MLB Picks

MLB Picks: Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees ALDS Game 3 10/7/20


2020-10-07 19:10:00 EDT

The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Wednesday in MLB Division Series action from Petco Park. 

This will be Game 3 in a best-of-five ALDS matchup featuring the Yankees and the Rays. New York took Game 1 on Monday 9-3 thanks to a big ninth inning. In Game 2 on Tuesday, Tampa Bay evened up the series with a very efficient 7-5 win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place. 

The Yankees were out-hit 8-5 in the Game 2 loss on Tuesday, and only had one big offensive outburst with a Giancarlo Stanton three-run homer in the fourth inning. Stanton would finish with two homers on the evening, the lone bright spot in the order. Starting pitcher Deivi Garcia left after one earned in one inning, and JA Happ went 2.2 with four earned. 

In the Wednesday Game 3 start, the Yankees will send out Masahiro Tanaka. In his 10 starts this season, Tanaka went 3-3 with a 3.56 ERA and 44 Ks in 48.0 innings of work. Tanaka’s lone postseason start this year didn’t go so well, as he lasted just 4.0 innings with six earned and three strikeouts. 

Over on the Rays’ side, Tuesday starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow was solid with 5.0 innings, three hits, three walks, four earned and 10 strikeouts. Manuel Margot posted a two-run homer in the win, and Joey Wendle finished with two hits and two runs. 

Tampa Bay will be going with Charlie Morton in the starting role on Wednesday. Over nine starts this season, Morton went 2-2 with a 4.74 ERA and 42 Ks in 38.0 innings. Across his postseason career, Morton is 4-2 with a 3.70 ERA and 44 Ks in 41.1 innings total. 

The Rays are 6-1 in their last seven Wednesday games and 10-3 in their last 13 as an underdog. Tampa Bay is 38-14 in the last 52 games overall and 20-7 in their last 27 during game three of a series. 

Meanwhile, the Yankees are 4-1 in their last five games as a favorite and 4-1 in their last five divisional playoff games. New York is 38-17 in their last 55 during game three of a series and 35-16 in their last 51 playoff games as a favorite. 

PICK: I’m going with the Rays here. Morton gave up four runs (three earned) in five innings during his last regular-season outing, and he’s working on a long layoff here. It will have been 12 days since his last game action when Morton steps back on the rubber Wednesday. As for Tanaka, I don’t think he’ll go super deep into this game—maybe four or five innings. It’s going to be up to the New York bullpen to keep things quiet, and I think Tampa can find a few runs in the later frames. 

Andrew's Free Pick: Tampa Bay Rays +105

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Andrew

Andrew has been writing about college, professional and fantasy sports betting since 2013. Andrew's goal is to break down the complicated numbers and trends into a language that's easily accessible to novice sports bettors and seasoned professionals alike.

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