Tampa Bay Rays (98-61) vs. New York Yankees (91-68)
October 2, 2021 1:05 pm EDT
The Line: New York Yankees -161 / Tampa Bay Rays +120; Over/Under: +9
(Get latest betting odds)
The Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees meet Saturday in MLB action from Yankee Stadium. This will be the second installment in a three-game weekend series to close out the regular season. In the Friday game one, Tampa Bay eked out a one-run win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Tampa Bay played the Astros this week. The Rays managed a win Wednesday but lost the other two in that set. On Friday versus New York, Tampa scored two runs in the ninth and hung on in a 4-3 win. Shane McClanahan put up 3.0 innings with one earned on three hits.
For the starter gig in the Saturday game, the Rays are sending out Shane Baz. Over his two starts this year Baz has a 1.69 ERA, a 2-0 record and 14 Ks in 10.2 innings.
Over on the Yankees’ side, they won a big series versus the Blue Jays this week with wins Tuesday and Thursday. In the Friday opener, New York trailed most of the game and couldn’t get much offense going. Starter Nestor Cortes finished on 4.2 innings with two earned on five hits.
Starting pitcher for the Yankees on Saturday will be Jordan Montgomery. Over 154.2 innings this year Montgomery has 144 hits with 66 runs (60 earned), 16 homers allowed, 48 walks, 159 Ks and a 3.49 ERA.
The Rays are 43-16 in their last 59 versus the AL East and 38-17 in their last 55 in game two of a series. The over is 6-2-1 in Tampa Bay’s last nine Saturday games as well.
Meanwhile, the Yankees are 20-7 in their last 27 with a total of 7.0-8.5 and 40-18 in their last 58 in game two of a series. New York is also 72-34 in their last 106 Saturday games.
PICK: I’m sticking with the Rays. This should be a pretty interesting starter matchup, though. Montgomery has just three earned runs combined over his last three starts, giving up 17 hits and two walks with 24 Ks in 16.1 innings. As for Baz, he’s been solid so far with just two earned on five hits and a walk in 10.2 innings. I like both guys to pitch well here in a tight Tampa win.
