The New York Yankees will look to extend their postseason success when they take on the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the American League Division Series at San Diego on Friday evening. The Yankees, who lost to Houston in six games in the ALCS last season, are looking to make their sixth trip to the ALCS since 2009. New York is in the postseason for the fourth consecutive year and for the 22nd time in the past 26 years. Tampa Bay is making its sixth postseason appearance since 2008 and second in a row.
Friday's game will start at 7:10 p.m. ET from Petco Park. The Rays finished the regular season third in MLB in team ERA (3.56), while the Yankees were 14th at 4.35. New York is the -145 favorite on the money line in the latest Yankees vs. Rays odds from William Hill, while the over-under for total runs scored is 7.5. Before making any Rays vs. Yankees picks, check out the latest MLB predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
This model, which simulates every pitch 10,000 times, returned more than $1,400 on its top-rated money-line and run-line picks, and anyone who followed it saw huge rewards. It also got off to a hot start in the first week of the 2020 MLB Playoffs, hitting all three top-rated money-line MLB picks -- including the Cardinals (+150) in Game 1 against the Padres -- and returning almost $300 on the week.
Now, the model has dialed in on Yankees vs. Rays. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the MLB odds from William Hill and trends for Rays vs. Yankees:
- Yankees vs. Rays money line: New York -145, Tampa Bay +135
- Yankees vs. Rays run line: New York -1.5
- Yankees vs. Rays over-under: 7.5 runs
- NYY: Is first in MLB in runs scored (45) during the postseason and was fourth in the regular season (315)
- TB: LF Randy Arozarena is tied for third in MLB with a .500 batting average through six playoff games.
Why you should back the Rays
Tampa Bay has had New York's number of late, winning 12 of the last 16 games against the Yankees. Second baseman Joey Wendle (.286) has been one of the reasons for that and has been red hot in the series, going 6-for-13 (.462). Also having a big series is center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, who is hitting .286. He is 4-for-14 with two doubles, one homer and four RBIs. In 91 career games against the Yankees, Kiermaier is hitting .236 but has 10 doubles, five triples, 12 homers and 25 RBIs.
First baseman Ji-Man Choi, who hit just .230 during the regular season, is crushing New York pitching and is batting .308 in the series. He is 4-for-13 with two runs scored, one double, one homer and three RBIs. He also has walked three times. In nine games against the Yankees this season, Choi is 9-for-26 (.346) with two doubles, two homers and five RBIs.
Why you should back the Yankees
New York is expected to start right-hander Gerrit Cole (7-3, 2.84 ERA), who got the win in Game 1. In six innings, he allowed six hits, three earned runs and two walks, while striking out eight. He did allow a pair of home runs. He is 2-0 this postseason with 21 strikeouts and just two walks. During the regular season, Cole was 0-1 with a 4.96 ERA in three starts against the Rays, allowing 20 hits, nine earned runs, five homers and six walks, while striking out 27 in 16 1/3 innings. He had a 1.59 WHIP.
Shortstop Gleyber Torres (.308) has stepped up his play in the series and helped lead the Yankees to a Game 4 win, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a two-run homer. He is 4-for-13 in the series with two stolen bases. For the season, he has eight hits against the Rays with three RBIs. In 39 career games against Tampa Bay, he has 26 hits with three homers and 12 RBIs.
How to make Yankees vs. Rays picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, as the simulation says the starting pitchers from both teams will combine to allow nearly five runs in 11-plus combined innings, and it also says one side of the money line has the value. Head to SportsLine now to see the pick.
So who wins Rays vs. Yankees? And which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side to jump on, all from the advanced model that returned over $1,400 on MLB picks last year and got off to a hot start in the 2020 MLB Playoffs.
