It’s not often that a team carrying MLB’s best record heading into Memorial Day Weekend is an underdog in the betting market. Yet that’s where the New York Yankees find themselves Friday, as Yankees vs Rays odds for the second game of a four-game series in Florida reveal Tampa Bay as a slight home favorite.
In fact, assuming Friday’s odds hold up, New York — which rolled to a 7-2 victory in Thursday’s series opener — will take the field as a ’dog for just the third time this season. Here’s what happened on the other two occasions when the Bronx Bombers were on the short side of the odds ledger: Yankees 9, Blue Jays 1; Yankees 15, White Sox 7.
New York’s record in its last six games as an underdog dating to last season: 6-0.
Does that trend continue Friday at Tropicana Field? Or will another trend — Tampa Bay has won five straight games when coming off a loss — hold up? Props.com breaks down Yankees vs Rays odds for Friday’s clash of AL East rivals.
| Matchup | Moneyline | Runline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Yankees | +110 | +165 (-1.5 runs) | 7 (Over -115) |
| Tampa Bay Rays | -130 | -195 (-1.5 runs) | 7 (Under -105) |
Odds via DraftKings and updated as of 6:30 p.m. ET on May 27.
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N.Y. Yankees (32-13) vs Tampa Bay Rays (26-18)
First Pitch/TV: 7:10 p.m. ET/MLB.TV
Pitching matchup: RHP Jameson Taillon (4-1, 2.95 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) vs LHP Jeffrey Springs (2-1, 1.32 ERA, 0.80 WHIP)
Season series: Yankees lead 1-0.
Did you know: Even with Thursday’s loss, Tampa Bay is still 22-13 in its last 35 games against the Yankees.
About the Yankees
Hits & Misses: New York has followed up a mini 1-3 slump with three straight wins. The Yankees continue to sport baseball’s best record, 1.5 games better than the Dodgers (30-16). Their 5.5-game lead over second-place Tampa in the AL East is the second largest in MLB, trailing only the crosstown Mets, who lead the NL East by 7.5 games. Although the Bronx Bombers failed to go yard in Thursday’s series opener, they still lead MLB with 63 home runs. On the mound, New York ranks third in team ERA (2.98), second in WHIP (1.10), fourth in strikeouts, first in fewest walks allowed and fourth in fewest HRs allowed. Also, the Yankees slot second in the betting standings at +7.63 units. Only the Padres (+8.59) have been more profitable.
Taillon vs Rays: Taillon has been solid all season and is coming off arguably his best performance to date. Facing the White Sox at home, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2010 draft tossed a season-high seven innings, yielding one run on five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. However, the Yankees produced just one run in a 3-1 defeat. That ended New York’s six-game winning streak with Taillon on the bump. The veteran right-hander has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his eight starts, though his ERA on the road (3.45 in three starts) is higher than at home (2.67 in five outings). Taillon is 1-2 with a 3.26 ERA in four career starts against Tampa Bay.
Key injuries: 2B D.J. LeMahieu (wrist) has missed the last two games and is questionable. CF Aaron Hicks (hamstring) sat out Thursday and also is questionable. Also, 3B Josh Donaldson (COVID list) is out indefinitely.
About the Rays
Hits & Misses: Tampa Bay posted a season-best six-game winning streak from May 2-7, all on the West Coast (A’s and Mariners). Since then, the Rays have been spinning their wheels, going 8-8. Also, Thursday’s loss snapped a four-game home winning streak. It was the first time in seven games that Tampa Bay failed to score at least four runs. As usual, the pitching staff has been carrying the team. The Rays rank in the top six in team ERA (3.34, 6th); WHIP (1.11, T-3rd); opponents’ batting average (.218; 4th); and walks allowed (4th). Offensively, the Rays average 4.40 runs per game, which ranks 12th in MLB. 3B Yandy Diaz has the team’s best batting average (.268) and OPS (.758). However, Diaz only ranks 50th and 65th, respectively, in those categories.
Springs vs Yankees: Springs has split time between the starting rotation and bullpen, compiling 27.1 innings in 12 appearances. Three of the southpaw’s four starts have come in his last three outings against the Angels, Blue Jays and Orioles. Since surrendering three runs in four innings of an 11-3 loss at Los Angeles, he’s tossed 10.1 scoreless innings against Toronto (3-0 home win; no-decision) and Baltimore (6-1 road win). The 29-year-old from South Carolina has a 27-7 K/BB ratio and has yielded just one home run. Springs has faced the Yankees eight times, all as a reliever, posting a 2.70 ERA in 10 innings.
Key injuries: The only everyday player on the shelf is 2B Brandon Lowe, who is out until mid-June with a back injury. However, Tampa Bay has a slew of starting and relief pitchers on the injured list and out indefinitely.
Notable Trends
- NYY are on positive runs of 5-1 on the road, 12-4 vs left-handed SPs and 13-3 vs. the AL East
- TB is 7-3 in its last 10 vs right-handed SPs
- Over for NYY is on runs of 4-0 vs. left-handed SPs and 8-2 vs. the NL East
- Over for TB is on runs of 6-2 overall and 4-1 at home
- NYY are 6-2 in their last eight at Tropicana Field
- Road team is 13-7 in the last 20 series meetings
- Over/Under has alternated in the last six Yankees-Rays meetings
Yankees Vs Rays Odds and Action
UPDATE 6:30 P.M. ET FRIDAY: DraftKings opened Yankees vs Rays odds with New York as a -115 road favorite Thursday afternoon, then fell to -110 pick-em at about 8 p.m. ET before flipping to Rays -115/Yankees -105 some 90 minutes later. The moneyline has since moved to Rays -120, -125 and -130. About 30 minutes before first pitch, it remains Tampa Bay -130/New York +110. Despite that big shift in Tampa Bay’s direction, the action is split at 76% wagers on the Yankees/54% money on the Rays.
Even though the Rays are now solidly favored on the moneyline at DraftKings, the puckline still favors the Yankees. It’s gone from New York (-1.5) +145/Tampa Bay (+1.5) -165 to New York +165/Tampa Bay -195. There’s two-way action here as well, with 58% tickets on the Yankees and 70% cash on the Rays.
The total has toggled between the opener of 7.5 and 7, with multiple juice adjustments along the way. It’s now at 7/Over -115, with 71% of the wagers and 92% of the dollars on the Over.
UPDATE 11:10 A.M. ET FRIDAY: PointsBet USA installed the Yankees as a -115 favorite on its look-ahead line Thursday afternoon, but the moneyline has since moved in Tampa Bay’s direction. After Yankees vs Rays odds dropped to pick ’em, it adjusted to Tampa Bay -115 and -120 before settling at the current price of -125 late Thursday night. New York is +105 on the opposite side.
Similarly, the runline has flipped from Yankees (-1.5) +160/Rays (+1.5) -195 to the current odds of Rays (-1.5) +170/Yankees (+1.5) -205. The total opened and remains at 7.5, with a slight juice adjustment from Under -120 to Under -125.
Check back prior to first pitch for additional Yankees vs Rays odds and action updates.