<p>
The Rays are off to a great start to this season, racing to an early lead in the AL East. But the Yankees, even while playing hurt, are nearly keeping pace, heading into the opener of a three-game series at the Trop Friday night. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?
</p>
<h2>
MLB Betting Odds<br />
</h2>
<p>
Friday's MLB betting odds opened Tampa and Glasnow at around -140 over New York and German, with an over/under of 7.5 runs. Early betting action then bumped that spread to -155.
</p>
<div class="promo">
<img alt="Bovada-200.gif" src="/sites/default/files/images/inline/bovada-200.gif" style="width:200px;height:28px;" /><br />
Get an additional $250 in Sign-Up Bonus to Pad your MLB Betting Bankroll!<br />
<a class="advblue" href="javascript:GoTo(Bovada)" title="Bovada Sportsbook">CLICK HERE </a>
</div>
<h2>
Yanks vs. Rays Set-Up<br />
</h2>
<p>
New York just took three of four games at home from Seattle this week, winning Thursday's series finale 3-1. Just before that the Yankees took two of three games at home from Minnesota.
</p>
<p>
So New York is 6-1 over its last seven series and 16-6 over its previous 22 games.
</p>
<p>
Tampa, meanwhile, just took two of three games at home from Arizona, missing out on the sweep by losing Wednesday's series finale 3-2 in 13 innings. The Rays then had Thursday off.
</p>
<p>
Just before that Tampa split two games at Baltimore, and just before that they split four games at Kansas City. So the Rays are 3-0-2 over their last five series but only 4-4 over their last eight games.
</p>
<p>
At 23-13 overall Tampa leads the AL East by a game and a half over the 22-15 Yankees.
</p>
<p>
This series is the first meeting between these divisional rivals this season. Last year New York took the season series from the Rays 10 games to nine.
</p>
<h2>
Friday's Starting Arms<br />
</h2>
<p>
Glasnow is off to a fantastic start to this season. He's 5/7 on quality starts so far, and only five outs away from being 7/7. Last Friday he held Baltimore scoreless on three hits through seven innings, with eight strikeouts and zero walks, in a 7-0 Rays win. And on the season he's allowed just seven runs through 43 innings, with 46 whiffs.
</p>
<p>
Tampa is 6-1 with Glasnow this season, the only loss coming against Boston by a score of 4-3.
</p>
<p>
This will be Glasnow's first start against the Yankees since 2017 when he was with Pittsburgh.
</p>
<p>
German, by our strict standards, is 3/6 on quality starts this season, and two for his last three. Last Sunday he limited Minnesota to one run and four hits through 6 2/3 innings of a 4-1 Yanks victory, and over his previous three starts, he's allowed just five earned runs and 13 hits through 19 1/3 innings.
</p>
<p>
New York is 5-1 with German this season.
</p>
<p>
In two starts last year against Tampa Bay German allowed nine runs and 14 hits through nine innings. The Yankees split those two games.
</p>
<h2>
Friday's Batting Splits<br />
</h2>
<p>
New York is batting .259/.341/.451 this season against right-handed pitching. But this lineup is also still operating without several key sticks, including both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
</p>
<p>
Tampa Bay is batting .262/.339/.456 against RH pitching this season.
</p>
<h2>
The Bullpens<br />
</h2>
<p>
The Yankees bullpen owns a 4.21 ERA this season and a 1.30 WHIP.
</p>
<p>
The Rays bullpen owns a 3.31 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.
</p>
<h2>
Totals Report<br />
</h2>
<ul>
<li>
Overs are 20-17 in Yankees games this season.
</li>
<li>
Unders are 20-15 in Rays games this season.
</li>
<li>
Unders are 11-8 in games played at Tropicana Field this season.
</li>
<li>
Unders are 5-1 with Glasnow this season.
</li>
<li>
Unders finished 12-7 in Yanks-Rays games last season.
</li>
</ul>
<p><section></p>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href=" https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/matchup/1076043">NY Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays MLB Match-up Stats </a> </span>
</li>
</ul>
<p></section></p>