Tampa Bay Rays (99-61) vs. New York Yankees (91-69)
October 3, 2021 3:05 pm EDT
The Line: New York Yankees -135 / Tampa Bay Rays +115 ; Over/Under: 9
(Get latest betting odds)
The Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees meet Sunday in MLB action from Yankee Stadium. This will be the final installment of a three-game series and the last game of the regular season. Tampa Bay won the Friday opener, then on Saturday the Rays kept it going with a blowout victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Tampa Bay posted a pair of runs in the ninth inning Friday, eking out a 4-3 victory. In game two on Saturday the Rays scored seven runs in the first three innings and cruised to a 12-2 win. Starter Shane Baz put up 2.2 innings with one earned on one hit and two walks.
For the starting pitcher role in the Sunday finale the Rays will send out Michael Wacha. In his 119.2 innings this year Wacha has 131 hits, 73 runs (70 earned), 23 homers allowed, 30 walks, 119 Ks and a 5.26 ERA.
Over on the Yankees’ side, they were able to post a couple of runs in the bottom of the ninth on Friday but their rally fell short. In the Saturday game New York could only find four hits (while giving up 19) in the loss. Jordan Montgomery lasted just 2.2 frames with six hits, seven earned and three walks.
For the starter slot in the Sunday finale the Yankees will send out Jameson Taillon. This year Taillon is 8-6 with a 4.40 ERA and 138 Ks.
The Rays are 57-23 in their last 80 after a win and 21-9 in their last 30 on grass. Tampa is 50-22 in their last 72 versus a right-handed starter as well.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are 8-3 in their last 11 overall and 5-2 in their last seven after a loss. New York is also 1-4 in their last five Sunday games.
PICK: I’m probably going to take the Rays again. Wacha had a spotty outing on September 15 versus the Blue Jays, tossing six earned runs on seven hits and two walks in 6.0 innings. Since then Wacha has been much better however, with just one earned on three hits and two walks in 8.0 innings over two starts. Wacha has given up more than two earned just once in his last six outings, and I like him to keep it going here.
