Chris Archer (3-4, 2.59 ERA) and Nathan Eovaldi (3-0, 3.97 ERA) start in the second of a four-game series between the Tampa Bay Rays (17-16) and the New York Yankees (21-12) at Tropicana Field. The Yankees won the last game 11-5 and New York leads the series 1-0. Action begins at 7:10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May. 12 and can be seen on YES and SunSports.
Archer is 5-0 with a 1.93 ERA, 0.76 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts against the Yankees. Eovaldi went 5.2 innings, surrendering three runs, striking out three and walking three in a 4-3 win over the Orioles in his last outing. Brett Gardner (.308, 23 Rs, 3 HRs, 16 RBIs, 10 SBs) went 1 for 5 yesterday with one run, one home run, and three RBIs.
Tampa Bay is a -128 favorite against New York and the Over/Under (O/U) for this game is sitting at seven runs. The Rays have an overall money line of +181 and a record as the favorite of 7-7. Within its division, Tampa Bay has a 5-5 record as favorite and a 13-12 record SU. The Rays have seen a decline in scoring against teams inside their division, averaging 3.3 runs per game. They average 3.8 runs per game on the season. Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has been doing better against opposing offenses during the last 10 games, only allowing an average of 2.5 runs per game, well under their season average of 3.5. The Rays are the fourth-best team in the league at limiting hits and walks to their opponents, recording a WHIP of 1.14 so far this season.
Over in the other dugout, New York is coming in with an overall money line of +798 and an impressive record of 9-6 as the dog. They have been playing solid baseball as the underdog with a 6-5 record against fellow AL East members, and a 15-10 record SU. The Yankees have a dynamic offense, leading the league with 115 extra base hits. Moving on to New York’s pitching staff and defense, the The Yankees allow just 3.7 runs per game, ranking them third in the AL. The Yankees have established a reputation of overwhelming hitters with an AL-best 8.8 strikeouts per game, making them one of the top five teams in the league.
The Yankees have controlled the season series, 6-1. The Rays have a 13-10 record against right-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Eovaldi takes the mound. Archer (RHP) will be on the hill against the Yankees, who have a very good 15-7 record against right-handed starting pitchers.
Predictions: SU Winner – NYY, O/U – Over
Notes
New York recorded at least two errors for the sixth time this season.
When the Rays play into extra innings, they have a 1-1 record. The Yankees are 0-2 when their games exceed nine innings.
The Yankees are coming into this meeting after a high-scoring game where they scored an impressive 11 runs. The Rays have a 0-2 record when opponents score that many runs or more.
When they are outhit, the Rays are 1-11. The Yankees have a 4-10 record when opponents outhit them.
Ranking 10th in home runs, Tampa Bay has hit 31 this season. New York ranks third with 43 home runs.
Ranking 12th, Tampa Bay is in the top half of the league in hits, notching 7.81 per game. New York ranks in the top 10 at eighth with 8.44.
Ranking 21st, Tampa Bay is near the bottom of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.693). New York ranks in the top 10 at sixth with an OPS of .759.
The Yankees are 12-8 in games where they allow one or more home runs. The Rays are 8-10 when they allow at least one homer.
