Wednesday’s matinee against the Yankees could be the last start for Rays pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, who himself is a former Yankee, in a Tampa Bay uniform. There’s a belief that Eovaldi will be traded to a contender ahead of the July 31 deadline. Yankees vs Rays 2.0 is scheduled for Wednesday Night with New York as the MLB odds favorite.
The Rays are 17-23 (.425) in 1-run games this season, leading the majors in 1-run games (Mariners, 38) and 1-run losses (Orioles/White Sox, 19). The Rays are on pace for 38 1-run losses, which hasn’t been done by an AL club since the 1968 White Sox (44). The club record for 1-run losses in a single season is 30 (2015).
It’s former Yankee right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, who also could be traded by July 31. Eovaldi (3-4, 4.26) Eovaldi has gone at least six innings in six of his last seven starts. He has allowed two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. Homers have hurt Eovaldi this season, accounting for 51.6 percent of the runs he’s surrendered.
Eovaldi has impressed the Rays so much since returning from Tommy John surgery, there is chatter that Tampa Bay could opt to hang on to him and make him a qualifying offer after the season if the club isn’t enamored with any of the trade proposals for the right-hander. Eovaldi bounced back from his bad July 13 start against the Twins (eight runs in 2 2/3 innings) by tossing six innings of one-run ball against the Marlins last Friday and striking out eight without walking a batter.
Yankees vs Rays MLB Odds & Preview – July 25th
Zach Britton, welcome to the Bronx. pic.twitter.com/3vAdcJUxeh
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) 25 de julio de 2018
- When: Wednesday, 12:10 PM ET
- Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Luis Cessa/Nathan Eovaldi
- TV: MLB Network
- Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: TuneIn
- MLB Betting Lines: New York Yankees -135 / Tampa Bay Rays +115 (Total 8)
Why Bet on NY Yankees?
The Yankees have lost star catcher Gary Sanchez back to the disabled list with a right groin strain. The injury helps explain Sanchez’s lack of hustle on a play in Monday night’s loss to the Rays. It’s been a disappointing 2018 campaign for the 25-year-old, who’s batting just .188 with a .283 on-base percentage and now figures to miss at least a couple more weeks of action. He’s appeared in just three games this month because of right groin troubles. Austin Romine will fill in as the Yankees’ primary catcher. Monday’s 7-6 loss ended when Sanchez was thrown out on an uncommon, game-ending 4-6-3 single-out putout. He didn’t hustle out of the batter’s box, and after the game expressed regret. Interestingly, the Yankees have allowed at least five in each of their last nine losses since June 30. They are 13-28 when allowing at least 5R this season (50-7 when allowing 4R-or-fewer). New York has lost just three of its past 28 series, going 20-3-5. They are 45-7 (.865) when scoring first this year and an MLB-best 39-6 (.867) when their starter tosses at least 6.0 innings. It’s Luis Cessa for New York on the mound. Cessa will take Domingo German’s spot in the rotation after German’s recent demotion to Triple-A. Cessa will be making his third big-league start of the season, and he has gone 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA in five Minor League starts in 2018. The 26-year-old last started for the Yankees on 7/9 (G2) at Baltimore, tossing 6.0 scoreless innings (3H, 3BB, 4K) to earn his first MLB win of the year. It snapped his 13-start winless streak, which was tied for the longest by a Yankees starter since 2002 (Severino, Hughes). This will be Cessa’s fourth stint with the Yankees this season.Why Bet on Tampa Bay?
The Rays remain without All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos, although he played catch Monday and said that he’s “feeling a lot better.” It was his first baseball activity since going down with a left hamstring strain before the All-Star break. Ramos still has to test his hamstring with squatting and running, but he’s hoping to return by the end of next week, which would be earlier than originally expected. Ramos could still be traded by the July 31 non-waiver deadline. Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria (oblique) was out of the Rays’ starting lineup again Tuesday. Hechavarria hasn’t played since Saturday due to an oblique injury and apparently needs more time. Willy Adames is covering shortstop duties. Only five players have been on the active roster all season, without a stint on the disabled list or in the minors: Matt Andriese, C.J. Cron, Sergio Romo, Mallex Smith and Jesús Sucre.
The Rays are 17-23 (.425) in 1-run games this season, leading the majors in 1-run games (Mariners, 38) and 1-run losses (Orioles/White Sox, 19). The Rays are on pace for 38 1-run losses, which hasn’t been done by an AL club since the 1968 White Sox (44). The club record for 1-run losses in a single season is 30 (2015).
It’s former Yankee right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, who also could be traded by July 31. Eovaldi (3-4, 4.26) Eovaldi has gone at least six innings in six of his last seven starts. He has allowed two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. Homers have hurt Eovaldi this season, accounting for 51.6 percent of the runs he’s surrendered.
Eovaldi has impressed the Rays so much since returning from Tommy John surgery, there is chatter that Tampa Bay could opt to hang on to him and make him a qualifying offer after the season if the club isn’t enamored with any of the trade proposals for the right-hander. Eovaldi bounced back from his bad July 13 start against the Twins (eight runs in 2 2/3 innings) by tossing six innings of one-run ball against the Marlins last Friday and striking out eight without walking a batter.
Latest MLB Betting Trends
- Yankees are 2-5 in Cessa’s last 7 road starts
- Rays are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. American League East
- Rays are 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record
- NY is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Tampa Bay
- NY is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Tampa Bay
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of NY last 9 games when playing Tampa Bay
- Tampa Bay is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
- Tampa Bay is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Tampa Bay’s last 8 games
