The New York Yankees (33-13) visit Tropicana Field Saturday for the 3rd of a 4-game series with the American League East rival Tampa Bay Rays (26-19). First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Yankees vs. Rays odds with MLB picks and predictions.

Season series: N.Y. leads 2-0. The Yankees won the series opener 7-2 Thursday then shut out the Rays 2-0 Friday.

N.Y RHP Jameson Taillon threw an 8-inning scoreless gem Friday with just 2 hits allowed as he issued 0 walks and struck out 5.

Yankees at Rays projected starters

RHP Gerrit Cole vs. RHP Corey Kluber

Cole is 4-1 with a 3.31 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and 10.8 K/9 in 51 2/3 IP across 9 starts.

• Last start: Loss, 6-4, Monday at home vs. the Baltimore Orioles with 8 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 1 HR, 0 BB and 11 K.
• 2021 vs. the Rays: 1-3 with a 5.11 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 14.2 K/9 in 24 2/3 IP over 4 starts.

Kluber is 1-2 with a 4.42 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 1.9 BB/9 and 8.6 K/9 in 38 2/3 IP across 8 starts.

• Last start: No-decision in 7-6 loss at the Orioles Sunday with 3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB and 2 K.
• 2022 home splits: 1-1 with a 2.91 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 9.1 K/9 in 21 2/3 IP over 4 starts.

Yankees at Rays odds and lines

• Money line (ML): Yankees -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Rays +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Yankees -1.5 (+125) | Rays +1.5 (-155)
• Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: +112 | U: -140)

Yankees at Rays picks and predictions

Prediction

Yankees 4, Rays 2

Money line

BET the YANKEES (-145) because this is a fair price with Cole on the mound vs. Kluber who’s a “bottom-of-the-rotation” starter.

Cole is 5th in xFIP (2.77) and 8th in K-BB% (23.7%) of all qualified starters (per FanGraphs) and grades in the 85th percentile of chase rate and 95th percentile of whiff rate (according to Statcast).

The Rays have lost 3 straight Kluber starts and are 3-5 overall in his 8 starts this year. Kluber is in the 15th percentile or worse in expected batting average (9%), wOBA (15%) and slugging percentage (11%).

New York has a better lineup and bullpen than Tampa and is rolling at the moment BET 1 unit on the YANKEES (-145).

Run line/Against the spread

PASS because N.Y.’s ML isn’t cheap and the Yankees -1.5 (+125) isn’t a steep enough payout considering the Rays are 8-3 RL as underdogs.

Over/Under

LEAN to the UNDER 7.5 (-140) because Tropicana Field is a notorious pitcher-friendly ballpark and ranks 25th in park factor, the Yankees are 10-12 O/U on the road, the Rays are 10-15-1 O/U at home and 3-10-1 O/U vs. AL East foes.

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