ODDS ANALYSIS
The Rays should be excited to leave Florida after butchering their 10-game homestand with eight losses. The offense failed miserably and the pitching wasn’t far behind in losing the final five games.
There was a slight outburst Thursday when they scored four times, matching their output from the previous three games combined, but it wasn’t enough. Despite the slide Tampa Bay is in the hunt in the AL East with four teams having won 42 games entering play this weekend. The Rays have been solid on the road going 22-14 overall up 10.62 units on the moneyline, and they are 11-3 in their last 14 away from the Trop.
It’s nice to return home after a losing road trip and still find yourself tied for first place. That’s what happened to the Yankees after their 3-4 trip through Houston and Los Angeles. They Yanks had difficulties of their own producing runs, scoring six times over the final four games of the trip while cashing the under each time. New York lost three straight to Tampa but still owns a 6-4 record in the season series and took two of three from the Rays when the teams met in Yankee Stadium in late April. The under is 6-1 in New York’s last seven games and the teams played below the scoreline in all three played in Yankee Stadium.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Nathan Karns (4-4, 3.26 ERA) has faced pitchers with perfect-game bids in his last two starts, earning a loss and a no-decision despite giving up a combined two runs in 12 innings. He gave up two runs in six innings losing to the Indians on Monday after six scoreless frames against Toronto on June 24.
Karns allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts over 4.2 innings getting a no-decision in New York’s 4-1 at Yankee Stadium on Apr. 27. He makes his fourth start this season against the Yanks and is 1-0 with a 3.07 ERA in those games.
The Yankees haven’t committed to a starter but are on schedule to send Michael Pineda (8-5, 4.08 ERA) to the bump. Pineda tossed his first career complete game but took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) over eight innings Sunday at Houston. Aside from the result, it was a good start for him after getting shelled by the Phillies in his previous outing.
Pineda is 1-0 with a 3.97 ERA in two starts this season against the Rays and is 2-1 with a 3.22 ERA and 32 Ks over 36.1 career innings against them.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“He’s going to help offensively, there’s no doubt about that. We’re excited to have him back. To be able to plug our first baseman that we anticipated being with us all year back in the lineup, that’ll help.” – Rays manager Kevin Cash on the return of James Loney from the DL
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Yankees and Rays are searching for offense and both teams could get a boost to their lineup with the eminent return of key players. New York ended a three-game slide with Wednesday’s 3-1 over the LA Angels, capping a 3-4 trip in which it batted .214 and totaled 18 runs, scoring three or fewer six times. The Yanks’ Jacoby Ellsbury, out since May 19 with a sprained right knee, could be activated for the series. He was batting .324 when he went on the DL but was clearly affected by the ailment, going hitless in 10 at-bats prior to being shelved. The Rays are enduring woes of their own totaling 11 runs with six walks and 51 strikeouts in a losing streak that reached five-games with a 5-4, 10-inning loss to Cleveland on Thursday. James Loney is expected to return after being out since May 24 with a broken finger. Loney was hitting .275 with a pair of homers before landing on the DL.
PROP TALK
If Jacoby Ellsbury doesn’t get hurt Brett Gardner remains a part-time option off the bench for the Yankees. Gardner is making the most of his chance and is forcing manager Joe Girardi to make a decision on his playing time when Ellsbury returns. Gardner is batting .462 over a nine-game hitting streak and has 10 hits in 31 at-bats with a home run and six RBIs in 10 games against the Rays this season. He’s also walked four times, has a .400 OBP and swiped four bags. He’s done it all against Tampa Bay and continues to terrorize the Rays this weekend.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Call it little team syndrome, or something to that effect, but the Rays are always well prepared to take on the Yankees. Tampa Bay lacks the superstar names and the enormous payroll yet they continue to put a winning product on the field and have had their share of success against the behemoth New Yorkers. A recent bump in the road isn’t going to derail the Rays, who get out of Florida after dropping five straight, and turn to Nathan Karns to shutdown the Yanks. The Rays find some offense and escape with a close win.
Tampa Bay 4, New York 3
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time moneylines, player props and inning totals. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
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 Tampa Bay Rays versus the New York Yankees will commence Saturday, July 4, 2015, at 1:05 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium. The contest will be televised nationally on FS1.
