MLB Predictions & Odds 5/6/23

New York Yankees (17-15) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (26-6)
May 6, 2023 4:10 pm EDT
The Line: Tampa Bay Rays -155 / New York Yankees +135 ; Over/Under: 7
(Get latest betting odds)

The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Saturday in MLB action from Tropicana Field. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. In the Friday opener, the Rays eked out a victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place. 

New York Yankees 

The Yankees played the Guardians this week, winning two of the three games in that series. On Friday versus the Rays, New York came back from a 4-0 deficit to tie it up but ultimately lost 5-4. Starter Jhony Brito put up 4.0 innings with four earned on six hits and a walk. 

For the starter job in the Saturday game the Yankees will send out Domingo German. In his six starts so far German is 2-2 with a 4.46 ERA and 39 Ks in 34.1 innings. German is 28-23 with a 4.38 ERA in 98 games (76 starts). 

Tampa Bay Rays 

Over on the Tampa Bay side, they played the Pirates in their last series and won all three games for a sweep. On Friday the Rays were out-hit by the Yankees 8-7 but still got the victory. Yonny Chirinos put up 5.1 innings in the start with three earned, three hits and four walks. 

Drew Rasmussen will take the mound for the Rays on Saturday. Over his six starts this year Rasmussen is 3-2 with a 3.66 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 32.0 innings. Rasmussen is 19-10 overall in his career with a 3.11 ERA in 81 games (44 starts). 

The Yankees are 74-35 in their last 109 in game two of a series and 14-6 in their last 20 versus the AL East. The under is 4-0 in New York’s last four Saturday games.

Meanwhile, the Rays are 38-15 in their last 53 on turf and 43-15 in their last 58 at home. Tampa Bay is 20-6 in their last 26 versus a right-handed starter. 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll stick with Tampa Bay here. So long as Rasmussen gets in a good start, that is. He’s been a bit sketchy over his last pair, with eight earned runs on 18 hits and two walks in 9.2 combined innings. As for German, he’s coming off a nice outing versus Cleveland with one earned on two hits and a walk in 8.1 innings. On Friday Tampa Bay had the one bad inning in the sixth but closed strong on a nice bullpen performance. I like the Rays to keep it going in game two.