Yankees vs Rays Odds and Picks (May 26)

• The New York Yankees are -130 road favorites over the Tampa Bay Rays in an American League game slated for Thursday, May 26
• New York is 5-2 straight up in the club’s last seven games played at Tampa Bay
• All of the Yankees vs Rays odds, picks, predictions and best bets are assessed in the ensuing story

For the longest time, trips to face the Tampa Bay Rays (26-17, 15-9 home) were proving fruitless for the New York Yankees (31-13, 14-6 road). During a two-year stretch from 2019-21, the Yanks were 2-11 straight up on the road against the Rays.

Since that time, though, the roles are reversed. In their past seven games at Tampa Bay, the Bronx Bombers are 5-2 SU.

It’s the Yankees who have been set as -130 road favorites by oddsmakers as these two AL East rivals begin a four-game weekend series on Thursday. Both the Yankees and Rays are 21-22 against the runline this season.

Yankees vs Rays Odds

Odds as of May 26th at Caesars Sportsbook.

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The first pitch  is set to be thrown at 6:40 pm ET on Thursday, May 26. In the weather forecast, there’s partly cloudy skies, 12 mph wind and a temperature of 92 degrees – not that it will matter inside the climate-controlled covered Tropicana Field.

Across the leading sportsbooks, New York is the -220 odds-on favorite to win the division in the AL East odds. The Rays are currently offered as the third betting choice to win the division at +600.

Cortes Keeps on Rolling

Left-hander Nestor Cortes continues to be the surprise story of the Yankees’ starting rotation. He’s won his last two starts and is 2-1 with a 1.85 ERA in four May starts.

The Yankees are 6-2 in the eight starts made by Cortes this year. One the road, he’s 2-1 with 1.64 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in four starts.

List of pitchers in Yankees history with at least 55 strikeouts and 10 runs allowed or fewer in first eight games of season:

Nestor Cortes (2022)
Gerrit Cole (2021)

— New York Yankees Stats (@nyyankeesstats) May 22, 2022

Cortes is 0-1 with a 4.29 ERA in seven career apperarances against Tampa Bay, including two starts. At Tropicana Field, Cortes has never figured in a decision in three appearances, one of them a start. He’s showing a 4.15 ERA by an 0.92 WHIP.

The 5-foot-10 left-hander ranks among the top 4% in MLB pitchers in xERA (2.24), xwOBA (.253), the top 8% in xBA (.198), the top 9% in strikeout percentage (32.4) and the top 10% in xLSG (.323).

Cortes vs Yarbrough

Rays southpaw Yarbrough will be making his fifth appearance of the season and fourth start. Tampa Bay is 1-3 in games in which Yarbrough has made an appearance.

Yarbrough has made it to the fifth inning just once in his three starts. He’s allowed just two earned runs over his past 12.2 innings pitched for a 1.42 ERA. At home, Yarbrough is showing a 2.45 ERA, compared to a 4.76 ERA on the road.

Ryan Yarbrough gave up 1 run every 2.15 innings his first 3 seasons with the #RaysUp

Over the last 2 season, he’s given up 1 run every 1.63 innings. @RaysBaseball I don’t know what’s changed but I’d love to see the old Ryan Yarbrough come back. We miss him.

— Richard Hart (@Supra1086) May 21, 2022

He’s faced the Yankees nine times over his career, but Yarbrough has made only start against the Bronx Bombers. Overall, he’s 5-2 against the Yanks with a 2.41 ERA and 0.96 WHIP.

Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers

For the Yankees, Jose Trevino is 2-for-3 (.667) when facing Yarbrough. Marwin Gonzalez is 2-for-5 (.400). Both Joey Gallo (1-for-3) and Aaron Judge (4-for-12) are .333 hitters against Yarbrough with an RBI. Miguel Andujar is the only Yankee to homer off of Yarbrough.

Aaron Judge up to date stats:
.313 Avg, .383 OBP, 1.071 OPS, 17 HR, 34 RBI…… MVP?

— Yankees Place (@Yankeesplace) May 26, 2022

Kevin Kiermaier of the Rays is 3-for-6 (.500) with 3 RBI against Cortes. Francisco Mejia is also a .500 hitter (2-for-4). Yandy Diaz is batting just .222 off of Cortes but has homered and driven in three runs.

Yankees vs Rays Prediction

The Yanks are a banged-up bunch. Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (strained right calf ) and reliever Jonathan Loaisiga (right shoulder inflammation) were placed on the IL. They did get Joey Gallo (COVID-19) back and are hoping that DJ Lemahieu (sore left wrist) will return after missing the last two games. Third baseman Josh Donaldson (COVID-19) is out.

On to the next one. Ten of the Yankees' next 25 games are against the Rays, and it begins tomorrow night! @JackCurry takes a look at the upcoming series. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/n8AQqbPhhd

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 26, 2022

New York and Tampa Bay are 1-2 in the AL East as they meet for the first time this season. The Rays won the season series 11-8 last season.

Pick: Tampa Bay Rays ML (+110)