Rays vs Yankees Odds, Picks, and Betting Lines (Oct. 3)

• The Yankees are -156 home favorites over the Rays on Sunday
• Michael Wacha (3-5, 5.26) will start for the Rays against Jameson Taillon (8-6, 4.40)
• The odds and matchups can be found below with a prediction

It is win and get into the postseason for the New York Yankees when they host the Tampa Bay Rays at 3:05 pm ET Sunday in the regular-season finale for both teams at Yankee Stadium.

After losing the first two games of the three-game series, the Yankees’ magic number to clinch an American League Wild Card spot remains one. Thus, New York (91-80/45-35 home) needs to win Sunday or get help from other teams to avoid playing in a potential tiebreaker game Monday.

The Yankees have lost three of their last four games following a seven-game winning streak.

The Rays (100-61/48-32 road) clinched the American League East title last weekend and have won seven of their last nine games.

Rays vs Yankees Odds

Odds as of October 2nd at FanDuel

The Yankees enter their regular season finale as -156 favorites. After combining for seven and 14 runs the first two games, the total is set at 9.5. Weather should not be a factor as it is supposed to 79 degrees and sunny with in the Bronx with a west wind at 5 mph.

Probable Pitchers

Jameson Taillon (8-6, 4.40) will start for the Yankees, who decided against using ace Gerrit Cole on short rest. Michael Wacha (3-5, 5.26) gets the ball for the Rays

Wacha is 0-1 with a 3.79 ERA in his last four starts but is coming off a dominant effort on Tuesday against the Astros at Houston.

Wacha vs Taillon

Wacha pitched five scoreless and hitless innings against the AL West champions while striking out six, walking two and retiring his last 11 batters. However, Wacha did not factor in the decision.

Wacha has just three quality starts in 22 starts this season and has worked as many as six innings four times. The Rays are 12-10 when he opens the game.

There are still times when Wacha can dominate.

Michael Wacha was dealing tonight.

5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K

Red Sox hitters chased 46.2% of pitches out of the zone, 2nd highest chase rate of Wacha's career.#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/K1LhgF53um

— Inside Edge (@IE_MLB) June 25, 2021

Pitching on the road and in the day have both been problematic. Wacha is 1-4 with a 6.05 ERA in 15 games (13 starts) away from home and 1-1 with a 6.70 ERA in 12 games (seven games) in day games.

Wacha is 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA against the Yankees this season in four games (two starts) and 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA lifetime in seven games (five starts). At Yankee Stadium, he has a 1-1 record and 4.32 ERA in four games (three starts).

A strained right ankle tendon forced Taillon out of his last start after 2 1/3 innings on Tuesday against the Blue Jays in Toronto. That came immediately after a three-week injured list stint.

The Blue Jays had one run and one hit of Taillon, who struck out two and walked one. In all, Taillon is 0-2 with a 7.64 ERA in his last four starts and has won only once in his last eight outings.

Jameson Taillon leaves the game with an injury: #SquadUp pic.twitter.com/7wQevUXAJZ

— SportzStew Ⓥ (@sportzstewcom) September 29, 2021

Taillon has registered eight quality starts in 28 outings this season after sitting out last year while recovering from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. The Yankees are 16-12 when he pitches.

Taillon has pitched well at home in his first season with the Yankees, compiling a 5-2 record and 3.40 ERA in 14 starts. He is 3-3 with a 3.74 in nine starts in day games.

Taillon has lost both starts against the Rays in 2021 and allowed seven runs in 9 2/3 innings. He has a 1-2 career record against them and a 3.94 ERA in three starts.

Rizzo Wears Out Wacha

Wacha has a long history with Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo from their days together in the National League Central. Rizzo has often gotten the better of the matchup, going 21-for-48 (.438) with two doubles and three home runs.

Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers

Third baseman DJ LeMahieu is 7-for-18 (.389) with three doubles off Wacha but is questionable after missing the last two games with a sports hernia. Wacha has struck out right fielder Aaron Judge six times and held him hitless in nine at-bats.

However, Judge is hitting .307 in 52 games since June 7 with 11 doubles, 17 home runs and 46 RBIs. Shortstop Gio Urshela has a 12-game hitting streak in which he is 16-for-44 (.364) with a triple and two homers.

A 455-FT BOMB from Aaron Judge 🤯

(via @Yankees)pic.twitter.com/d5KDt2hcAJ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 30, 2021

Rays left fielder Austin Meadows is 3-for-6 with a double and two home runs off Taillon, his former Pittsburgh Pirates teammate.

Rays-Yankees Pick

The Rays have won seven of nine games at Yankee Stadium and lead the season series 11-7. Tampa Bay is also 19-9 against the Yankees over the last two seasons.

On Saturday, the Rays rolled to a 12-2 victory behind Brandon Lowe’s three home runs and seven RBIs.

Make it 3 for Lowe today 🤯 pic.twitter.com/FRQrmty9cv

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 2, 2021

The Rays have the Yankees number, especially in the Bronx. However, it’s hard to imagine the Yankees getting swept with a playoff spot on the line. Look for the poised Taillon to come up big.

The Pick: New York Yankees (-156)