Coming off their first series loss of the season, the New York Yankees are a win away from a victorious set when they host the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon.
The Yanks opened the series with a 5-3 win Friday night to move to 14-6 on the year, tying them with Cleveland for the best record in the bigs after 20 games.
The Rays, who enter the game as +114 moneyline underdogs in the MLB odds, currently sit fourth in the AL East, part of the only division in baseball where every team has a winning record.
Can Tampa avoid falling to .500 in the Bronx? Check out my free MLB picks and Rays vs Yankees predictions below, complete with a best bet.
Rays vs Yankees prediction
My best bet
Juan Soto Over 0.5 RBI (+180 at DraftKings)
Best odds available in your region
My analysis
It’s been quite the start to Juan Soto’s Yankees career. Through 20 games, the 25-year-old is hitting .347, with a 1.068 OPS. The right fielder has reached base safely in 12 straight games and has failed to reach base in just two games all year.
On Friday, he blasted his fifth home run of the season, a three-run shot that capped a 5-run seventh inning that sealed the win. New York is now a perfect 5-0 in games where Soto has gone yard. Soto’s long ball moved him to 20 RBI’s on the year, which ranks fourth in MLB.
He’s been a beast with runners in scoring position, hitting an absurd 9-for-176 (.563) with three home runs and 17 RBI. So, getting +180 odds for him to drive in a run against the Rays on Saturday seems like a gimme bet.
It gets even better when you see his stats against Rays starter Zach Eflin. Soto is batting 11-for-25 against the righty, a crisp .440 clip with a pair of home runs and 10 RBI. He’s traditionally hit well against the Rays, though it was with less frequency, as he was in the National League through his first seven seasons.
Soto has hits in 11 of 15 games against Tampa, with a solid .286 average. Over the last seven contests, he has also driven in 10 runs, with four games of at least two RBI.
He’s also driven in at least one run in six straight home games.
Rays vs Yankees same-game parlay (SGP)
Juan Soto Over 0.5 RBI
Zach Eflin 4+ strikeouts
Paredes to get a hit
While Soto may have Eflin’s number, the Rays’ righty has held his own against the rest of the Yankees. In five career starts, Eflin is 3-1, with a 1.86 ERA.
He has pitched into the sixth inning in four of those starts, and has allowed an average of five hits per game.
Eflin has also been able to get those New York bats whiffing with frequency, recording at least five strikeouts in every start.
Despite taking the loss in his last start against the Yankees, he fanned 11 batters — his first double-digit strikeout performance against them — part of a 7-hit, 2-earned run performance over six innings of work.
We’ll wrap this 3-legged SGP with the bat work of Tampa third baseman Isaac Paredes.
Paredes picked up a pair of hits Friday against the Yanks, giving him hits in five straight games, including three multi-hit efforts.
He’ll step to the plate against New York lefty Nestor Cortes, and he’s had some success against him, hitting .333 with two home runs and two RBI in 12 at-bats.
On the year, Paredes has gone 7-for-20 against lefties, a healthy .350 average, with a couple of RBI. Bet on him to have some success Saturday.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Rays vs Yankees odds
Rays vs Yankees live odds
Rays vs Yankees opening odds
- Run line: Tampa Bay +1.5 (-170) | New York -1.5 (+145)
- Moneyline: Tampa Bay +115 | New York -135
- Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+100) | Under 8.5 (-120)
Rays vs Yankees spread and Over/Under analysis
- The moneyline underdog is 2-8 in the last 10 head-to-head matchups.
- Tampa has alternated wins and losses in its last seven games.
- The Rays and Yankees have hit the Under in two of the last three matchups.
- New York has gone Under the total in four straight home games.
Rays vs Yankees trend
The Rays have won five of their last six games as underdogs following a loss. Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Yankees
Rays vs Yankees game info
| Location: | Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL |
| Date: | Saturday, 4-20-2024 |
| First pitch: | 1:05 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Bally Sun, YES |
| Rays starting pitcher: | Zach Eflin (1-2, 4.63 ERA) |
| Yankees starting pitcher: | Nestor Cortes (1-1, 4.50 ERA) |
Rays vs Yankees latest injuries
Rays vs Yankees weather
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