Last updated Jul 27, 8:06pm ET

Baseball fans are in for a treat as two American League East rivals, the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees, clash at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx. This series opener promises an intense battle as both teams look to gain ground in a competitive division. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.

Pitching Matchup: Rasmussen vs. Schlittler

The mound will feature a compelling matchup with the Rays sending right-hander Drew Rasmussen (7-5, 2.93 ERA) to the hill. Rasmussen has been a consistent performer for Tampa Bay, known for his ability to limit hard contact and work deep into games.

Opposing him for the Yankees will be right-hander Cam Schlittler (1-0, 4.36 ERA). Schlittler, in his third start of the season, will be looking to build on his early season performance against a tough Rays lineup.

Team Outlook and Recent Form

The New York Yankees currently hold a 56-48 record, placing them second in the AL East, 5.5 games behind the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees boast one of the league’s top offenses, ranking third in runs per game and leading MLB in home runs with 168. Key offensive contributors include Cody Bellinger (.281 AVG, 19 HR, 58 RBI), who has been a consistent power threat, and Paul Goldschmidt (.287 AVG, 8 HR, 30 BB), known for his on-base ability. Their pitching staff has a team ERA of 4.01, ranking 17th in MLB. The Yankees are 4-6 in their last 10 games.

The Tampa Bay Rays enter the contest with a 53-52 record, sitting fourth in the AL East, 10 games behind the Blue Jays. While their pitching staff holds a respectable 3.89 ERA (13th in MLB), their offense, scoring 4.7 runs per game (10th in MLB), will need to step up. Junior Caminero leads the Rays with 26 home runs and 68 RBIs, while Jonathan Aranda boasts a team-best .312 batting average. The Rays have struggled recently, with a 3-7 record in their last 10 outings.

Betting Odds and Analysis

Total Runs: 8.5 (Over -120 | Under -101)

Moneyline: New York Yankees (-114) | Tampa Bay Rays (-105)

Run Line: Yankees -1.5 (+167) | Rays +1.5 (-202)

Kervin Coleman
Kervin Coleman

Sports Analyst

Kervin is a Kean University graduate with a bachelor`s degree in Communications Journalism. He also played collegiate football there, as a team captain and starting Outside Linebacker. I think he knows what he\'s talking about. Make sure to tune in to see what comes next!

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