Rays vs Yankees Odds, Betting Lines, and Probable Pitchers (Oct. 1)

• The Yankees are -120 home favorites over the Rays on Friday night
• The Rays’ Shane McClanahan (10-6, 3.44) will face Nestor Cortes Jr. (2-2, 2.85) in a matchup of lefties
• The odds and matchups can be found below with a prediction

The New York Yankees will continue their drive to win a postseason berth when they host the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:05 pm ET, Friday, in the opener of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees (91-68, 45-33 home) are in control of the first American League wild card with a two-game lead over the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners. New York has also won eight of its last nine games.

The Rays (98-61, 46-32 road) have already clinched the AL East title and are tuning up for the playoffs. Tampa Bay has won four of its last six games.

Rays vs Yankees Odds

Odds as of September 30th at DraftKings.

The Yankees opened as -120 on the moneyline and that number has held firm. The weather forecast calls for 65 degrees and clear at first pitch with winds from the west at 8 mph.

Probable Pitchers

The Rays’ Shane McClanahan (10-6, 3.44) will face Nestor Cortes Jr. (2-2, 2.85) in a matchup of left-handers.

McClanahan ended a three-start winless streak last Saturday against the Miami Marlins in St. Petersburg. He yielded one run and six hits in five innings with three strikeouts and one walk.

McClanahan vs Cortes

McClanahan has notched just six quality starts in 24 outings, but that number has been affected by the Rays keeping a close watch on the rookie’s innings. Tampa Bay is 14-10 when McClanahan starts, and he is 7-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star break.

Shane McClanahan on the mound for the @RaysBaseball!

📺: Bally Sports Sun
📱: https://t.co/Lnyn4ecuEd
🖥️: Bally Sports App pic.twitter.com/u3GxxbCkuS

— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) September 25, 2021

On the road, McClanahan has a 3-3 record with a 3.38 ERA in 11 starts. He is 6-4 at night with a 3.38 ERA in 15 starts.

McClanahan is 0-2 against the Yankees this season with a 6.75 ERA in his first two career starts versus New York. He has allowed seven runs in 9.1 innings, including four runs in 3.1 innings June 2 in his lone start at Yankee Stadium.

Cortes is 0-1 in his last six starts despite a fine 3.38 ERA. In 11 starts since moving from the bullpen to the rotation in late July, Cortes has gone 2-2 with a 3.26 ERA.

In his start last Saturday against the Red Sox at Boston, Cortes had a no-decision as he allowed two runs on four hits in 4.1 innings with four strikeouts and no walks. Four of has 13 starts have been quality ones and the Yankees have an outstanding 10-3 record when he opens the game.

Cortes is also the official keeper of the Yankees’ clubhouse pet.

Meet Bronxie, a small turtle the Yankees clubhouse recently adopted, led by Nestor Cortes Jr.

They are 6-0 with Bronxie pic.twitter.com/2wYw4IwK8I

— The Short Porch (@short_porch) September 28, 2021

Cortes is 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA in 11 games (six starts) at home and 1-1 with a 3.02 ERA in 14 games (10 starts) at night.

He has made one start against the Rays this season, surrendering only one run in five innings of a no-decision July 28 on the road. He is 0-0 with a 4.41 ERA lifetime against the Rays in six games (one start).

Franco Streak Ends

Rays rookie shortstop Wander Franco’s 43-game on-base streak ended Thursday night when he went 0-for-4 in a 3-2 loss to the Astros in Houston. It was tied for the longest streak in MLB history by a player 21 or younger.

Hall of Famer Frank Robinson also reached in 43 straight starts for the Cincinnati Reds in 1956.

Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers

Yankees third baseman Gio Urshela is on a 10-game hitting streak, going 13 for 36 (.361) with two home runs. He is also 3 for 5 against McClanahan with two doubles and a homer.

Urshela is the most happy fella.

Went all the way down and SCOOPED over the left field seats into the Toronto bullpen! Gio Urshela! The most happy fella!

Ohhhhh he's the most happy fella! pic.twitter.com/EHBP5acxa4

— John Sterling Calls (@JSterlingCalls) September 29, 2021

Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres is hitting .316 with eight doubles and three home runs in 33 games since Aug. 1.

Yankees  third baseman DJ LeMahieu is questionable after leaving Thursday’s 6-2 win over the Blue Jays in Toronto with right hip soreness. First baseman Luke Voit was placed on the injured list before the game with left knee inflammation.

Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz has just two plate appearances against Cortes, but they have resulted in a homer and a walk.

Rays-Yankees Pick

The Rays lead the season series 9-7 but have gone just 2-5 in the Bronx. Left fielder Austin Meadows has led the way for Tampa Bay by hitting seven home runs and four doubles in 59 at-bats.

You want Austin Meadows?

You got Austin Meadows 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/3d4lpOYoKY

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 21, 2021

This game comes down to a matter of motivation and the Yankees have much more at stake in this one. Throw in the fact they’ve roughed up McClanahan and the Bronx Bombers are the pick.

The Pick: Yankees moneyline (-120)