The Yankees just snapped a soft spot in their schedule by mashing the Rays 5-1, but Tampa Bay still owns a comfortable AL East cushion heading into the middle game of this four-game set.
Bush’s Picks
NYYTB
NYYTB
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Best BetRays
The Rays are the pick here off the strength of McClanahan's home numbers and a lineup that's been getting it done without some key injured pieces. New York's offense is still without Judge and Stanton, and that gap is exactly the kind of thing that shows up against a pitcher this locked in at home.
Yankees
+Cole dealt 7 K's, 0 BB in last start
+Cole historically excellent vs Tampa Bay
+Snapped skid with 5-1 win Monday
−Missing Judge, Stanton, Rodon, Fried, Schmidt
−Lost 3 of last 5 including two blowouts
−4 games back in AL East race
Rays
+Leads AL East, MLB's best home record
+McClanahan 6 shutout innings last start
+McClanahan excellent at home all year
−Lost 3 of last 5, including to Yankees
−Multiple relievers on 60-day IL
−Dropped series to lesser Astros lineup
Gerrit Cole (3-3, 4.01 ERA) gets the ball for New York looking to build on a strong outing against Minnesota, while Shane McClanahan (7-5, 3.05 ERA) takes the mound for Tampa Bay on Wednesday, July 8 at 6:40 PM ET trying to keep his home dominance rolling.
The Yankees are dealing with a mounting injury list that's sapped their lineup and rotation depth — Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Carlos Rodon, Max Fried and Clarke Schmidt are all out, which is a brutal amount of firepower and starting pitching to replace in the middle of an AL East fight. Tampa Bay isn't fully healthy either, with several relievers and a couple of position players on the shelf, but the Rays have managed to hold the division lead anyway thanks to MLB's best home record.
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6:40 PM ET
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NYY Yankees
TB Rays
New York did snap a nasty stretch by taking Monday's series opener 5-1, a much-needed answer after getting outscored badly by the Twins over the weekend. Whether that's a real turnaround or a one-game blip against a Rays team that's cooled off itself — losers of 3 of its last 5 — is the question hanging over the rest of this series.
New York Yankees
Jul 7?@ Rays—
Tampa Bay Rays
Jul 7?vs Yankees—
Recent form.
Cole's track record against Tampa Bay is one of the more interesting subplots here — he's made more career starts against the Rays than any other opponent and has handled them well historically. He was sharp in his last time out, striking out 7 over 5 shutout-caliber innings against Minnesota, a sign the Tommy John rebuild is trending in the right direction as he stretches out further into starts.
New York Yankees
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Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Tampa Bay Rays
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Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Injury report — info via ESPN.
McClanahan, meanwhile, has been about as good as anyone could've hoped in his return from a lengthy absence, and he was especially crisp last time out — 6 shutout innings against Kansas City on just 69 pitches. At home, where Tampa Bay has been nearly unbeatable this season, that's a tough matchup for a Yankees lineup still missing its two middle-of-the-order sluggers in Judge and Stanton.
