MLB Betting: New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays

Added on May 16, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

MLB

Monday serves up a big baseball betting matchup in the AL East between the first place Tampa Bay Rays and the second place New York Yankees. Yankees slumping at the moment, having lost five straight including a weekend sweep at the hands of their hated rivals the Boston Red Sox. Tampa in solid form, having won 7 of their last 10.

New York Yankees (Burnett) at Tampa Bay Rays (Price)
May 16, 2011 3:40 PM Pacific

Yankees desperately need a win, but they’ll be hard pressed to get one on Monday as they travel to the ‘Cigar City’ to take on the Tampa Bay Rays. Tampa is winning games with ‘small ball’ this year, manufacturing runs and keeping their opponents off the board with the #4 team ERA in baseball (3.23). Rays have underachieved at home so for this year (10-12) but have been excellent on the road (13-5) and we expect things to improve in their ballpark as the season progresses.

Rays start southpaw David Price who has been pitching respectably this year and could have a big game given that the Yankees average nearly a full run less per game against left handers (4.1) than overall (5.0). Yankees counter with A.J. Burnett who hasn’t been bad this season but New York has split his 8 starts including an 0-2 record on the road. Burnett lost all three assignments against Tampa last year giving up 11 ER in 11.7 innings of work. Tampa has won 5 of Price’s 7 career starts against the Yankees.

Ulimately, we just have to play against New York’s dismal recent form and particularly against the AL East leader. Tampa Bay has been playing very well and will look to take advantage of the Yankees near term struggles to increase their divisional advantage over the ‘Bronx Bombers’ in this quick two game early week set. Yankees will have a good chance to get off the snide this week as they head to struggling Baltimore on Wednesday, but when they do we expect them to have even more ground to make up to Tampa Bay. We’ll look for the Rays to win both games against New York and in this one at least the price is right for us to get involved.

Bet Tampa Bay Rays (Price) -135 over NY Yankees (Burnett)