 games raising his average from .282 and has three or more hits in a game four times in that stretch. Yes, he’s on fire and he’s enjoyed facing Tampa Bay pitching this season with 13 hits in 31 at-bats for a cool .419 average. Ellsbury will ignite the Yanks offense against Erasmo Ramirez with a few hits and the big boys will drive him in.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The veteran group of players has stayed healthy through the first month of the season and the Yankees have taken the top spot in the AL East. They’ll turn to one of their youngsters Thursday when 26-year-old Chase Whitley gets the call for his fourth start of the year. Whitley was solid in his first two starts giving up a run in 12 innings then got shellacked for five earned in 5.2 innings in his last outing. Somewhere in between will probably be good enough to get a win against Erasmo Ramirez, who owns a less than stellar 8.38 ERA. Mark Teixeira homered off Ramirez on Monday and looks forward to a few more cracks at the Rays righty.
With an entire pitching staff on the DL the Rays turn to reliever Erasmo Ramirez for the start on Thursday. Ramirez has started two games this season without much success but had eight scoreless relief innings before Mark Teixeira ended that streak with a two-run homer on Monday. Tampa Bay’s offensive numbers aren’t mind-blowing but the Rays seem to get the clutch hit when needed. Evan Longoria has started to hit after a slow start which is promising for team that’s hungry for run production.
New York 7, Tampa Bay 4
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the New York Yankees versus the Tampa Bay Rays will commence Thursday, May 14, 2015, at 7:10 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field. You can watch the contest live on the MLB Network.
