Tampa Bay (26-15) at NY Yankees (26-16)
When: Friday, May 17th, 2019
Where: Yankee Stadium,
Bronx, New York
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: OFF
It seems like the New York Yankees entire roster has been on the injured list at some point this season, but the resilient group has been slowly climbing back towards the top of the American League East and has a chance to overtake it this weekend. The first place Tampa Bay Rays come to the Bronx for a three-game series beginning Friday night with a slim half-game lead over New York. The Yankees were big underdogs in all three games last weekend in St. Petersburg, but still managed to take two of three from the Rays by beating two of the best pitchers in the Majors in Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. New York did a lot of waiting around this week with rainouts on Monday and Tuesday, but swept a double-header from the Baltimore Orioles thanks to three home runs from Gleyber Torres, then had an off day on Thursday. Torres went 3-for-7 with a double and an RBI in two games against Tampa Bay last weekend. The Rays bounced back from that series loss by taking both games from the Miami Marlins this week – 4-0 and 1-0 – as their pitching staff continues to lead MLB in ERA (2.82). It appears Yonny Chirinos will get the bulk of the innings in the series opener, either by starting or coming in after an opener, while the Yankees counter with veteran lefty CC Sabathia.
Pitchers: Rays – Yonny Chirinos (5-1, 3.61 ERA) | Yankees – CC Sabathia (2-1, 3.26)
Ryne Stanek got the start in front of Chirinos last weekend versus the Yankees and the same could be done on Friday. Chirinos came out of the bullpen and surrendered two runs on four hits – one homer – while striking out a pair and earning his fifth win. He has made the start in four of his eight appearances and went at least five innings in six out those outings.
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
Sabathia pitched against Stanek and Chirinos in that 7-2 setback last Saturday, but escaped with a no-decision despite serving up solo homers to Avisail Garcia and Yandy Diaz. He allowed just those two runs on three hits and four walks in five innings. Sabathia has yet to complete six innings in a start this season and was lifted after just 76 pitches on Saturday. He’s 2-0 in three home starts with a 1.80 ERA, striking out 13 in 15 total innings.
There’s no overnight line for this game, because – as in most cases with Tampa Bay games – nobody has any idea who will actually start. I’m going with the assumption that the Rays will do what they did last Saturday against the Yankees and have Chirinos pitch the bulk of the innings. Either way, I like New York in this one because they have a ton of momentum and are 10-3 in Sabathia’s last 13 starts against the Rays.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Friday. He is 62-39 +1792 units on the season after a 12-1 run!
Pick: Yankees -113
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
BETTING TRENDS:
Rays are 10-1 in their last 11 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Rays are 6-1 in their last 7 during game 1 of a series.
Rays are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Rays are 17-4 in their last 21 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Rays are 6-2 in their last 8 games following an off day.
Rays are 23-8 in their last 31 road games.
Rays are 19-7 in their last 26 games on grass.
Rays are 15-6 in their last 21 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Rays are 54-26 in their last 80 overall.
Rays are 37-18 in their last 55 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Rays are 26-53 in their last 79 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Yankees are 6-0 in their last 6 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Yankees are 4-0 in their last 4 Friday games.
Yankees are 5-0 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Yankees are 5-0 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Yankees are 9-1 in their last 10 vs. American League East.
Yankees are 20-7 in their last 27 overall.
Yankees are 19-7 in their last 26 games on grass.
Yankees are 5-2 in their last 7 games following a win.
Yankees are 5-2 in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Yankees are 63-26 in their last 89 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Yankees are 12-5 in their last 17 games following an off day.
Yankees are 37-16 in their last 53 during game 1 of a series.
Yankees are 88-42 in their last 130 home games.
Yankees are 4-0 in Sabathia’s last 4 Friday starts.
Yankees are 4-1 in Sabathia’s last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
Yankees are 4-1 in Sabathia’s last 5 starts on grass.
Yankees are 27-9 in Sabathia’s last 36 home starts.
Yankees are 6-2 in Sabathia’s last 8 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Yankees are 23-9 in Sabathia’s last 32 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Yankees are 47-19 in Sabathia’s last 66 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Yankees are 61-30 in Sabathia’s last 91 starts during game 1 of a series.
Yankees are 2-6 in Sabathia’s last 8 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-0 in Rays last 5 road games.
Under is 5-0 in Rays last 5 on grass.
Under is 13-3-1 in Rays last 17 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 4-1-1 in Rays last 6 games following an off day.
Over is 4-1-1 in Rays last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 20-6-1 in Rays last 27 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 3-1-1 in Rays last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Rays last 7 games following a win.
Under is 5-2-1 in Rays last 8 vs. American League East.
Under is 34-14-4 in Rays last 52 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 35-17-4 in Rays last 56 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 13-3-1 in Yankees last 17 Friday games.
Over is 12-3-1 in Yankees last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-1 in Yankees last 5 on grass.
Under is 4-1 in Yankees last 5 home games.
Over is 3-1-1 in Yankees last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 12-5-1 in Yankees last 18 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 9-4-1 in Yankees last 14 games following a win.
Over is 15-7-1 in Yankees last 23 vs. American League East.
Over is 5-1 in Sabathia’s last 6 starts during game 1 of a series.
Under is 4-1 in Sabathia’s last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 12-4 in Sabathia’s last 16 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 33-16-3 in Sabathia’s last 52 home starts.
Under is 33-16-2 in Sabathia’s last 51 starts vs. American League East.
Under is 7-0 in the last 7 meetings in New York.
Over is 5-0-1 in the last 6 meetings.
Yankees are 4-1 in Sabathia’s last 5 home starts vs. Rays.
Over is 8-2-1 in Sabathia’s last 11 home starts vs. Rays.
Yankees are 10-3 in Sabathia’s last 13 starts vs. Rays.
Rays are 2-5 in the last 7 meetings.
Rays are 8-22 in the last 30 meetings in New York.
